Paul Masson's 71 Grabber

Spent the day inside the garage. Hauled the lap-top out and watched the Barrett-Jackson auction between sand blasting and painting.

I installed the washer jug, and the battery tray.




I also managed to install the wiper system, complete with new leather gaskets for the wiper posts.


With the seam sealer done from inside the car, it was time to install the new firewall insulation... This was a pain in the A$$! None of the holes lined up, I had to cut on both sides of the car, almost like the vinyl mat they use as a backing had shrunk after being molded. There was also, only ONE heater hose hole cut, and a few small holes that weren't even required. I will also have to cut a relief in the mat in order to get my steering column installed. Overall, the molded corners of the mat seemed to make the mat too narrow for the car. There is at least an inch gap on either end. Once the heater box is installed, hopefully that will hold the thing in place. Truthfully, I'm a bit disappointed in the mat's fitment. For the money I spent, I shouldn't have to wrestle with it and cut the amount of holes I had to cut.




I finished up with installing the brake pedal bracket and the couple of braces/brackets around it.

 

Looks good Paul.

Isn't it nice to finally reach that point where you get to put things back on and you don't find yourself covered in grease!

Micah

 

Thanks, Micah! And yes, it felt good to be able to start assembling some stuff. The grease will come a little later, once I start assembling the suspension.

 

Looking good, Paul!

Who supplied you with the firewall insulation?

 

Thanks Rusty!

I can't remember the name of the manufacturer, but I got it through Auto Krafters. I'll check the packaging when I get home later on today.
https://www.autokrafters.com/p-21847-firewall-insulator-71-77-maverick-comet.aspx

 

looks great , very nice job !!!

 

do all mavericks end up with this problem,mine doesn't leak now but its got me wondering

 

Nice work there Paul!

 

If you are talking about the cowl rusting/leaking, then yes, it is a definite concern if you own one of these cars. The area inside the cowl is not 'painted' at the factory. The upper and lower cowl pieces are welded together and then the car is painted as a whole. From what I have seen, only a small amount of overspray ends up inside the cowl area. Leaves, dirt and debris (or in my case mouse nests) tend to block the drains on the ends of the cowls and the metal eventually rusts and rots away, leading to holes that allow water to get into the heater box, carpets and eventually rot out the floor pans and torque boxes. I was lucky that I caught mine in time, and that the car had been garaged most of it's life.

I wouldn't buy another Maverick or Comet without running a bucket of water down the cowl grilles.

 

Thanks Guys!

 

my car spent most of is life in arizona

my car spent its whole life in Arizona I hope its ok , I will look at it today

 

Looks Great Paul!

Oh, oh. I also bought my firewall insulation through Auto Krafters.

 

Thanks Mel!

Don't get me wrong. The insulation is very well made and it sure as heck beats having nothing. I was just a bit frustrated and disappointed that it didn't seem like any of the holes were in the correct locations.

I believe that John Holden also mentioned he ran into this type of thing when he installed his.

 

anything that comes in a box always seems to need some kind of modification

 

Looking good Paul - all of your detail work is really shining through now