What to do with 2 maverick cars?

Hello all,

I have a dilemma with 2 mavericks. I have a 1971 mav whose interior and the engine is amazing, no crack on the dash and cold A/C working. But it's a Georgia car and it has a lot of rust. I also have an 1973 mav that is stripped down to only the body and suspension. Body is great but needs paint. My question, should I just fix the rust areas on the 71 using the 1973 part/panels or should I transfer everything onto the 1973 empty body?

1973: only body, no windows, no wiring, no interior, no engine, just the front and rear suspension, needs minor rust patch work, no major body work, has no bondo anywhere, don't know condition of the cowel but good chance that it's OK

1971: gorgeous interior, floor pans on passenger and driver side in decent shape but eventually will need to be changed, engine is a 200cc and in great shape, engine compartment is in great shape, interior is almost 99% perfect, trunk has a nasty hole near the right rear tail light and the quarter panel on the right rear will need to be changed, the left rear quarter panel is decent, front fenders are decent but I'm sure I'll find some rust, the cowel has rust when I look down into it from outside but don't know if it'll leak but I'm pretty sure it's shot.

thanks a bunch

 

Since you don't mention the '71 being a Grabber, I'd transfer the parts from it to the rustless '73. You'll be way ahead in getting a nice car
starting with a rust free platform. This is assuming the '73 is not a 4 door?

 

i'd take the one with the body in the best condition and transfer everything from the other car. small bumpers, glass, etc. and go with a 302 at the same time.

 

Well according to the "Old Cars Price Guide" for August of 2007:
73 2dr plain jane Maverick in perfect condition is worth $4500.
The same 71 2dr plain jane Maverick is worth $7800 in perfect condition.
Both for six cylinder cars. The 71 will always be worth more than the 73 so if you want to invest the time to repair it you have to decide whether it will be worth it. I wouldn't tear the 73 apart to do it though. If the 71 is worth putting back together then it should be done with a parts car and not a car that is in good shape to begin with. The floor pans from Mustangs are available and not expensive. They do require modification but look good when done. Body patches can be made from any number of cars you just match the curves as closely as you can and weld them in.
You can find all the pieces for your 71 to get it back on the road. It may take time but if you shop wisely you can end up with two cars that are both a valuable piece of Ford history.
Paul

 

...to fix the '71 you will have to take it apart like the '73...so pick the lesser of the two evils

and about the "Old cars price guide"
"that's funny there, i Don't care who you are".

... ...

 

This is easy...like shooting fish in a barrel:

As soon as you mentioned COWL RUST .....move everything over to the rust free 1973.

Friends don't let friends fix rust.

 

Take the rust free stuff and run quickly over to the rust free car and install it, PERIOD. COWL RUST is the worst thing on these cars, easier to put in quarters, or floors, well I am sure there is something that is harder, but I can't think of it right now. Give me bent over rust any day.

 

Will everything fit on the 73 from the 71 without too much grinding/sawing/cutting?

Also, how difficult you think it'll be to transfer that dash over? I feel like that will be the hardest thing. Any chance I can keep the 71 driveable and continue with the transfer?

It's just such a shame to see a 71 go

 

what do the vents actually do? I wouldn't mind welding up the vents on mine, because I think my cowl just got a hole in it, and it sounds like everybody has had so much fun with fixing it!!!

 

I think the vent is there for air coming into the cabin, isn't that right?

 

It's not a matter of just welding it up (closed) it is getting down in there to do it I believe is the big PITA. If everything is stripped down as far as you are talking about on the 1973, by the time you are done transferring the good parts from the 71 onto the 73 it will essentially be a 1971 Maverick with a 1973 title. Everything WILL fit and will be pretty straight forward bolt on without cutting and sawing anything. The main difference in the 71 and 73 was the 73 has a bigger front bumper. 73 still had the small rear bumper and the fromnt bumper wasn't the huge one like on the 74-77 but you shouldn't have any problems swapping everything over to the 73 if you have the time and know how... even if you don't have the know how the guys on this board will keep you on the right track

 

do not restore the rusted one.. too much worked involved.

i would take a bare rust free body any day and build it up

 

That's great advice. I guess I'll get to work on the 73 body. I'll start transferring things over. Is there a step wise method I should follow? Seems overwhelming.

 

Not only all the obvious ideas already stated but you could do the paint and change color if you wanted. Then when you transfer over it would be done. And I know alot of people don't like this but when you move the dash over I would keep the 71 title with the dash. So.... 73 becomes 71, the only other place that has a vin # is along the top of inner fender on the drivers side. This spot rusts out on alot of cars and all you have left is the dash vin #. Just something to think about.

 

My 74 has the VIN stamped on the inner fender on the PASSENGER side under the fender lip, can't be seen unless the fender has been removed, or at least unbolted along the top edge and pulled back/up enough to read it.

rk