UK Maverick

Hi all

As the title suggests im in the UK and own a 1973 250 Auto LDO in Medium Green with a dark green halo vinyl roof.

I bought this as a stop gap whilst I restrore my 65 Cyclone, but I have found myself wanting to do more and more to the Maverick

I imported the car from NorCal a couple of months back and have now registered it in the UK. Just now im going through the mechanical's as it has not been tagged since 2013 so it needed going through.

I fitted a new brake master cylinder and have done around 100 miles in it, but it overheats on faster roads. I have removed the thermostat and flushed the cooling system which has made it better but its still not as it should be, so have ordered a new radiator, thermostat, water pump & head gasket from Rockauto, so am currently waiting for those parts to turn up.

Whilst im waiting I have decided that I hate the medium green and much prefer the medium lime green So I have ordered some 1970 Grabber side decals & a 1973 hood decals. So the plan is now to get it into my shop and prep it for a color change and remove the ldo side trim and weld up the holes.

So I will update the thread once work starts (just need to finish of a VW first),

Also my friend in NorCal is looking out for a 5.0 roller motor for me at the moment, so will has some V8 swap questions in the near future

Pics of the Maverick as I purchased it in my garage

More soon

Cheers

Al

 

Welcome from Germany! There are a few fellow UK members on here, I'm sure they'll chime in soon. And post some pictures of your car!

 

Hello Al :
Noticed your post on the overheating problems. You've done everything right so far and I think your car would
benefit from a nice fitting Fan Shroud . It makes quite a difference in the cooling. Hope your new car is a joy to
you.
Cometized
(Chip)

 

Overheating is generally not solved by removing the thermostat, in fact, its absence can cause overheating. Recommend you refit one when you do the water pump. Also, how full are you filling the radiator? This vintage Ford radiator uses the top of the tank as the expansion chamber. The "full" level of a fully bled, cold cooling system should only be a little more than 1/4-inch above the core as visible through the filler. If you fill it to the top of the filler neck, as you would on a modern car, the coolant will expand when it warms up and be forced out of the overflow.

 

Thanks for the advise. The stat was only taken out for experimental purposes to see if it was stuck. Im a mechanic of over 35 years so have a healthy mechanical knowledge, just very little on these Ford sixes or Mavericks and their quirks.

Im still waiting for parts to turn up from Rock auto so not much to report on the overheating, but I have just scored a 5.0 HO Roller motor with the AOD with only 40k miles on it so that will be shipped to me in in good time, so will be looking for parts to make that happen in the near future.

In the mean time im going to get it into my workshop for a re-paint

 

Since the day I bought the Maverick I knew the had to be tucked.

So moved it back 2 1/4 "

Looks less like a breakfast bar now!

 

Welcome, from S.C., USA!

 

Spent yesterday stripping all the bright work off, and welded up the 38 LDO side trim holes

 

Nice job on the bumper tuck. I also like the dog dish hubcap swap. Guessing those came from your '65? I have gotten stupid money for those Mercury caps on eBay. Rat rod guys love 'em.

 

Yes the dog dishes were borrowed from my 65 although not original to the Cyclone! I have some 15" TT's to go on the Maverick once its painted

Im looking at tucking the rear bumper as well on the 73, although its a small bumper it must stick out a further 1.5". I have already removed the lower corner parts and welded up the holes, I just need to rework the bumper brackets to get it like the earlier models.

But im concentrating on the repaint for now. Well I changed my mind on the Lime green metallic, and opted for......... LOL

 

Managed to get some paint on this morning

 

The paintwork is now done, and the vinyl roof dyed black (from green), and I have now fitted back up together. Waiting on a few bits and pieces from Melvins, but its now driveable again



I still have the side grabber decals to fit but im waiting for the weather to cool down a bit as we are currently having a heatwave here in the UK lol (happens about once every 40 years).

I also cut down the rear bumper brackets by 1" to tuck it in, but the bumper needs to go up about 1 1/4" as well! So I need to remove the bumper and rework the brackets again

 

I admire the speed in which you have made all this progress on the car. Nice job.

On the 70-72 Mavericks, there is a small filler piece that helps visually take up that gap between the rear fender caps and the bumper. It looks a bit like a tiny outboard boat motor. I think the rear bumper may only need to be picked up about half as much as you are currently thinking.

This is the rear of mine. It almost has decent panel gaps and fitment ....

 

Check out the yellow and red cars in this thread to see the filler pieces I am talking about.

http://mmb.maverick.to/threads/grabber-black-out-tail-panel-treatment-questions.106007/#post-1075171http://mmb.maverick.to/threads/grabber-black-out-tail-panel-treatment-questions.106007/#post-1075171

 

wow, what a difference a little paint makes...