Differences between '70 and '75

So am I going to have to 'beef' up my suspension? What about the rear-end? If it is a 7.5 will it be able to handle a mildly built 302? And do people make posi and gears for the 7.5 ?

 

I can't answer the question on the rear end. I have one, but haven't used it. You could always swap everything over from a newer 5 lug car.

 

VIN is:

0X91T230656

 

Not a very early one then (not that it really matters). Decodes as a '70 Maverick, built at the St. Thomas plant in Canada, two door Maverick, 200 I6 engine, and the 130,656th car scheduled for production at the St. Thomas plant for the 1970 model year. Was there a date code? Should be on the tag riveted to the drivers side door, and be formated something like "17G". There should also be another tag screwed to the radiator support, the "buck tag". Craig Selvey has a thread about those: http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=27456&highlight=buck+tag

 

I got the VIN from the plate on the dash, the one in the door is pretty beat up. Or maybe its just dirty

 

Incredible as it sounds, Ford Motorsports carries a track lock for the 7.5. They do not carry one for the 8. Go figure.

 

Well thats good haha

Will it be able to handle a mild 302?

 

The shock mounts on my '69.5 are the same as any other Maverick. Not saying there isn't one out there with Falcon mounts, but I've yet to see one.

 

I'll try to take a picture of a parts car I have this weekend and post what they look like. I believe you can swap them with the newer style mount with no problem.

Here's a Falcon mount. The very early Maverick mounts are very similar (not chrome of course).

 

Mine has Falcon mounts,and the strut tower braces from a later mav will not work.
Randy do you have the braces?

 

I think the 7.5 that is referenced in the catalog is for the 7.5 that was used in Ford products in the late 70's through the mid 90's. Used in the Aerostar, Bobcat, Cougar, Bronco II, Mustang, Ranger, Fairmont, Granada, etc...

Not sure if it is the same as the Maverick unit.

 

Randy do they look like the ones used in Brazil?

 

Mine are like those they are shorter than the falcon mounts.

 

Just asking but if you still have the car that is in your avatar, why would you mess with a 7.5" 4 lug rear and have to worry that the 302 is going to break it? Take the 5 lug 8" rear out of the brown car in your signature and put it in the 69.5 and get rid of that 4 lug stuff... If I had another 5 lug car sitting in my drive way with all the stuff needed for the swap you better bet my little Yellow Maverick wouldn't have 4 lugs any more... They are terrible for wheel/rim options, and while I have heard of a few guys using the 4 lug 8 inch rears with a V8, I don't think that 7.5" 4 lugger is going to hold up for a long time behind a V8, mild or wild.....

Probably would last a little while but eventually that 302 is going to break something in that smaller rearend