MAVERICK DO'S AND DON'TS

Nope, just been driving it and fixing the little things - distributor issues, exhaust hangars hitting, etc.

 

Now Frank.....paint jailers across the country are gonna form a posse and come for you if you spread this idea around too much. My car is going to get the deluxe version of the 20 ft. special someday. I am a sucker for shiny things.

 

Do:
1. Manage expectations (it's an old, simple economy car and always will be; that's its superpower, fast or slow)
2. Learn from the best practices and mistakes of others (read this website first)
3. Remember the car is only original once. That said, ditch the points and condenser, etc
4. Prioritize safety first; replace ALL rubber and install disk brakes up front
5. Before starting any task, mentally define the end-state

Do Not:
1. Fix what ain't broke. After five decades, everything is slightly broke
2. Paint it until the interior and mechanicals are sound (unless doing a rotisserie restoration, lucky you)
3. Buy a rusty car (unless you enjoy pain and disappointment more than driving) Really, don't
4. Buy parts on eBay - nearly always overpriced and usually misrepresented
5. Reinvent the wheel (see Do#2 above)

 

Do:
- bucket seats
- headlight relays
- disc brakes
- new leaf springs

Don’t:
- buy “hopeful” parts
- mistreat your dash pad
- skip steps, cut corners etc. The extra details in your work amplify the pride.
- stop believing (horrible horrible joke. But seriously)

 

Do:
- Ensure your Mav has brakes that match its power levels.

Don't:
- Start tearing into your vehicle before you have a fully matured direction you intend to go with the build. I could've just done buckets, some gauges, wheels, and dropped a drivetrain in and been done. Now the car's in a million pieces and hasn't seen the road in about 15 years.

 

That kind of stuff happens more often than not with exploded parts resto's. Every now and then somebody'll fool me and end up fully restoring a car that's had parts spread over two or more bays but it's usually just too overwhelming of a task for most folks to tackle. I did it once myself and a once beautiful car that roamed the roads stayed forever in the field. ......rotting away. Finally sold her off a few years ago and now....it's sitting in the field again...........

 

If you ever take the trunk lid off...leave passenger's side hinge sticking up in the air. It's not fun getting it back up once pushed down

 

I take the spring off so it drops. That hinge sticking up is an injury waiting to happen in my world.

 

Can't footstomp this one enough. I could have changed a rod bearing and been back on the road: now I'm in year 8 of quagmire.

 

I hear you loud n' clear my brother. I feel like going to Walmart and buying a whole box of crying towels...I can send you some too.