1974 Mexican Maverick Restoration

more than ever! ive come a long way, now i wanna finish it right!!
but it will cost me a fortune in the end... especially in europe.

 

why buy new when you got a welder and some brains?!?!?!?!

started repairing my small bumper bracket which have been cut up very ugly to make them fit the old attaching holes of a big bumper.

first i took the arms apart, as they were welded together.
to close the burnt out holes i used some big washers because i dint have 14 gauge metal around. like that there will stay a small hole, but at least a nice one and no one will ever notice it hasnt to be like that.

the bumpers before




opened the holes to fit in the washer, welded and grinded it back down.
first arm





second arm also with washers






pretty proud how that turned out, with some paint you wont see nothing!

then cleaning and improving old welds which had been made horribly by preowner



and to close the big hole i tried it with filling it with spots.
it worked but im not sure if it will be strong enough. if not ill change it with a sheet metal patch.



didnt grind that down yet, tonite ill see if that worked...

 

Hey , it is your Mav, nice video.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VepArJLr594


Cool...

 

yeah exactly! that WAS my mav!
this one is gone forever
now its not as rustbucket anymore...

 

bodyshop started rescuing my grabberhood.

the will perform a swap of the front of the normal hood to make the form of the grabber hood.
hope this will come out at least a little as i hope to... not sure yet.





the inner part will be used from my old hood as the other was worse

 

Here's hoping for the best.

Do these guys know metal work or are they the typical bondo masters?

Has your latest package arrived?

 

Stock hoods had a ridge, where Grabber hoods are smooth...If they keep the ridge, that'll be different.

 

its a pretty big bodyshop who does alot of crash repairs, so they should know.
and believe me i wont accept a gramm more bondo than really needed!! im a branded kid...
no package yet...

they will flatten the ridge, i want it stock grabber hood looking. not sure if they will find the perfect shape again, but only a superinsider will see a difference...

 

is the edge that goes in the center in direction of the car the same between normal and grabber hood? or is the one of the grabber hood more accentuated?

 

Very nice!!! I will be doing exact thing here soon! Nice to see pictures.

Did you gently lift the fold seam off of the structure, or ?

 

your hood is damaged too? or just the lip?

do you mean how they separated the two parts of the hood?
dont really know, as i havent been there, but it looks like they opened the spot welds and bent the lip of the upper part away to separate...

 

im starting to prepare to take my car to europe.
it will not as planned get painted in mexico, as im missing my quarters and cowl welding and lot of details.
so now ill paint it in primer and hope it survives the journey in the container without rusting.
then in switzerland it will get complete soda blasted, welded all and painted there.
so started with the engine bay that i can put the engine back in to bring it to get made the exhaust.


then preparing the engine for the new water pump. removing tons of silicone which was used to seal...


old water pump was just a little rusty...


then test fitting the new arrived reverse lights for the 69 mustang rear valance...


will look great with the exhaust coming throug the valance

also test fitted the overflow tank, will fit nicely



i have a second of these overflow tanks to make a windshieldwasher system with this as a reservoir and a little pump.
but will be difficult to find a place to put it, as its almost too long with 15".
will be checking that when engine is back in...
maybe ill place the overflow closer to the radiator and washer tank in its place so they would be side by side

 

yesterday arrived my mexican made 70 front valance replica.
i had to fight 6 month to get it, as the seller first told me 7 days and never sent it.
finally it arrived. its not perfect as a NOS one, but for 150USD new not too bad.
couldnt check final fitment yet as i dont have my new fenders yet and the one i have to try are not perfect.
also some detailing to make and the welds to improve, but it will work...

it came like this, not painted and with little surface patina





test fitted to my old fenders it seems to be ok more or less...



and the chin spoiler fits also more or less with alittle air in between...



i like the look, will get better when it will be complete, aligned and in ride height...


cleaned it up and will hammer it a bit more in shape

 

going on with the assembly for shipping. car is almost completely primered, looks nice in flat black...

finally got the new driveshaft together. 3" aluminum, all new yokes and spicer u-joints






driveshaft angles not too bad for a first try, the angle of the rear end is not fixed yet as the spring shoes are not welded yet.
will be done as a last thing when all the weight is back in the car and ride height defined...


preparing to get an exhaust done by a local shop in town. will be 2.5 inox with an H under the tranny and two flowmaster super 55s
checking how the tubes will have space with the driveshaft to not be too low


outlet of the muffler is pretty close to the rear end, lets see how it will fit best


will pull them up in the center close to the differential to clear the dampers and rear stabilizer bar

and then back out to make them fit in between gas tank and spring


the plan, but ill go with H instead of X to make it easier and get more torque in lower rpm. also a nicer rumble

that how the tubes of the shop look in an example.
not top notch but for the moment enough.
and paying 150USD for all tubes, bending, welding and installation can not be beaten

 

then i installed the new hydraulich steering gear to check clearance to engine and headers. its a tight fit but will work.
also checking on max steering angle and preparing to cut the column shaft to fit into the ishaft yoke









and put in the old carpet to check if it can be used as a base to make the new one.
lets see what they can do to make a new one fit...