Blue My Mind, 1972 Ford Maverick

[blade]

Great build so far, I think the final product is going to be sweet. There was a maverick grabber that bounced around in my family for a long time, wish I would have picked it up because I think it went for scrap.

[the dan]

awesome build, Glenn where in Ct are you located?

[HotRod47]

awesome build, Glenn where in Ct are you located?

I am in Suffield, across the river from Enfield. However, I work for a PPG jobber and am all over CT during the day.

Love your project, really nice fab work!

[HotRod47]

As this work week came to a close I had planned on spending the better part of the weekend in the garage working on the car. Then came Fridays school shooting here in Connecticut. As a parent of school age girls I was deeply affected by this. I had no will to go into the garage to work on the car. I instead spent the day watching the news listening to the coverage of the event.

This morning I made my way into the garage to get some work done. It was actually therapy getting out there to stop thinking about the last 48 hours and what had happened. I was able to tune it all out for a while and worked on the car. So once again, the title of this thread has proven to be true, Therapy Sessions. For some it means going to see and speak with a therapist, for me it clears my head to go and work on the car

Anyway, I started by emptying out the trunk. In a way it pains me to cut up this perfect floor. Not an ounce of rust anywhere here. But, I did buy a new gas tank from Tanks Inc. http://www.tanksinc.com, they don't make a replacement for the Maverick, but they do make a fuel injection ready drop in tank for an early Mustang. In order to install it though I would have to cut the floors.

This is what I started with:


Here is the gas tank form Tanks Inc. As I said it is fuel injection ready and is set up for a drop in fuel pump and fuel sender.



Here you can see where I have rough cut the floor and have set the tank in the hole. I am getting it leveled in here and centered.




I started by making poster board templates of the panels I will need to have bent up in 18g steel. Here I have the front and rear panels made.




Here I have the sides made as well. It is all starting to come together. My plan this week with a sheet metal break bend the pieces for me. I am hoping to get them back by the weekend so I can get them installed and all welded together over the upcoming holiday break.





I also took the time to check the fit of the new reproduction drop offs. They fit great. I am going to wait to weld them in so I can make sure they fit up with the new quarters just right.

Thats it for this update......

Glenn

[streetrod77]

I'm so sadden about the shooting x2. A couple of hours before that shooting, we had an police officer get killed here locally. She was a mother of 4 small kids. She and a partner was serving a drug warrant. I worked with this lady everyday for about 1 1/2 hears. I have not worked on my car all weekend. Thanks for posting. Maybe I will try starting back on my project too.

[HotRod47]

I'm so sadden about the shooting x2. A couple of hours before that shooting, we had an police officer get killed here locally. She was a mother of 4 small kids. She and a partner was serving a drug warrant. I worked with this lady everyday for about 1 1/2 hears. I have not worked on my car all weekend. Thanks for posting. Maybe I will try starting back on my project too.

Sorry to hear about your loss as well. On Sunday working on the car was cathartic.

[RMMiller]

Bet there's more than one member on the Maverick Forum that would love to have that trunk pan! I have been considering doing the same when the time comes.

[streetrod77]

My gas tank was so rusty I just put a fuel cell in the trunk.

[HotRod47]

My gas tank was so rusty I just put a fuel cell in the trunk.

I didn't want to lose the usefulness of the trunk. I like to travel to shows and want to have room for cleaning supplies, chairs and an overnight bag.

[HotRod47]

I am starting to finish up the trunk floor/ gas tank project. After making the templates I had a local fab shop bend up the panels in 20g steel. Last night I spent some time fitting them in the trunk. I then tack welded them together.




Once I had everything tacked I dropped in the tank to check for final fit.






Today I welded them together solid, ground the welds and then sprayed two coats of DP epoxy, after drying I then sprayed two coats of another PPG Commercial coatings product. That is the same product I used on the entire bottom of the car. Tomorrow I will weld the panel in the car and then touch up where the welds are.


Stay tuned for more pictures of all that.

Glenn

[HotRod47]

I had shipped my window regulators to Nu-Relcs to be made as a power window regulator. This is not something they offer in their catalog yet, but they were willing to make them up for me. Now they will create a part number and begin to sell them. Last evening the big brown truck arrived with a nice box full of parts for the Maverick.

As you can see in the pictures Nu-Relics has done an amazing job of recreating our regulators for power windows. They look incredible.

The box as I opened it....




Some of the included paperwork




I spent the money and had them ship me new power window switches. It also came with an all new wiring harness.



Like I said before, are there cheaper options for the do it yourself? Sure. But for the money this is the way to go. All new parts, new wiring, wiring diagrams etc. Money well spent in my eyes.

[HotRod47]

I have now finally made the decision on the color combo for my car.

I do plan on putting stripes on it, but want something a little more subtle. While not completely ghost like, I like this better then silver or black against the main body color.

I hope you all like it! But if not, well thats ok, I do.

[Evoix]

Paint looks so nice I'd be scared to drive it anywhere...
But it does look sweet.

[HotRod47]

Paint looks so nice I'd be scared to drive it anywhere...
But it does look sweet.

Thanks!
I hope/ expect that when I start painting the car it will come out as good. This here is just a small 18"x 24" test panel.

[RMMiller]

The power window kit will be a nice piece, glad there is going to be a bolt in when I'm ready! Paint looks great, I like it.

[HotRod47]

Today I got the last remnants of the driver side quarter cut off and all ready to start fitting the new NOS quarter in place. I still need to prep and paint the entire inner structure to protect what is here from rusting anymore.



I welded in the panel I made for the gas tank. I then used black seam sealer to keep everything water tight.




Last test fit of the tank to make sure everything is still good. I am going to use button head stainless bolts to keep it in place.





And a view from the bottom....

[streetrod77]

I love the way the tank fits. It makes me think about removing my fuel cell. Great color combo too.

[HotRod47]

I love the way the tank fits. It makes me think about removing my fuel cell. Great color combo too.

This is a really easy upgrade for the tank. The best part about it over the fuel cell is that you get your trunk back! I used a 16 gallon 65-68 tank. But the 69-72 are 22 gallon. Same basic dimensions other than it is not flat on top, it raises up for the additional fuel. So the bottom, and the side measurements all remain the same. I didn't go that route because I figure after two hours or so of cruising I am ready for a break anyway. So no need for the extra gas.

[GrabberGT]

This is a really easy upgrade for the tank. The best part about it over the fuel cell is that you get your trunk back! I used a 16 gallon 65-68 tank. But the 69-72 are 22 gallon. Same basic dimensions other than it is not flat on top, it raises up for the additional fuel. So the bottom, and the side measurements all remain the same. I didn't go that route because I figure after two hours or so of cruising I am ready for a break anyway. So no need for the extra gas.

I went with a Ricks 22 gallon in mine. I had them center the filler neck also. I didnt like the tank be off sided. He was running a special on the 22. The 16 gallon would have cost about the same if not a little more. I have yet to top the tank off. LOL. My install looks a lot like yours except I made the tub a little deeper so that I could still have a flush floor.

[HotRod47]

I went with a Ricks 22 gallon in mine. I had them center the filler neck also. I didnt like the tank be off sided. He was running a special on the 22. The 16 gallon would have cost about the same if not a little more. I have yet to top the tank off. LOL. My install looks a lot like yours except I made the tub a little deeper so that I could still have a flush floor.

I love your install and tank. I was very close to going with a Ricks tank. But in all honesty it was just too expensive for me right now. I have been spending money like crazy lately and needed to spend a little wisely on this item. I also plan on making a cover like you did so I will have a nice flat floor. Nice job!!

Glenn