I didn't find this newbie page until just right now, after I've already posted a few questions elsewhere. I'm in my final semester (I hope) of my Ph.D. in mechanical engineering specializing in biomedical device design and applications at the University of Minnesota. I've been drooling over getting a project car for about the past 9 years during college after my roommate introduced me into the world of classic cars. However I've been looking mostly at Chevy Nova's. College tuition bills and a marriage got in the way of that project, and now I've inherited my father-in-laws '72 Maverick Grabber. He's a podiatrist and when he was in med school and residency this was his primary driver in the Chicago/Milwaukee/Madison area - winters too Shortly after he started his own practice, this car was parked in the garage of his office building in summer of '86 and it sat there ever since. He just moved from that building and had to get the car out - it now sits in his barn, and he gave it to me to do what I want with. I have another friend with a grabber, and know how rare it is to see them, so I thought it might be a fun project to get going on. My first goal is just to get the engine running again, then dig deeper into doing a better restore. I'm still a bit unsure if I want to do a full frame-off (time and money limited for sure), or body on restore, or just get her drivable for now. I'm sure I'll be leaning heavily on your expertise during the process. I've done a bit of car repairs before, but nothing nearly as ambitious as bringing a car back from the dead like this. I've been known to be a bit of a perfectionist, so I'll have to either be satisfied with slow progress and perfect results, or decent progress with very good results. The good news (in a way) is that for about the next 14 months, my wife is doing rotations all over the country for her med school, which leaves me at home for months at a time - I'll essentially be a bachelor again for a year with tons of time on my hands (after I finish my degree - which I should be typing right now instead of messing on here). Thanks in advance for all your input! Ryan
Welcome from SW Tennessee. Get it running and driving, then think about upgrades and modifications. Brakes and suspension upgrades improve drivability much more than engine and transmission swapouts. Max
You hit the nail on the head with what I'm planning on doing. Also, I'm thinking that once I get it to the point where I can drive it up and down the 3/4 mile driveway, my father-in-law might be more motivated to help me get it back to it's full glory. I'd also like to put 4-wheel disks on, and change the suspension to make it corner like it's on rails. That will come later though....First, gotta be able to turn the key!
Im sure your decision will go with on frame because it woud take alot of work to cut a maverick off the frame.
hey man, im new on here as of today. Nice to meet you. I have a 1970 2 dr// no original grabber, but one day it will be a nice custom job. My first car was a 77 4dr mav. Couldnt kill it! well, except for the rust, thats what finally killed it! haha.
from Northeast Pennsylvania A Maverick/Comet has no frame under it. It is a uni-body construction. The front sheet metal rails with the shock towers are just welded into the firewall and front torque boxes. The rear rails, where the leaf springs bolt to, are simply welded to the trunk floor pans and into the rear torque boxes and rear bumper mounts. Nothing is removable without a sawzall, torch, or cutting wheel- - - -A zillion spot welds
What kind of difficulties arise from this when wanting to change the suspension and make the car stiffer and corner better?
Welcome from the "Windy City" Capital of the Midwest. Some of guys here have done the conversion to rack & pinion - shock tower modification. Check some of the "project "threads on this subject. Some of the guys are in the process now. As far as other mods go it depends on what your intend to use the car for. I bought my car last year at Iola, WS. car corral. You might want to check them out this July, lots of vendors and swappers. It is my intention to return this year. Gud luck w\ ur car.
