New guy about to become Maverick owner - please, many questions

About three weeks ago, I introduced myself in the new members forum. Maybe I'm premature with this, but since I have found a car, and am arranging a place to park/work on it, I figured it's time to jump on over to general discussion. MAN, do I have questions .

OK, here's the deal. Today I looked at a "complete" 1970 2 door that is a solid builder. There is plenty that is "wrong" with it, but having done a '57 Chevy frame off resto some years back, I'm not too scared about what this is gonna take. The car is being GIVEN to me, and has a clear title (WOW ). I >do< however have about 437 questions to ask, so please bear with me as I sort out all this stuff.

The bloody details:
1) VIN number is 0X91T292722, which translates to a 1970 model, built in the St. Thomas plant (WHERE IS THAT?), with 200 CI 6 cylinder.
2) Car is ORANGE (and believe you me, I have no idea why - it's original, but I don't see where the 1970 model has that option). Interior is BLACK, with black/white vinyl/ fabric seats
3) Manual steering, manual brakes, NO A/C (gonna have to fix that - I'm in Texas)
4) Motor is APART, and there's a second motor with it.
5) Body is fair, no major rust, though front "underlip" of hood is rusted out, and there's a small bit in each quarter panel. Floors, rockers and trunk are all SOLID. There is quite a bit of dent work to be hammered out.
6) Front valance (under bumper) is twisted good, left inner fender has a nice hole beneath the battery tray.
7) Dash is cracked everywhere.
8) GRILLE is useless (busted in many places).

OK, that's a good overview - I could not see the drivetrain or the gas tank/springs, all tires are flat and the car needs to be moved out of the garage it's in.

QUESTIONS:
1) I know where the VIN tag is - behind the windshield at the front of the dash - but WHERE is the tag that gives the color and option codes? I could not find it, but it helps to know where to look.
2) Can anyone confirm if orange was an original paint option? It's not a Grabber...and it confuses me.
3) Are dash pads available for these cars?
4) Where am I going to find a grille?
5) Can/should the inner fenderwell be patch welded to eliminate the battery acid damage, or is it going to require a replacement?
6) What other recommendations can anyone make?

My plan:
a) Park it indoors
b) Strip the interior and trunk
c) Pull the rest of the motor out (it's half apart)
d) Pull doors, trunk lid, fenders and support metal
e) Get the motor rebuilt (I want to "beef up" the six cylinder, what the heck, I could drop an 8 cyl in it but a beefy 6 woudl be "something different"
f) Do bodywork in the meantime, replace metal parts that are lousy, detail the undercarriage, etc.
g) Hope I can do the car justice and build a clean example with nice custom touches.

Well, that's it for now. Attached is a picture of the car. Not much to look at now, but.....

Chris

 

Get ready to find yourself wishing someday you could drive it..
Alot of work by the way it sounds and looks. Keep the motivation and you will progress... Alot of parts are available and were here for ya when you need tech or simple advise.
I guess you need to be prepaired for it to be sitting for a spell where ever you take it apart. If you do it like I did, and alot of us, you will discover that it is a domino effect when starting projects on the car. I been rebuiling mine for over 15 years . Some here get it done so fast it's unreal. When I see the progress some have done, I feel like i'm the only one who works lol.
Hope it works out...my offer to help still stands. :Handshake

 

1.Color tag should be on the drivers doorjam tag. If tag is gone,, damn.
2.Variation of orange was available in 70.
3.Dash pads not currently available, but dash caps are, look stock.
4.Grille. ebay or on this board.
5.Weld up the battery acid damage, most of us have done this.
6.Join the MCCI,, newsletter and national meet.
Dan
ps welcome!

 

Here's a chart with colors. http://www.maverickcolor.com/ And another for decoding http://home.comcast.net/~petebre/maverick/decode/index.html Does your car have the key on the dash or in the steering column?

 

Yeah but Gene, with your help, we're gonna get her done quickly....
Sure, I realize the amount of work. Good grief, I busted hump over my '57 for 5 years - and never got it done before it was sold. For me, the journey is the reward, though the destination is certainly enticing.

I haven't had my hands on a car for over 10 years, and I'm ready. Gimme a call this week if you would, and let's talk about the madness.

Chris

 

Don, I'll have to check on the key location. My Dad's '70 was on the column, I remeber when the tumblers eventually fell out and he could start the car without having a ket at all!

Chris

 

Dan, I thought I read somewhere that pads were available . I also think I read that joxer is working on them.
Chris, will do. Lets do lunch Wednesday...?

 

Gene,, yes pads are available at a high dollar,, mavaholic had one done up. He will chime in. And I think you are correct that Joe is working on them. And I owe him about 10 phonecalls.
Dan

 

Gene:

Wednesday it is, as long as I can get back in the office by 1:30. Let me know.

Chris

 

Joe is working on everything ... I'll be purchasing some things, if and when they ever get done. Of course, it'll have to be in the spring, when I have more $$.

 

Chris, the reason i asked about the key is because if it is in the dash, it is a 69 1/2. If it is in the column it is a 70. Both cars are listed as 1970's.

 

Office? Now I know it will take you some time . Cant be going in with grit under them soft hands now LOL! J/K...
Where do you want to meet? Time? I'll put it in my schedule...

 

Gene:

When I show up at lunch with dirt under my fingernails, you can laugh then (yeah, I figired the word "office" would get a response like that ).
12 PM, Furrs, you tell me where it's at and I'll be there.

...soft hands ....

Chris

 

Don:

1970 model - just checked my pics, the lock was there on the column plain as day!

chris

 

Corner of Plano and Campbell < I think. I'll find out for sure but it's on Plano for sure. It's 2.2 miles from my shop.