I'm restoring a 73 Mav grabber. anyone know of any classic mechanical or body problems that I should keep an eye out for??? Also looking for a front hood emblem, the round one w/ the bull horns. Anyone have a spare I can buy? Thanks, Andrew brackenclocks@alltel.net
There is someone on the board that nade a very good replica on a CNC, it is a ditrct bolt on. If you look on E-bay he has them on there
The grill emblems aren't cheap but do show up on eBay quite often ... However, that is not the correct grill for a 73 Grabber ...
You would have a ,much bettertime finding one on this site if you post a wanted ad in the wanted forum. Please read the rules before making an ad. Thanks and glad you made it tothis wonderful site!!!!!!!!
The worst body problems our cars have is rust. The usual body rust is easy to spot just by looking around at the car. It's the hidden rust that you don't see right away that is the issue. Rusted out cowls are a big problem. Because of the way the cars are built, you really can't see if they are rusted out, but if the front floors are very wet after it rains, it's a good bet that rusted out cowls are the problem. Just dump a bucket of water through the cowl vents and see if the floor gets wet. The picture below is actually of a Mustang, but since they rust out in the same place, it should give you an idea of what I'm talking about. Not an easy fix, but it can be done. As a rule, if the cowls are leaking, then the front floors will be rusty or rotted through too. Pull up the carpeting and really check the floor pans over. Floor pans for Mavericks are not reproduced as of yet, but a good bodyman can repair them and some folks here have had luck pre-fabbing Mustang floor pans to fit. Another common rust spot are the torque boxes. Be sure to look them over too. A rust problem I have found quite common in PA cars are the rear frame rails. I always check them out. The trunk floors are rot spots too. Pull out the trunk mat and look everything over, especially the insides of the quarters down in the wheel wells. The insides of the inner quarters are prone to rusting away too. Run your hand along the inside of the quarter panel lip. If it's rusted out up there, you will feel it. Also check to see if the front and rear windshields are leaking too. In that case, the rust holes are usually hidden behind the mouldings. All of these rust problems are repairable, but how extensive it gets will determine how expensive it will be to fix.
The fenders too can have rust in the reinforcement area, near the rear of the fenders. Front hood edges are another spot to look at, inside and out. Floor pans in the rear seat area. Also the area where the shock tower meets up with the apron, along the area the the fender bolts to it, common in early Mustangs too.
Those deep areas inside the trunk down by the rear fenders. You know, where you drop all the tools, and years later, find them all! Pretty much anywhere water might seep in and settle. If you have a "halo" top or vinyl top, and your car has spent any time outside, it will have rust on the hood, especially toward the front near the windshield. They often didn't paint the roof if the car was to get a vinyl top, and the top backing acts like a sponge to hold water against the metal.
how about a list parts that doesn't rust corrode or pit. Oh how I love my car it's over 30 years old what else can you expect.
I have this problem. Is this area prime candidate for cutting and replacing metal, or will bondo have to "fix the situation"? I just pulled out the interior and the floors look very good just a very small amount of surface rust.
