Blue My Mind, 1972 Ford Maverick

[MTZ28]

Beautiful color, love the blue. I'll bring mine by when your ready. Seriously though, love the paint. Great job.

[wfo guy]

Lots of work. Looking good.

[HotRod47]

I got the roof and both quarters all sanded and buffed. Now time to move on to some mechanical things. I bent up the stainless brake lines, got the heater box and inside heater hoses hooked up. Then I dropped the engine in place, what a moment! A little too much chrome for me, but the valve covers and air cleaner are not staying. I have a set of paint matched Billet Specialties covers to install later after all the fab/dirty work is done. Don't want to scratch them.

Then I got the car back off the floor and up on the Quick Lift ramps. Now I can install the transmission, run the fuel lines, get the driveshaft in etc. So much to do..........

[wfo guy]

This is the point where patience comes in. I hope you have more than me. Looking good!

[HotRod47]

So this was a very busy weekend in the shop working on the car. Some big steps forward.

Stainless braklines are all installed!
AOD Transmission is installed!
Ford Motorsport aluminum driveshaft is installed!
Fuel lines are all installed!
Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator installed!
Coil packs are installed!
Radiator is installed!
Lokar throttle cable installed!

Yesterday was a long day, but got a lot done.

[HotRod47]

This morning I mounted the brake pedal assembly. Need to do the throttle as well, but found where I have to modify the mount for my liking. I also mounted the seats one last time to make sure things were good just for drill. I am dropping them off tomorrow at the upholsterers and wanted to be 100% positive it all worked properly before I did that. Happy with the fitment, I had my daughter come out and sit to see how things adjust for her. This is one happy kid.

[wfo guy]

I don't remember reading so I'm asking, what is the ignition system?

[HotRod47]

I don't remember reading so I'm asking, what is the ignition system?

I am not a fan of the look of the distributor up front the way Ford does it. So in searching around for something different I ran across CompuTronics distributors ignition system. It works really well and cleans up the look compared to the normal Ford design.

[Shawn01754]

Haha Awsome!

[Koupe68]

Glenn,
I've read through this thread and came back to this section. Since you installed a SBF, what oil pan did you use? Does the R&C IRS require a rear sump pan?

[HotRod47]

Glenn,
I've read through this thread and came back to this section. Since you installed a SBF, what oil pan did you use? Does the R&C IRS require a rear sump pan?

Yes you must use the rear sump pan. I just blasted and repainted the stock 89 Mustang GT pan and it fit perfect.

[HotRod47]

So I have started the wiring on the car. Definitely not my forte. I have some help from a good friend that has wired tons of hot rods, so all will be good.




I decided I couldn't live with the coil packs black. They stuck out like a sore thumb, so I took them back off and painted them body color with matte clear.







I started the plumbing of the heater lines from the engine to the fender well. I am using the stainless hose and ends from Gotta Show. Pretty nice stuff.




I installed the parts on the back of the car. Anyone that has been following along knows I pie cut the bumper ends and reshaped them. While not fitted to the new Pro Touring 3/16 gap, this is tons better than any factory Maverick. Love the look of that chrome from Advanced Chrome Plating in Tn. Also installed the trunk lock key and the stainless fuel filler from Johnson's Hot Rod Shop.

For comparison....











I had found a perfect set of NOS tinted glass for the car. Everything but the windshield, which is fine since it is available still. Here is the painted 1/4 window frames all painted and the glass urethaned into the frame.




I have 13" disc brakes at all four corners from Engineered Components Inc. They use all GM parts so if I ever have an issue while traveling everything can be sourced from any good parts store. Here is what the factory, very rough cast caliper is like from GM. No thanks, so I spent 2 hours per caliper smoothing them. Then when done I painted them all body color.

[HotRod47]

So its a freezing cold 20 degrees outside, and the heater in my shop isn't working. Made for a chilly day working on the car, but, I have to push through if I want to ever drive this thing.

Today I pulled all the front suspension back out of the car. When I installed it, I did so loosely and with out any grease or anti seize. I wanted to rip it back apart, make sure everything was lubed up properly, and put back together correctly this time around. I had done all that originally just to make the car a roller, but now as we are in final assembly mode, it was time to get it all set.

In doing so, I got the brakes installed for the last time. This is a set of 13" drilled and slotted rotors, and the calipers I smoothed and painted. I am LOVING the look!!




I installed the dash for the final time. The gauge cluster will come back out for wiring though.






CAn't tell you how much I like this look. It was soooooo worth the effort!




And of course a parting shot of the rear, with the license plate installed.

[wfo guy]

Glenn, I'm real excited for you at this stage. However, I would have had to fix the heater first. LOL

[HotRod47]

Glenn, I'm real excited for you at this stage. However, I would have had to fix the heater first. LOL

I hear you, but the heater is waiting on parts. Gotta do what you gotta do!

[HotRod47]

So there is a blizzard going on outside, and the CT Governor as issued a travel ban. So whats a guy to do? Walk out to the garage, turn the heat up and get to work!

Today was spent doing more mechanical assembly stuff. New valve covers are now installed. Matching air cleaner is stuck in transport, I will paint it over the weekend and install next week. Spark plug wires made and routed nice and neat. I made the transmission cooler lines and installed them. Also, because the electric fan was going to hit the snout of the water pump pulley, I had a friend bend me up a new one and offset the fan. Not optimal, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

[wfo guy]

Great way to spend a snow day.

[OLDFLM]

Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?

[HotRod47]

Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?

Lol...... Still plugging away. Have had to do some travel for work so that has slowed me a bit, but I am still on track. Sadly with the wiring and small details being done it isn't things that show up in photo's for an update.

My goal all winter was to have the car done and in time for the Goodguys show in Rhinebeck, NY. While I still plan on having it done by then, I just found out that our town has scheduled graduation for the high school seniors that same weekend. I'm not sure my oldest daughter would really understand me missing her graduating for a car show!? Lol..... Looks like my first big event will be the Syracuse Nationals now. I'll be there for work anyway in the PPG booth, and have the car outside in the show.

[Tincup]

Lol...... Still plugging away. Have had to do some travel for work so that has slowed me a bit, but I am still on track. Sadly with the wiring and small details being done it isn't things that show up in photo's for an update.

My goal all winter was to have the car done and in time for the Goodguys show in Rhinebeck, NY. While I still plan on having it done by then, I just found out that our town has scheduled graduation for the high school seniors that same weekend. I'm not sure my oldest daughter would really understand me missing her graduating for a car show!? Lol..... Looks like my first big event will be the Syracuse Nationals now. I'll be there for work anyway in the PPG booth, and have the car outside in the show.

Too bad you won't be at Reinbeck, I was looking forward to seeing this beauty in person. Syracuse is nice, but it is so damn hot, and not many trees...