Posted by rickyracer (IP: 209.20.173.66) on November 04, 1999 at 00:45:20:
In Reply to: Introduction (long) posted by Steamboat on November 03, 1999 at 20:33:29:
:Steamboat, rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr welcome aboard, so as long as you're not a land luber, just brings out the sailor in me,
you'll find weight is going to be your biggest enemy in the quest for 13s, power brakes, power steering and front discs will make it very fun on the street, and if you haven't gotten a trans yet the AOD is a good way to go. Then you can put lower rearend gears inthe beast which will also gave you a better shot at the 13s and still get you down the road with some low rpms in overdrive.
The heads are where your real power is and still be driveable. Roller rocker arms, windage tray, are free horsepower and also make for a better engine.
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.