What other rear ends will bolt right up on my 70 maverick?

Discussion in 'Parts Interchange' started by qpdcqp, Jul 21, 2011.

  1. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2012
    Messages:
    7,560
    Likes Received:
    2,319
    Trophy Points:
    531
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chesapeake VA
    Vehicle:
    1972 Comet GT clone 306 . 1969 Fairlane Cobra 428CJ 1988 T-Bird awaiting 331 ..
    Unless you continually run the shocks at high pressure with the rear jacked way up, causing incorrect pinion angle, probably won't cause any harm... Adding a bit more air to the right vs left shock(or air bag)is a old trick to improve traction from a standing start...

    Basically if measure ride height before install and don't raise it more than approx 2" you'll be fine... I'm assuming the original springs already have close to a inch of sag....
     
  2. qpdcqp

    qpdcqp Davon

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Messages:
    241
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    47
    Location:
    Yuba City Ca.
    Vehicle:
    70 Grabber Maverick, 75 2dr maverick
    Wow thanks for all the help I really appreciate it! :) will be returning air shocks today hehe
     
  3. qpdcqp

    qpdcqp Davon

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Messages:
    241
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    47
    Location:
    Yuba City Ca.
    Vehicle:
    70 Grabber Maverick, 75 2dr maverick
    Another good point. I'm really glad you guys know what your talking about because I don't yet hehe
     
  4. mav1970

    mav1970 Bob Hatcher

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2002
    Messages:
    10,633
    Likes Received:
    322
    Trophy Points:
    398
    Location:
    Mountain Top Pa
    Vehicle:
    69.5 Maverick 393 Cleveland Stroker
    The heavy duty Maverick leaf springs consist of 4 leafs and my bet is you only have 3 now as that was what was original on my 70. Have an extra leaf added on each side and possibly have them rearched if needed. Add a good set of regular rear shocks and you should be good. That is what I did to my Duster after I had all of the trunk floor and shock mount damage fixed and everything from that point on was fine :)
     
  5. rthomas771

    rthomas771 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2008
    Messages:
    8,010
    Likes Received:
    913
    Trophy Points:
    498
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    '74 Maverick 250 5-Speed.'60 Falcon V8. '63.5 Falcon HT
    The amount of leafs has nothing to do with spring rate. Both 3-leaf and 4-leaf springs in 1970 had the same spring rate of 535 lbs. In '75 some 3-leaf springs were rated at 734 lbs while some 4-leafs were rated at 689 lbs.
     
  6. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2009
    Messages:
    5,250
    Likes Received:
    818
    Trophy Points:
    498
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    73 Comet GT-302 4bl
    My 4 leaf springs frm General Springs of KC are 807 capacity. They have rode too stiff for me since day one. Since I am in the season of limited use of the car; I plan on removing the bottom leaf this week. I will cut the leaf down and leave a piece in the stack to maintain the ride height. I don't know what the rate/cap. will be once it's removed - but it's got to improve. I run 225*70 * 14 rear tires @ 22-24lbs. inflation to keep frm rattling my teeth out, any more take the joy out of driving the car. I been talking abt it abt 18mos., now it's time for action. 71 Gold advised me to do it some time ago - just been finding reason to put it off. He did his and said it made quite a differerance.
     
  7. rthomas771

    rthomas771 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2008
    Messages:
    8,010
    Likes Received:
    913
    Trophy Points:
    498
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    '74 Maverick 250 5-Speed.'60 Falcon V8. '63.5 Falcon HT
    Might want to think about removing the 2nd or the 3rd leaf. I could be wrong...but I don't think removing the bottom leaf is going to make that much difference. We won't know till you try
     
  8. qpdcqp

    qpdcqp Davon

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Messages:
    241
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    47
    Location:
    Yuba City Ca.
    Vehicle:
    70 Grabber Maverick, 75 2dr maverick
    That's cool didn't know that. I have a 75 that I will be switching the leaf springs with hehe
     
  9. rthomas771

    rthomas771 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2008
    Messages:
    8,010
    Likes Received:
    913
    Trophy Points:
    498
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    '74 Maverick 250 5-Speed.'60 Falcon V8. '63.5 Falcon HT
    Some 4-leaf spring were higher spring rates that some 3-leaf springs. You gotta know what color code or part number to know the rating. http://dixiemaverick.com/DMleafsprings.html
     
  10. qpdcqp

    qpdcqp Davon

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Messages:
    241
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    47
    Location:
    Yuba City Ca.
    Vehicle:
    70 Grabber Maverick, 75 2dr maverick
    Wow this helps a lot thanks!:)
     
  11. baddad457

    baddad457 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2007
    Messages:
    5,861
    Likes Received:
    141
    Trophy Points:
    171
    Location:
    Opelousas La.
    The different spring rates are attributed to 2 and 4 door cars. The 4 door cars would need a stiffer spring.
     
  12. mushoss93

    mushoss93 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2008
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    25
    Location:
    hazlehurst, ga
    Vehicle:
    '75 comet
    If you raise the car 2" you are putting the weight on the shocks and taking weight off the springs. That is why it tears things up. A shock is designed to be an absorber not a lifter!
     
  13. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2012
    Messages:
    7,560
    Likes Received:
    2,319
    Trophy Points:
    531
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    Chesapeake VA
    Vehicle:
    1972 Comet GT clone 306 . 1969 Fairlane Cobra 428CJ 1988 T-Bird awaiting 331 ..
    Funny, I've had several old cars with sagging springs that did fine with air or booster shocks... Raising 1"- 2" from the sag height put them back at the correct height or in the case of my Rancheros allowed me to haul far more than the original springs would allow... Extra weight on the shock mount never caused any issue ...

    No I would not recommend topping out the suspension, but a small increase isn't likely to cause any harm...
     
  14. rthomas771

    rthomas771 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2008
    Messages:
    8,010
    Likes Received:
    913
    Trophy Points:
    498
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    '74 Maverick 250 5-Speed.'60 Falcon V8. '63.5 Falcon HT
    Rancheros, Falcons and Mustangs are made different around the upper shock mounting area than a Maverick...like layers of thicker metal going from one side of the car to the other.
     
  15. predfan2001

    predfan2001 David in Tn

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2010
    Messages:
    2,345
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    122
    Location:
    Clarksville Tn
    Vehicle:
    70 Mav 75 Comet 64 Comet 68 Mustang
    You can run a wider rear end like from a 67-68 Mustang and save money on having to by spacers if you use late model wheels or other wheels that aren't deep.

    I had a 68 Mustang rear end in mine with 69 Mach 1 wheels and it looked good because of the off set. Recently I installed a Maverick rear end and it looked horrible. The wheels were way in.
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2012

Share This Page