I'm Jake, and just bought my 1969 Maverick shell, completely rust free and 95% straight. I am building drag car, with only minor street duty, so the fact that nearly all the un-boltable parts are missing doesn't much bother me...it's that rust-free condition that I was after. I'll have to straighten out a few panels, namely the front edge of the hood, the front edge of the right fender, bang out a dent in the top of the right fender, and the lower rear quarter on the right side...it's not rusty, but it's been dented in and was just body-filled over years ago. I'll knock it out a lot closer than it is and re-fill it. The driver's side door is REALLY mangled, but if I can't get it straight I'll replace it eventually. Got all the glass, clean title, but it's missing the steering column, engine, transmission, brake master, brake lines, front headlight bezels and front hood trim...missing a few emblems here and there. Both bumpers are perfectly straight with bright clean chrome, no pimples or rust anywhere. The whole car will be completely rewired, and as I will be running in a "hot street" class, it must have all lights, complete dash, complete interior, turn signals and brake lights, and must retain the stock fuel filler...to name a few of the "street" requirements. This isn't my first car, nor first racing car...been around the block a time or two yet. Being as the car is so straight to start with, the priority upon getting it shipped home is going to be sanding what little remaning paint is on the car clean off, fixing the body damage, and primering it in a quality urethane. After that, a cheap seal-coat over the primer will hold it over until the cage and any other welding is finished, then the seal-coat gets sanded off and a proper 2K urethane will go on...Probably a dark green. I really like the Maverick in dark green with the chrome bumpers and trim...looks great that way. Dark green with black or cream stripes. I will also likely fit a Comet GT scoop, as the hood I have appears to have been drilled for one already...It's a maverick hood though. Anyone got any Gotchas to look for in the rear suspension? I've looked it over closely and can't find anything that's really wrong, but this is my first US built car...I do old Datsun 240Z and 510's, they're all independent rear ends.
These are the only shots I have yet, it's not home in KY. I am in California for another week for classes, and the car should get home about the time I do. Chopped out core support...WHY??? I checked the floor THOROUGHLY since it'd been painted...Couldn't find any rust at all. Most of the missing parts are now loaded in the car, but not everything is there. I paid an appropriate amount for what I got, and seeing as the interior has to be removed for the rear suspension mini-tub and the cage, I'm OK with it. The engine bay needs a little attention next to the brake master cylinder...someone hacked it up and I am not sure why. Will be a simple triangular patch.
Mr Selvey, I just spoke to one of your Aquaintances, Brian. I'm going to be getting some parts from him soon. There's NO reason to have to cut up any car to get the engine out...I just don't get it. I've done lots of straight-6 Dattos and even pulling it with the trans attached there's never a need to cut up the car. Anyway, it should be an easy patch job to put it back, just need to cut out a clean one from a junker shell. Plenty junker shells in KY and TN, but not very many good ones left.
Keep us updated on your progress. Sounds like we have similar builds going on our cars, mind will be a bracket racer with limited street use also. The parts you need should all be available from members here. Looking forward to your progress.
Yes, I got it off the LA Craiglist advertisement. Really, the big things I need are a manual transmission steering column (gonna go floor-shift on the transmission) and the top of the core support. The other parts, like a clean driver's side door shell, I can stand to be without for a while.
