I've been in contact with a fellow that wants to sell me his 71 Maverick project. The car is in pieces but supposedly rust free. He's grafted a Pinto front end on it, although I don't like the angle of the steering rod. Here's the pics he sent me of the car. He says he has all the parts in box's. What do you guys think?
Doesn't look that bad(the front end), but the pictures are low quality so I cant see how the welds are. Pinto front end was one of the things guys did before they made aftermarket MII kits. The steering angle looks correctable by shortening the shaft. If you're looking for a drag car project it could be worth it, restoring it would be another story.... Body looks like it has rust in the rear quarters, lower doors and front lower fender area.
Only thing I see it could use is a support bearing on the angled shaft. Any Mustang II/ Pinto rack conversion would probably look about the same. As long as those are the U joints and shafts sold for steering, and not some hardware store stuff for a farm implement, they should be fine.
Steering shafts can be corrected. From the pictures it looks like a clean fit. If its a good deal for you Remember you can always make it better.
mII steering shafts look like that. If you can get it for a good deal and feel like doing a project, i say go for it.
As Alex said, cut the stock steering shaft back so only about 2" protrudes through the firewall, then build a longer intermediate shaft.
