REDOING 1975; Need a mentor!

My son and I are redoing a 1975 Maverick. We have a straight 6 in it now and want to replace it with a 302 V8 along with a new tranny and rear end. Having said that, what mistakes can I avoid? The car is in decent shape. Will need interior redone, body redone and eventually painted. I was thinking get the drivetrain done so it can at least be driven to places to get the other things done that we couldn't do. So, what is the latest model 302 that I can place in the car along with what transmission? Do I need to replace my rear axle or can I just redo the gears inside the differential? I have read that the 1975 had an 8" diff. Any advice would be great.

 

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at one time I had a late model 5.0 w/AOD transmission...8" w/3:55 gears.

 

I have a 75' parts car with good quarters and decent doors----if you need them--

the 8" rear is okay for a 302-----it probably has 3.00 gears---which are okay for highway rolling---3.55's would give much more "take-off" torque---

there are other concerns depending on how the car will be driven---look at I6 to V8 conversion in the forum---

 

Before anyone can give you some advice, you need to figure out what your overall goal of the car is, how much of it you can do yourself, how much time you have and, most of all, how much you can afford.

Micah
http://mmb.maverick.to/resources/my-1971-maverick.221/

 

I would like to fix it back up, but not necessarily restore it original. So that is why I am looking at redoing the engine and drivetrain. I want it to have power but not to have to drive it like it does each time. Cruising car in the end drive in parades, enjoy it. My son is a sophomore going to be a Junior. Would like to get most of the work done prior to him graduating. willing to do most of the work, just don't know what I don't know. Have a shop loaned to me to work on it. Just need wisdom on the how to's with the drivetrain.

 

Things I know I need. Both front fenders are in perfect shape until behind the wheels. They are eaten away. Lower quarter panels are gone as well. Outside of that body in GREAT shape. As for the drive train, I need to know what is the latest model 302 I can put in it without doing a bunch of chopping away at the compartment. I need the tranny advice as well as the drive shaft/differential/axle advice as well.

 

You might want to post up some pictures. What looks like a little rust to you may be really bad, bad rust for those of us "in the know".

 

I will get some photos and post them tomorrow. Thanks.

 

Here are the photos of my car. Hope it helps with advice. Starting on Drive Train first from what I am reading?

 

What does it look like under the carpets, the underside of the car, under hood rust? Pour a gallon of water down the cowl, and base of windshield, see if you get water/where it comes inside the car. The first thing I wud rebuild brake system. Nothing else matters -- If you can't stop.

 

Okay, well I haven't pulled the carpet, so that should be interesting. Will do that today or tomorrow. As for the Brakes. I do not disagree. However, do I need to be thinking of different suspension with 302? I have read that I6 springs will work, but there is controversy over them. Do I need to consider a 5 lug spindle/hub for front and rear in consideration of 302?

 

Sorry, forgot to reply about rust on hood and under car. Underneath of car doesn't look bad, but with all the oil leakage, hard to tell without hoisting it. Under Hood is clean rust free. Trunk inside is surface rusty, and coating peeling on backside of quarters.

 

All 75 Mavericks have 5 lug suspension components. The springs will be fine with a 302 swap, but you may find the car sits higher in front than you like. If that ends up being the case you can cut a coil off the spring to get the front down a bit.
The important thing here is to have a solid base to work with. Thats why you need to check the cowl, floors, and torque boxes for rust. These are the most expensive and time consuming things to repair. Without good welding/ bodywork skills it would be best to have a car without these issues.

 

And there you have my naivety on this whole situation. Much appreciate the advice. I hope I don't offend or cause great sighs amongst the members of this group. I know it is hard when someone like myself jumps into something like this. Thanks again. Will check the cowl, floors, and torque boxes.

 

BTW my image is an acrylic painting my daughter did for our local High School.