Posted by Steamboat (IP: 209.214.189.174) on November 03, 1999 at 20:33:29:
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Robert Fulton, aka "Steamboat". In addition to my "regular" transportation, I own a '71 Grabber , a '73 2 dr, and an '80 Lincoln Versailles. Perhaps a little background would be helpful.
I bought my first Maverick in May 1969. It had a 6 cyl and auto trans - thats it. Great little car. Put over 100,000 miles on it in 3 years. Sold it when I changed companies and got a company car. In June 1986 I bought the 1973 Maverick (200 6 cyl, auto trans, factory air) so my daughter would have transportation while she was going to college. When she got a new car in June of 1988 I parked the '73 in the barn with the thought that someday I would redo all the mechanicals and have a spare car. A little later I decided that "someday" I would turn it into a street rod. One of the things on my wish list was rear disk brakes. The car became known as my "someday car".
Then about 4 months ago, I found a Ford 9" rear with factory disk brakes. So I bought the '80 Versailles it was attached to. Then during a planning session with a friend who is a "street rod" rebuilder, he mentioned the cost to do a complete rebuild on a 302. I dropped my teeth, then he told me about a brand new SEFI 302 from Ford Motorsports priced at $1795. To shorten the story, one of those 302's is now in my garage. Then I bought the rust bucket Grabber (sight unseen). Can get some Grabber parts from it, but the hood may be too far gone. So I am looking for a Grabber hood.
My initial thought was to add power steering and brakes, but I have decided to keep the manual steering thanks Charlie). However, the Vice-President of finance (my wife) wants the power brakes, and since she said "Go buy the new 302, now!", I bet she will get her way. So I am looking for a power brake booster/master cyl/brake pedal assy also. I am still researching what front disk brake parts from the Versailles will work in the "73.
The '73 will end up looking like a '71 Grabber. Anything that does into the car will be new or like new. I am only going to do this once. In the end, I want a nice looking Maverick that is very reliable, very streetable, and will break 13 seconds in the quarter mile. I will only race it until that goal is achieved. Then I will drive it to work once a week or so, rod shows on weekends, Roundups on Labor Day weekends, and maybe blow away a 'vette on occasion.
I want to say thanks for all the great info here on the board as well as the info I have received from several of you by email/phone. Hopefully I will be able to contribute from time to time.