Hi everyone, this is Mitch from Lisle, IL. I currently don't have a Maverick but I'm hoping to remedy that situation. Back in "the day", I had a red 1971 Maverick Grabber (OEM 3022v, 3spd manual, 3.00 open rear end) that I bought from my brother after he blew up a swapped 351W in 1972. I swapped in my '65 Falcon's built 289 motor with '69 351W heads (Ford GT-40 SS valves, 390 GT double valve springs, adjustable valve train with guide plates, hardened pushrods), 11.0-1 pop-up pistons (10.5 w/69 heads), Edlebrock high rise single plane manifold, 700cfm Holley double pumper (hey I was 19, why run a 600CFM ), 40lb steel billet flywheel, heavy duty clutch, Lakewood bellhousing (car already had a T&C toploader w/Hurst shifter from 351W conversion and Hooker equal length headers from the stock 302), '57 Ford 9" rear end w/4.11 gears and the "slapper traction bars" I had been running on the Falcon. The Maverick was lighter and faster than the Falcon and the interior, with the black, high back Grabber bucket seats, was a huge improvement. The two piece clutch linkage sucked (broke periodically and had to be rewelded) and the Maverick chassis wasn't as strong (had to have the rear cross member that the top of the shocks bolt to re-welded after I ripped if out with some hard launches) but I never regretted dumping the Falcon for the Maverick. That Maverick is long gone (untimely demise with a telephone pole going backwards at high speed, but that's another story) but I still want another. While I still have all the parts to put together a reasonably strong classic SBF, I really want to build a Maverick powered by a Ford Mod Motor. I know it's a lot easier to just drop-in a classic SBF (or worse yet, a budget LS 4.9 or 5.3 ) into the stock engine compartment and call it a day but I want something different. I'd like to start with a warmed over 4.62v PI NA motor to get the car sorted out and then put on front mount single turbo. I'm well aware of how friggin wide the Mod Motors are (I have a 2v ModMotor in my Crown Vic and it is wider than a Boss 429 and people who see my 4v Lincoln motor on the engine stand always ask "is it a 426 Hemi?") so I know a shock tower shave is the first step. I know a lot of swaps have been done by totally whacking out the stock shock towers and installing a Mustang II style suspension (not an inexpensive proposition, even if you can install it on yourself) but I think for the DIY guy it might be faster & more cost effective to do a 1-1.5" Shelby UCA drop, install a narrow coilover and do big shock tower shave (shave gains 1-2 inches from a coilover). I'm well aware of all the MII conversion kits on the market and I've spent some time looking at the RRS products out of Australia...all of them are proven but still costly solutions for putting a mod motor in a Maverick. I would really appreciate any insight/advice as to how I can shoehorn a Mod Motor (even a 2v!) into a Maverick without having to sell my soul to the hotrod store. Thanks in advance, Mitch
from Atlantic Canada! Your old 71 sounded like an awesome car! Have you considered installing a Coyote (still technically a Mod motor) engine? There are a few on this site and one of them did NOT go the MII suspension route. http://www.mmb.maverick.to/threads/...-write-up-on-a-complete-maverick-build.95407/ Good Luck with the search!! Did you still have any pictures of your old car?
Paul, I like the Coyote motor but given that I'm retired (with a limited toy budget) and the fact that I already own a complete 4.6 SOHC NPI, a complete 4.6 SOHC PI, a complete 4.6 DOHC and assorted spare parts for all of the above an expensive Coyote motor isn't an option. The AJE K member kit with all required parts is more expensive than a R&C Mustang II conversion. The RRS McPherson strut conversion is also quite pricey at around $2,400. Two of my friends have classic SBF Mustangs (65 & 67) that have rebuilt front suspensions with inexpensive new replacement parts complemented with a 1" UCA drop, KYB Gas shocks, 1"ish aftermarket front swaybar and performance coil springs. Both cars handle and ride quite well and the total "front end" cost is under $800. I think a good shock tower shave will let me drop a SOHC 4.6 into a Maverick while retaining an rebuilt/upgraded stock suspension. Worst case may involve fabbing up a set of budget front coilovers that let me cut each shock tower back another 1-1.5". Frank, It would be a lot easier to get a 300hp 5.3 out of a wrecked Yukon for under $1,000, paint it FoMoco blue and just drop it into a Maverick! If I can't shoehorn a SOHC modmotor in without $3,000 of suspension upgrades I may go the LS route.
a 4.6 in a running Mav/Comet is a rare beast. I only know of...none. there is a Coyote motor in one somewhere but I think the install price was a gazillion bucks. as far as the LS in my car. it is the last of 5 different motors that have been installed in it. this is my Hobby car so i am tinkering with it all the time. motor choice and paint are two things that will never be final. be sure and post up some build pics. Frank
