I sent my 351 Cleveland out to the engine builder last year and finally got a few pictures of the progress. We started out with a rust monster and now it's looking like a polished gem. It's been cleaned, decked, line bored and the cylinders bored 30 over. This engine sat in the Maverick outside for the better part of 15 years. When I tore it apart late in 2007, I found out that it had loaded up with rain water that came in through the Grabber scoop holes and the radiator support. I had it sealed up pretty good but the damn chipmunks got into all of my sealing supplies and had opened everything up again. The distributor and carb were not installed and that was how the water got in. It rusted everything up solid. It's just hard to believe that it's the same block.
it was just ...seasoned...like, my 87' roller motor... ...Frank... it was laying on the ground and covered with carpet, 2 cement blocks and 2 tires...
In honor of the late Paul Harvey, here is "the rest of the story". The sad part of all of this was back when the engine was sealed up and left to reside in the engine bay of the Maverick all of those years, it had been completely rebuilt. Rebuilt completely stock but never even started once. I got tired of laying in gravel and mud trying to restore this car and just lost interest in the entire project for a long long time. I even used to crack the drain plug every now and then and never saw a drop of water drip out. It must have come un-sealed and filled with water sometime in year right before I had my garage built. When the garage was finished, I pulled the car in and cracked the drain plug and filled a drain pan with H20. I about cried. It's all water over the dam now - so to speak. I look at the bright side. It now gets to become a 393 stroker and that wouldn't have happened if it didn't drown itself.
Looks Good! Did you get much done on the car this winter being it was such a mild one ?(ya right!)...Jack
Hey Jack, Just spent my time and money collecting more parts for the spring. Finally got my power in my garage and picked up a tank of gas for my welder so I should be able to make some progress soon. Just got my 9 inch up on the work bench to start figuring out the 4 link brackets. I see on the board that you've been busy. Maybe I'll get down your way one of these days. Bob
i will be back soon it has been over ,well too long. i have been fighting a foot problem .i will be able to work on my maverick soon. right now i am in a wheelchair. but i know that i can park this chair soon.
I hope you get well soon. I see that you haven't posted is quite a while. I also see that you are from Scranton and I am just a few miles south of Wilkes-Barre in Mountaintop. There are quite a few more Maverick/Comet owners locally since you've been gone. We'll have to have a mini meet some day. Take care of yourself, Bob
hello bob i'am looking forward to talking to you and other maverick people. i worked in mountain top at one time. i worked at RAF in the cnc milling shop.
