I bought a 1972 Maverick with 302 with 3 speed automatic (I don't think it has a fourth gear) yesterday from an original owner with 57700 original miles from an 88 year old lady. Not much rust. Interior is good. Cost was $2000.00. I drove it back from Pittsburgh area to Detroit with no problems. It looks like all the gaskets pretty much need replacing, It only has a 2-bbl. My goal is to have a fast ride that runs great. I have these questions: 1) Am I better off buying a rebuilt motor with 4bbl and performance parts (dual exhaust etc...) or work on the motor I have. It is quick but I am not real impressed with its current performance. 2) Would you get a rebuilt transmission too? How about posi-traction? 3) There is a clunky noise coming from the passenger rear wheel area. Any thoughts on correcting this? Are there any grease bearings there for any of the rear suspension parts? 4) It has A/C, would you remove and disconnect? 5) Do you think I got a good deal? 6) I was thinking of using Michigan Motor exchange for a rebuilt motor. Do places like this give you a credit for giving them the old motor? Would I be better off selling the motor on e-bay or craigs list? 7) I want wider chrome wheels and taller ones too. I would like to raise the rear end and probably the front end. What do I need to do so I can accomplish this? 8) Do you think I am nuts?
1. i'd build this motor or find a second 302 to build while driving this one. 2. rebuild the tranny. finding an 8" posi is hard. look to currie or eaton for a limited slip rear. some use a mini spool. not my reccommendation. 3.check the u-joint. 4.definitely not...especially here in az. 5. sounds good to me. 6.usually there is a core charge. i'd keep it and build another one, 302,306, or a 331 or 347 stroker motor. 7.taller tires on the rear and possibly cut a coil off the front springs. 8. YES> welcome to the maverick world.
Also, your budget will usually determine the best approach. How much is you budget? Good luck with it.
Number 8 is my favorite one! Sure you are! Anyone that only owns one Maverick has to be nuts. I'll give you a few months and re-evaluate the situation. Oh yeah...welcome to the board! :Handshake
:Handshake sounds like you have a nice car. what are you going to use the car for? (street, drag, show etc. etc.) this info. will help in guiding you in the right direction. a little ploy i use is...i told my wife (that i love berry berry much) that i bought the car for her, this way when i go to buy parts...they are for her car... ...
I was going to look at that car,,,sounds like a good deal! Don pretty much hit everything dead on. Get your game plan laid out with your budget somewhere in there too. With the time you'll be spending on the car, the wife wont get to see you much,,,,she could get a second job to help with the Mav project! Wecome from Pittsburgh Pa!
Looks like you bought the red 4-door Maverick that was advertised on here. You got a good deal. 1. With your budget....I think you will need to just "tweak" that motor. 2. Are you going to drive this car or race it? If you are just going to drive it.....the tranny will probably be fine for awhile. If you are just going to drive it....no need for a posi. 3. Could be a u-joint or shock. 4. No way would I remove the AC. NO WAY!! 5. You got an excellent deal...even for a 4-door. 6. See answer #1. 7. I would not raise the rear of the car. DEFINITLEY don't raise the front. Some nice chrome rims would look good. I wouldn't go with anything too radical. 8. Maybe. You have a really nice 4-door. It is one of those cars that I wouldn't alter too much. Many Mavericks are well suited to be modified. An all original car in that nice of shape is not one of them in my opinion.
Welcome to our "Crazy World"! The wife & budget are the determnating factors when building cars. If you don't have either you are one "LUCKY" man! Good Luck
Now is the time to decide what kind of Maverick you want. Stock,modified, hi performance car. I suggest you do what makes you happy and take what other people say with a grain of salt. My Maverick has the stock look with a modified drive train for performance. Some people have more then one Maverick to make dreams come true. If I could I would have one pure stock, one modified, one for 1/4 mile race. The sky is the limit. Welcome and enjoy!
WOW!!! Sounds an awful lot like how I got my car, and around the same mileage, etc. Check out my website. Seriously. Spend a half hour on there and find out all the MISTAKES I made doing what you plan to do. (You could end up with a car better than mine for less money if you read it, I promise I absolutely LOVE what I have done to my car (except for the recent cam lobe issue) but overall, it has been a fun learning experience. I find my Maverick to be a wonderful high-dollar toy