Looking at building a fairly quick, mostly fun, cheap street car, something to cruise to Sonic, and mess with the rice. I think I have narrowed it down to either a Maverick/Comet, or a Ford Fairmont...any opinions?

Maverick Grabber.... 4spd/302 in a nice light package. Cheap and lots of fun.

Maverick/comet is a good choice because you don't see alot of 'em around. Well, at least not in the rust belt.

Or. . . the Fairmont is a good choice. Keep the front bench seat, ugly hubcaps, and drop in a '86 Mustang drivetrian. Excellent sleeper car. Or, check out the Mercury Zephyr. . same as a Fairmont, but has that extra touch of "grandma's grocery-getter turned sleeper/rice boiler".

For other non-blue oval sleeper/embarrass a ricer cars:
Cosworth Vega or Vega wagon. AMC Gremlin w/ 360 :D

Couple years ago I saw a Fairmont with a 502 BB at Summers Last Blast in Vernon...some smokey burnouts during cruise night....had an auto and VERY narrowed rear...huge meats all inside the fenders...LOLsmall bump on hood was only thing that was out of place....window tint kept the roll cage hidden...had to be behind to see the wide meats...super sleepy:eek:

Originally posted by Dustin Smith
Looking at building a fairly quick, mostly fun, cheap street car, something to cruise to Sonic, and mess with the rice. I think I have narrowed it down to either a Maverick/Comet, or a Ford Fairmont...any opinions?

Fairmont/Zephyr should be easier to find than Maverick/Comet but both would be a good choice. Both were available with V8 power and they make good sleepers.

My neighbor is trying to sell his Dodge Dart (actually think its plymouth version??). I know he just dropped in a new 360. Thing is in great condition, dont think AC is working. Was asking $3k for it but Im sure he'd deal down. It's down here just north of Austin..you could drive it home. Lemme know if you want me to snap pics

86-present mustang goes fast stock.

OK, I'll jump out and say it, Mavericks are extremely :rainbow: If you're going to build a sleeper build an early nova w/ a v8 and some super quite muffs or something. If you're a FORD man ( and it sounds like you are), build an early ford fairlane sleeper or if your a late model kind of guy go with a mustang hatchback with super quiet exhaust, you'll be all over the ricers.....

Mustang parts are cheap and there are alot of aftermarket options for you

JUST MY OPINION

Originally posted by Chopperman
OK, I'll jump out and say it, Mavericks are extremely :rainbow: If you're going to build a sleeper build an early nova w/ a v8

Nova guy calling Mavericks :rainbow: where's that picture with the pot and the kettle?

If you're thinking Maverick (really good choice BTW, can be made to look real good,) I REALLY like the Mustang II's. I know they were from a dog era, but they can just kick ass if done right. 302 in a Pinto-sized hatchback! Lookout, Maverick has nothing on it power-to-wieght wise.

Not really a Nova guy, but I am a Chevy guy and if I was going to build something to sucker a ricer in with it would be an early nova or a late model mustang hatch back..


I don' know though

Maverick

or an early nova

Build a ford fairmont, Things are alot easyer to come buy(rear-ends, Good brakes, etc.)... plus there pimp:D
I can see it now, A rusty fairmont wagon, Fawkin up honda's light to light....

Also, Do a search on yahoo, For turbo fairmont, There is a couple badass budget twin turbo wagons around......

Or in my opinion the ultimate sleeper and I'm a Chevy guy

The Mustang hatchback

Another pic

I do remember a buddy had a Fairmont with a straight 6 in it. Don't know the discplacement, but it was an early 80s model, brick-like. The glove box had a badge: "performance-tuned suspension" :rolleyes: As if a swaybar make it into a 911. :laughing:

Originally posted by rusted
If you're thinking Maverick (really good choice BTW, can be made to look real good,) I REALLY like the Mustang II's. I know they were from a dog era, but they can just kick ass if done right. 302 in a Pinto-sized hatchback! Lookout, Maverick has nothing on it power-to-wieght wise.

Why not just go with a Pinto and a 347 stroker! :evil:

All you need is something with a front engine/ rear drive platform.

I used to work at a bodyshop and the shop truck was a 1976 Chevy Luv with a stepside bed (fiberglass), Appliance wire wheels, mostly blue paint and a Buick 231 Turbo! It was wicked quick, but some schmuck jacked it and stacked it.

You could also beat them with vintage rice. I like the pre-78 Celicas and older Datsun 510's (better in a wagon)

Originally posted by Chopperman
Or in my opinion the ultimate sleeper and I'm a Chevy guy

The Mustang hatchback

Yeah, get a 5.0 LX and yard off the badges.

Originally posted by fRED dURST


1976 Chevy Luv

Don't know exactly what year this is ( and it's a little on the extreme side ) but a chevy Luv w/ a mild 350 and an RV cam with a P/G or a 350 can turn some pretty good ET's.

Makes a good sleeper too with stock looking rims and hub caps, however most ricers would know right of the bat if you showed up with a chevy LUV, I mean how many people bild luvs into sleepers ?

I guess if you want a sleeper, I don't see much merit in a Mustang.

The Pinto is a good idea, so is the Fairmont.

Rusted,

I don't know a Ford Pinto ( which can make a great bracket car ) and a farimaount, which IMO is even gayer (if that's a word ) that the maverick. My choice is still with the Mustang Hatch back, If you really think about it, most guys with any type of mustang automatically think they are bad ass, so if you show up to a street race with a fairly nice looking late model H/B and make all the ricers think you're just the average ( I've got a 5.0. I'm bad ass ) You will f-ing blow them out of the water, that is if you've actually put some dough into you're car..

Again just my opinion,

if you want to build a maverick go right ahead

For those who don't know here are some pics of a Pinto and A fairmount


Pinto

Originally posted by Chopperman
Rusted,

I don't know a Ford Pinto ( which can make a great bracket car ) and a farimaount, which IMO is even gayer (if that's a word ) that the maverick. My choice is still with the Mustang Hatch back, If you really think about it, most guys with any type of mustang automatically think they are bad ass, so if you show up to a street race with a fairly nice looking late model H/B and make all the ricers think you're just the average ( I've got a 5.0. I'm bad ass ) You will f-ing blow them out of the water, that is if you've actually put some dough into you're car..

Again just my opinion,

if you want to build a maverick go right ahead

For those who don't know here are some pics of a Pinto and A fairmount


Pinto

Nah I see. Well, a MustangII would actually be a good sleeper then, with the massive Joe Dirt factor involved!

Fairmount

Thanks guys.......

No GM in my driveway, and while I am a semi-mopar fan, they defeat the whole purpose of a cheap car. BTW, Chevy II's were mentioned, which are far from cheap around here, in any condition, and the later model Novas have to be some of the gayest cars ever, right next to any Vega.:flipoff2:

My idea on the Mav was that they are small, factory V8, 4spd, and still semi-musclecar styled. Grabbers are just plain cool, IMO. Just a baby Mach 1.

The Fairmont/Zephyr is the one that jumps out and grabs me, though. It is the first Fox-boidy car, meaning 99% of all Mustang bolt ons will work, and they are still fairly small. Another option is the pre 88 Thunderbirds, but they are a little on the portly side.

Originally posted by Chopperman
Or in my opinion the ultimate sleeper

The Mustang hatchback

Seems like you just don't quite grasp the meaning of sleeper.




Originally posted by Dustin Smith
My idea on the Mav was that they are small, factory V8, 4spd, and still semi-musclecar styled. Grabbers are just plain cool, IMO. Just a baby Mach 1.

The Fairmont/Zephyr is the one that jumps out and grabs me, though. It is the first Fox-boidy car, meaning 99% of all Mustang bolt ons will work, and they are still fairly small. Another option is the pre 89 Thunderbirds, but they are a little on the portly side.

I always liked Mavericks, especially early ones with small bumpers. Imagine how great one would look as a convertible!

I also wanted to build a Fairmont/Zephyr wagon but change it to 2dr with the Futura/Z7 doors, sail panels and quarter windows.

T-birds from '83-'86 and '87-'88 are in between the size of a Mustang and a Fairmont.

Also don't forget that the Fairmont was replaced by the '82(?)-'85 LTD/Marquis(also Fox chassis). The rare '85 LTD LX was a factory sport sedan with the same throttle body injected 5.0L as the automatic Mustang.

Or, Rice w/ an American twist.

Drop a 347 in either a Miata, or a RX-7!

Talkin to a friend, he's tempted to do just that to his wifes Miata. They make kits do the swap too. :cool:

Originally posted by Chopperman
Fairmount

Somebody alluded to it earlier, but a 460 will fit nicely in a Fairmont, if you are truly seeking a 'Sleeper' ;)


But a stock-looking Maverick w/ granny hubcaps, a strong but quiet 5.0L and nitrous would equally do the trick....

You could also go with a 79 to 85 (I think) Mustang or Capri.

For a sleeper, how about an early 80s cutlass. They are light, and easy to toss a v8 in. Plus you might score and get some T-tops.

Hey - go back to Mopar - Omni GLH! It really does stand for "Goes Like Hell" - especially if you can get one of the 500 SHELBY GLH's. VERY fast.

Originally posted by Jeepin_NC
For a sleeper, how about an early 80s cutlass. They are light, and easy to toss a v8 in. Plus you might score and get some T-tops.

They came with V8's I believe.

My dad had an 81 Cutlass Supreme, that thing was pimp :)

Theres a Fairmont wagon for $600 obo in my town....

Re Mustangs..if you want fast get the notchback, they are lighter than the hatch''s

Had a '72 Comet GT as a kid. It had been rolled but I was working in a body shop at the time. Welding over the rear quarter windows and putting a vinyl roof / targa strip on was cheaper than buying windows and changed the look a lot. The 302 was bulletproof and gobs o' power for the car. Basically an econo 'stang. Then of course some old fart T-boned me :0/ Wouldn't want one as a DD but for a playtoy they're good bang for the buck.

Too bad about having to basically pul the exhaust manifolds to change the plugs though ;0) Ahhhh, youth :D

Originally posted by McJeep

Too bad about having to basically pul the exhaust manifolds to change the plugs though ;0) Ahhhh, youth :D

1970s Detroit engineers must have been smoking crack. My sister had a Monza..what a POS that was. You had to lift engine to change plugs on it. I rode in it when it was about a year old, rattled so much you thought it was going to fall apart and every piece of plastic in it (red in her case) had faded to a different shade

Originally posted by Joe_W
1970s Detroit engineers must have been smoking crack. My sister had a Monza..what a POS that was.

Bwaaahahaha - 'had a Monza spider at one point too - loved it! Cheap, fast and actually stuck pretty well in the corners.

Hmmm, now I own a high maintenance jeep with too much power that was under engineered in stock form (IMHO). Might be time for me to seek professional help as I am starting to see a trend here :goofball:

Rob

capri's look killer with front and rear mustang bumper covers and hood, then put the rear hatch from a mustang to get rid of the :rainbow: bubble rear window, slap in the 1/4 glass and 87 up doors. I love the fenders and 1/4 panels compared to the mustang. I would also like the mustang II but with injected 5.0 or 5.8 with car plenum(use 5.8 lightning gt-40 lower, with upper gt-40 or cobra intake) 10.5to1, x cam, longtube headers, and bigger injectors and a c-6 I would be a happy man. And I hate mustangs. there is so many on the road with dumbasses behind the wheel, that I wouldn't be able to afford insurance.

Originally posted by Joe_W


They came with V8's I believe.

My dad had an 81 Cutlass Supreme, that thing was pimp :)


I did the same, I went out and got an 87 Monte. Race-ready parts bolt right on! :D

And a BBC will drop between the frame rails with marginally more effort than a 350. (It came with the 305)

Originally posted by Priest
Maverick Grabber.... 4spd/302 in a nice light package. Cheap and lots of fun.

Years ago I worked with a guy who had one that was mostly stock and the little fawker would pull the front wheels off the line!:D

The ultimate sleeper is a bug. Stroke the motor, add forced induction, and make it look factory. 11 second pass possible and still looks and sounds realtivley stock. Also alot cheaper than most other vehicles.

Originally posted by Jeepin_NC
For a sleeper, how about an early 80s cutlass. They are light, and easy to toss a v8 in.

Also far-and-away the most easily stolen .... ;)

You could beat them at their own game. Friend of mine had an ~'89 (I think it was a 1 year only deal) Mitsubishi Mirage (looks like an older Civic hatchback) that had a 1.6 turbo. Stock the thing was pretty quick, would spank all the fart can rides. However, the neat part is that the 2.0 turbo out of the Eclipse/Talons is a bolt in swap, and all the cheap hipo tricks that work on the Eclipse/Talon work, but in a much lighter car.

Pete

Originally posted by rusted
I REALLY like the Mustang II's. I know they were from a dog era, but they can just kick ass if done right. .

I have a 77 GhiaII 60k original miles w/ 302 red on red w/ pop top roof sitting in my garage. Mom bought it brand new. Next project after the Bronco. Never thought I hear someone say I luv II's. lol

These are great guys, keep em coming.....

However, a sleeper really isnt what I am after. I dont want some boy-racer Mustang, but I am not going to go the hubcap route either. I was thinking a mav with a set of sluminum wheels and a grabber hood. Looks good, but still subtle. Wagons are a little too incognito for me. I want something thats clean and sano, and would be fun to cruise to Sonic, or drive in the local Fourth of July parade.

Again, no GM products, and definitely no rice, vintage or not.

As for the LTD, I did see a two door one today, good base, me thinks, but how many of these are factory 302s? I dont want to do an engine swap, and want to buy a running car.

Another thing to keep in mind if you are shopping for fox platform cars is that you need to change the K-frame on the inline 6 cars if you are going to bolt in a V8. Any kind of real power and cheater/street legals will require at least subframe connectors and reinforcement of the stock 4 link attachment points.

As for the LTD, I did see a two door one today, good base, me thinks, but how many of these are factory 302s? I dont want to do an engine swap, and want to buy a running car.

Thank you, I should have mentioned that earlier. I DO NOT want to get into an engine swap project this time, no space or time. My choices are narrowed to a FORD car with a factory 302, at this time.....


If I could find a nice cheap 67 Fairlane or Galaxie 500 with an FE, however, all bets are off......

Originally posted by Dustin Smith


Thank you, I should have mentioned that earlier. I DO NOT want to get into an engine swap project this time, no space or time. My choices are narrowed to a FORD car with a factory 302, at this time.....


If I could find a nice cheap 67 Fairlane or Galaxie 500 with an FE, however, all bets are off......



The V8 Maverick drivetrain is good for low 12ET's, although the stock 302 will only run high 16-second ET's. The modern VTEC rockets can easily beat a stock Maverick. The 302 package will however come alive with engine modifications, N2O, and good skinny DOT slicks at sea level. A 12-second car is lots of fun, and will take down most rice rockets. If you want to go faster all that sleeper appeal will be lost with the big rubber and rake needed to fit it underneath the body (the Maverick wheelwells are tiny, why the body style was avoided).

A 429/460 can be fit into a Maverick, but a modern 347 stroker is a direct replacement for the 302 (and can produce excellent power). You will eventually need to R&R the 28 spline 9-inch axles, and you will learn most racers prefer the C4 to the 70's era four speed (they are not the top-loaders of Cobra and Shelby GT car fame). In my drag racing days built V8 pintos were more popular, and lighter than the Maverick, but harder to drive with the short wheelbase. Early Mustangs (65/66) are even lighter, and more crude to drive, but easier to modify (just open a catalog and hold the credit card out).

P.S. There will always be someone faster ... so driving a Galaxie convertible is not a bad option. Girls favor large convertibles over rice rockets ... so, what was your goal?

Happy Trails!

12 seconds is plenty fast for me, just want a cruiser, and occasional stoplight hero. I know what a 302 can do, and 12 seconds would be a simple proposition in a Mav, if I could ever get it to hook up.

However, the more I think about it, the more I want a Fairlane or a Galaxie, FE or 289/302 would be OK.......I am married, so the chick issue is irrelevant, but if I had a slick Galaxie, I might hunch my own leg...

MAVRICKor a gremlin:D

Originally posted by Dustin Smith
However, the more I think about it, the more I want a Fairlane or a Galaxie, FE or 289/302 would be OK.......I am married, so the chick issue is irrelevant, but if I had a slick Galaxie, I might hunch my own leg...

You can't go wrong with a Fairlane. :smokin:

Growing up our family car was a 289 powered '68 Fairlane 500 convertible. :cool2: My Dad bought her (her name is Betsy:)) in Sept '69, just three months after I was born and drove her until 1985. The car has been stored in the garage at my uncle's house since then. I will eventually get it back and restore it.

Another car I'd kill to have is a '63 Galaxie 500 XL convertible with an R code 427 and a 4 speed transmission but they are a little out of my price range right now. ;)

sleeper
http://www.supertmotorsports.com/photos/route66/images/Joliet%20039_jpg.jpg
http://www.supertmotorsports.com/photos/route66/images/Joliet%20002_jpg.jpg :D :eek: :eek:

Slicks and rollcage do not a sleeper make.....

Sleeper:
http://www.toohighpsi.com/BudgetTT/Images/car2.jpg
Carbed TT 351W, $900 invested, and it was running 11.80's @ 117 MPH with 12 psi...

Don't look all that fast does it? LOL

78' Malibu, minus the blower

http://home.cogeco.ca/~trthistory1/malibu.jpg

or better yet

http://www.cars-on-line.com/2odirectory/79malibu5222-A.jpg

Originally posted by Dustin Smith
No GM in my driveway

Originally posted by Dustin Smith
Again, no GM products,

Originally posted by Paul Gagnon




I dont care, that's what "I" would do. I don't need a good excuse to post some cool pictures. :flipoff2:

Originally posted by MRM4418
sleeper
http://www.supertmotorsports.com/photos/route66/images/Joliet%20039_jpg.jpg
http://www.supertmotorsports.com/photos/route66/images/Joliet%20002_jpg.jpg :D :eek: :eek:

got any more pics ,specs or time slips?