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Seeing this car now, it's hard to believe it was sitting on damp ground for 19 years. Maverick is doing a great job of resurrecting this gem of a hot rod.
It won't be long before we will get to hear the roar of that 302 and get to see her move on her own power for the first time in 20 years.

I agree, this restoration is amazing. The rate of progress is impressive as well. Good job, Maverick. And I enjoy reading about something I understand, a good old fashioned Ford.

I wonder if Maverick is keeping track of the hours put into this car. WOW!!

Not the hours and CERTAINLY not the $$$$!!

Last year at Carlisle I was thinking maybe the car would be drivable for 2010 Carlisle. Maybe 2011??

Had one of those "one step forward and two back" days yesterday. Got the car up on stands so I could paint the blue around the bottom of the car. With it raised up, some unsatisfactory stuff showed up low on the rear quarters. Had to sand thru the white and primer in a few spots. Reprimed behind the rear wheels yesterday and reapplyed a coat of white (for uniformity under the blue) today. Hope to put some blue on tomorrow.

Thanks for the responses. They help me be motivated.

The Grabber Blue around the bottom of the car is done. Well, except for the front valence. Also need to put a little blue on the cowl to extend the blue decal on the hood to the windshield. Gonna have to pick up another quart. Graphics Express in Florida recently began reproducing the blue decal that covers the center of the hood. Gotta order one of those too.
I had the blue on the body and front fenders done and WXO agreed to come yesterday and help mount the doors. THEY ARE HEAVY!! The blue on the front fenders and rear quarters established the line to mask the doors.



After WXO left, I got the doors preped. Took me longer to mask the doors and body inside and out than it took us to mount the doors. Put one coat on the door bottoms late yesterday. This morning I scuffed the first coat and put on a second. Pulled the masking off about an hour ago.



I never understood why 2-tone paint jobs cost so much more. I understand now! Seems like they're at least twice as much work and for sure its twice as many steps.

NC DOT allows 35+ year old cars to display a license plate from the year of manufacture and produce the registered plate when asked. At the (first annual I hope) Raleigh All-Ford Car Show and Flea Market a month or two ago I came across a never-used 1972 NC plate. Color match was so good I had to get it. Wish it had a different number -- I expect some people will think its a 1962 model. But, who cares. Not many people will be able to identify it as a Maverick either.



A not-so-nice thing about NC Springs is PINE POLLEN. These pines put out pollen so thick puddles on the road after a rain are bright yellow. I hoped to get the final coat of white on the body before the 2-week pollen season but I missed it. I just needed two more days but the pollen has started. So no spraying for a couple of weeks. Time to get WXO back and plant the 302 and C4 in their proper place.

WXO came over this morning to help set the engine and trans in place.
I had them hanging from the hook when he arrived.



Engine bay all spiffy.



Tip it WAY up ...



And its in.




Roll the engine right and the left header goes in. Roll the engine left and the right header goes in. And fit nicely!! At least 1/4" clearance everywhere.






We set the Holley 4V on the Edelbrock Performer manifold and tried the kick down lever and throttle linkage. THEY FIT!! Well, did have to drill one hole in the throttle cable mount. Accelerator pulls butterflys open full as is. Kickdown linkage looks perfect without touching the adjustment.



Some Maverick guys don't like the GM HEI distributor. Think its too big. Don't know why they say that ...



This bolting stuff together is a LOT more fun that body work and paint prep. It was a fun day. Thanks, WXO.

We're off to the Charlotte Auto Fair tomorrow morning. Hope to find some good stuff CHEAP.

Looks GREAT!!!!

Now, the motivation sets in, and the fun part has begun.
Depending on your re-assembling priorities, add in some wiring and plumbing, and soon, she could be making noise!

We'll all wana see a video of that!!!!

Maverick ....... Man those headers are tight to the inner fender!!! A big hole shot and the car hooks up may scratch that clean white paint. Looks Hot!! Watching you put this car together reminds me of when I used to build model cars when I was a kid, only you're in full scale. You need to talk my old man into doing a project like this when you see him in Carlisle. Keep on plugging away.

GM

Nice work!!!! My buddy had one (not the sprint though) back in High School. We wrenched on it many a late nights at his Uncle's Tow garage (Stoney's Towing). He started with a 302 and eventually put a 351windsor motor in it. His was Red with a Grabber hood - pretty neat looking. Ultimately he had his other uncle install a econoline axle in the front - gutting most of the front sheet metal - well at least al lthe shock towers and such. In the end he sold it and every couple years I see it pop up at a local car show. Good times - we used to race against each other at Thompson Drag Raceway alot back in those days.

Good call on the rear shock mount my buddy learned that the HARD way. I ended up plating the lower mount and reinforcing the top inside the trunk. Seemed OK after that.

Yours had definitely been a labor of love - what better way than to enjoy an old car - awesome!!!

A lot of guys put Mustang II (or similar aftermarket) suspensions under the front and eliminate the shock towers. First time I heard of a Econoline axle but I have seen pictures with straight front axles. Maybe that's what they used. You probably know that the MII comes with rack & pinion. Nice update!! The aftermarket kits come with a K member that fits, disk brakes and optional power steering.

351Ws with shock towers in place puts the headers in contact with the towers and the motor has to be raised to change plugs. Not my idea of a fun time.

Now that you mention it - I think it was a tube axle with econline spindles & brakes.

Feel like I had a good day. Its been over a year now that I've been doing and re-doing body and paint work. Think I've done every step 2 or 3 times. But, I have learned some things.

Got the Sprint hood decals on today.



Also got the first (final?) coat of Grabber Blue on the cowl and front valence. Of course, the usual bug took a swim on my valence so may have to re-shoot that.

Maverick wrote:(Uh oh!! How do I insert an image??? Don't have my pictures on a web site. If I can show a picture from my computer I'll edit one in.)

This post isn't very interesting without a picture.

Jim, right under the text box where you're typing your message, you'll see some small text for "add image to this post". Click that.

-Dave

TireSmoker wrote:

Maverick wrote:(Uh oh!! How do I insert an image??? Don't have my pictures on a web site. If I can show a picture from my computer I'll edit one in.)

This post isn't very interesting without a picture.

Jim, right under the text box where you're typing your message, you'll see some small text for "add image to this post". Click that.

-Dave

Thanks, Dave. Don't know why I didn't see that. Obviously, I've used it before.

Anyway, I added a picture.

Jim

The accessories are hung on the front of the engine. I bought an "Underhood Kit" from Classic Auto Air in Tampa with a Sanden compressor to replace the York. The kit includes an adapter for the Sanden, hoses, and hardware. Had them test my evaporator -- I NEVER want to pull it out again. Not fun. Got a new condenser and they're rebuilding my drier.

The 85 (slight exageration) accessory brackets are a real puzzle, even with the picture I took before disassembly. Didn't help that I couldn't find two of the brackets. Looked for HOURS. Finally found them this morning hanging on the wall behind my air compressor. Must have put them there before I installed the air compressor.

Anyway, its all sorted out now.

Gotta get some wire looms and straigten out those plug wires.