Axle Work

I'm beat.

I worked on my "Super 8" axle today... for 6 hours:

I should explain the "Super 8".

It is going to be a frankenstein axle, made from a combination of Maverick, Mustang, and Explorer parts.

GM is known for it's parts interchangeability, like the steering box from s WS6 Trans-Am bolting into a '67 Camaro... but Ford isn't known for this interchangeability.

Through some sort of anomaly of the universe, I'm building this axle.  It started with a special order 5-lug 8" (the measurement of the diameter of the ring gear) axle assembly out of a '72 Maverick.  Since there is some parts-interchangeability, I'm using the drop out third member differential from an 8" '65 Mustang, in order to gain a set of 3.55 gears, over the stock Maverick 2.47's.  Finally, I'll be using (once I find them) a set of rear disc brakes from a '96 Explorer with an 8.8 axle... as it turns out they literally BOLT on to my Maverick housing.

So, with a few more hours worth of work, and a little more parts scrounging, I should end up with a well built axle that will fit my plan/purpose pretty well, in addition to being quite the upgrade from the stock '70 axle, complete with 2.47 gears and 4-lug drum brakes.

I should get everything all buttoned up by tomorrow, get the axle assembled, painted, and ready to put in the car.

After that, it'll be time to rebuild and upgrade the front end to disc brakes, then to find a set of Cragar Mags or Centerlines to fit my new 5-lug hubs.

Cleaning

I got after the engine bay:

After a few hours of scrubbing, and a can of paint, it looks like new.  Now it's ready for an engine... almost.

Now to fix a couple of rust spots...

Parts Scrounging

Well, I've been searching all the corners of the internet for parts.

Two days ago, I FINALLY located a Maverick 5-lug axle over in Apache Junction.

I went yesterday to pick it up:

Now I'm on the hunt for some brake parts off an Explorer to complete my super 8 rear axle.

New Motor...

I was in the process of yanking the bell housing out.

I've got the old transmission out...

...and only managed to spill all 6 quarts of ATF on the garage floor!

Next step: pressure washing rat feces and leaves out.

Transmission and such...

So I bought a transmission two nights ago, a '64 1/2 Ford 4-speed toploader.

I'll be ripping the old C4 out tomorrow.

I found this written on my rear window tonight:

...which inspired me.

I've figured this will be fitting, for a 575hp supercharged Maverick:

The Plan

So here's the deal, this is where the Maverick is going.

I've grown up listening to my dad's stories of the late 60's and early 70's.  When he came home from Vietnam, everyone he knew and ran around with had some kind of ridiculous car- Roadrunners, GTOs, Challengers, a guy that shoe-horned a 427 into a Vega, and so on.  After hearing all these stories after so many years, I've always wanted an old car- like one of the ones in his stories.

However, that restricts me to a few cars.  A '69 428 Cobra-Jet (what he had), a GTO Judge, or a Maverick.  He had a friend that bought a brand new '70 Maverick (in 1970) and ripped out the entire driveline, to be replaced with a 429 and a C6.

So anyways, with these stories floating around in my head, I've decided where I want to take the Maverick that is sitting in my garage.

I'm going to build it "period correct" to the early 70's.  It'll be quick, but I won't say fast.

Here's the way I'm going to set it up:

-351c or a 302 (most likely a 302 for parts availability)

-Cheap Ford 4 speed to start.  If I blow it up, I'll stick some kind of Go-Fast 4 speed in.

-Deeper gears in the rear end, 3.55's if I can scavenge a Pinto, or 3.80's if I have to buy gears.

-Redo/restore the interior.  Grabber bucket seats, new dash- all in black.

-Paint the exterior in a Boss 302 clone style.

-Cragar SS mags, in true 70's style.

I found this picture a while ago, and have always held onto it:

I'm thinking this is where I might end up.

Not as lowered/low profile tired/concept-y... but it should give a general idea.

It's really exciting to FINALLY be doing this, it's something I've wanted to do for a LONG time.

Pictures

Here it is.

I bought another vehicle off a farm.

I can only imagine what critters are invading my garage now.

The future home of a blown 302, or maybe a 351 Cleveland...?

The interior.

SHAG carpet.

This is the third project in a row that came with shag carpet.

1970 Ford Maverick Build- Day One

So as time goes on, I always have my eyes open for some kind of deal- that trait runs in my family.

I've got a short list of things I look for every now and then.

Examples are:

Ford Mavericks

'69 Fastback Mustangs (that someone doesn't appreciate)

'65-'66 Thunderbirds

Old, non-rusted jeeps

etc...

Anyways, out of my Nyquil-zombie fog today, I decided to look at craigslist to see what I could find.

Low and behold, there was a non-beat, non-wrecked Maverick, in Queen Creek... with an asking price of only $1000.

My dad called on it (I hack and cough when I try to talk) and got all the info.

-1970

-Original owner

-No/limited rust

-Two 6cyl engines (neither installed)

-Some form of automatic transmission

We go look at it (in my Nyquil-zombie fog)... and it is EXACTLY what I've been looking for... a roller Maverick, that is not rusted together- I learned my lesson during the rust wars with the '49 Willys Jeep.

It's now sitting in the garage.  I'll have pictures tomorrow-ish or so.