After all these years, FINALLY!

Dear Fellow Maverick/Comet enthusiast and respected Brethren,

After a VERY long and VERY rough road, through many toils and snares, my Maverick finally cranked up and ran last night for the first time.

Over three years ago, I brought home what I thought was going to be a 6-month project at most. After going through one divorce, losing my job (of 15+ years), having to sell my home, having three difficult ear operations, many a 'flare up' with a condition known as "Dys-Hydrosis" on my hands, plain old burn-out, - all keeping me from spending time on the Maverick - it, and myself, survived against all odds.

A little background: I had a 347 c.i.d. 'trick' E.F.I. engine that needed a home. I came across and brought home a 1970 Maverick rolling chassis and began sand-blasting the engine bay and modifying shock-towers to stuff the engine (w/ 1-3/4" primary tubed headers) into the small space where once a 200 c.i. rested quietly. There began the long and winding road. Many an hour of enjoyment, frustration, and busted knuckles lay ahead.

I'll be the first to say I'm no mechanic by any stretch, but with the kindness of you guys helping me along the way (with technical issues as well as encouragement), I've gained a ton of experience and respect for the fabricators and gear-heads throughout the globe.

The 'latest' main issue was my determination to keep the 347 an E.F.I. engine. I believe I could've had the engine running a lot sooner if I would've gone carb.

Anyway, after not having any success at a few different (and costly) shops, a couple of friends who know the 5.0 Wiring Harness of a '90 Mustang (my donor car) came over and troubleshot the crank/die problems. After undoing the wiring that 3-4 other 'specialists' had attempted, then re-wiring the EEC correctly, only then did it crank right up.

I still have lots of work to do, but with the engine running (very smoothly and sounding nicely I might add), my desire to work on the car has increased exponentially.

I want to thank the members on here who helped me get it to where it is today. Without your willingness to share your knowledge, and giving me encouragement along the way, the car would never have gotten this far.

Bottom line: MY MAVERICK FINALLY RUNS!!!!!!!

(day one photo)


(near the end)


(trunk before)


(trunk afterwards)


Sorry, I don't have any pics from last night. I'll update with some later and hopefully, a video.


p.s. I looked back at some VERY old threads of a few updates along the way. Almost made me shed a tear. The first threads are archived I suppose as I couldn't locate them.

http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=3886&highlight=update

http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=11785

http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=10730&highlight=update

 

Great Job Really Looks Like It Will Be Worth The Wait

 

Very Nice car! Good work,and congrats for hanging in there and making it happen!

 

Rick; Awsome car. Glad you stuck with it, but then, we knew you would. Congrats. Now take it out and flog it a bit, and see what she will do!

 

Glad ya'll got it figured out. Congratulations....sounds like it's been a tough road.

 

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! :bananaman :bananaman

Now, you know what this means don't you? You are now the resident expert on switching to the EFI engine.

 

EFI engines are great my uncle has a 7.5L in his F-250 the first time i drove it it scared the S#!t out of me:evilsmile

 

Congratulations..feels good, don't it?

Don't give up on the EFI...I think it is well worth the trouble. Purists will disagree, of course. I don't remember, are you running speed density or mass air? If it is mass air, you may eventually want to check out this link:

www.tweecer.com

The "twEECer" (pronounced 'tweek-er' ) is a device that allows you to program the EEC. I have found the learning curve to be pretty steep, and the thing ain't exactly cheap, but it has allowed me to tune out some pesky idle and driveablity problems as well as deactivate the emissions equipment that I am not using. Just thought I would mention it for you and any other EFI converts who might be interested...

 

Congrats.

 

Way to go!! Wait till you get to drive it WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!

 

Rick All I can say is I know the rocky road syndrome and it speaks volumes about your character to stick with it even when it seems impossible. Great Job a true role model you have become for us all.

 

right on dude.. thats gotta feel good to get that thing started! that gotta be the best feeling! keep up the work and yeah... send us video links!!!!!!!

 

Congratulations Rick.

 

Thanks for the kind words, Gents.

Mark, Yes, I have MASS AIR. I'm somewhat familiar with the TWEECER. I have a buddy who tunes them on the side. However, I see him and others always "tweaking" with the TWEECER. Ha! The main reason I chose to go E.F.I. route was to keep from having to tinker with the car at the track. Seems all my carbed buddies are constantly chasing jets and my TWEECER and F.A.S.T. friends are always spending a lot of time getting a few more h.p.s on the next run. They're under more stress than a prostitute on the front pew.

My plan is to take it to the dyno, burn a chip with a 'motor' tune and a Nitrous tune using a "A/B" switch.

My intention is to show up at the track, make a few Test and Tunes, dial it in, race the race, put it back on the trailer and wait 'til the next race.

I'm sure the suspension adjustments for the track (on that particular day) will keep me busy enough. I'm hoping to just make a few adjustments on the QA1 shocks and maybe a 1/2 pound of air or so to optimize the launch.

I'm not trying to make it the fastest car at the track - I'm mainly concentrating on consistancy and having the freedom to rome about the pits between runs.

All this talk about drag racing makes me wish the other parts were here (new shifter, shocks, cool fire-jacket, dark glasses, etc). I'm headed back tonight to shore up a few other things too (clean up the wiring for starters).

 

Way to not give up. It can always be worse and it will always get better. Cool car!!