The Maverick has the shock tower front subframe and unibody that started with the Falcon. The Maverick actually even took the place of the Falcon. Anyway, the jist of this info is that the 64-73 Mustang/Cougar/Torino/Cyclone, and just about any other Ford worth a dang during the muscle era were ALL based on the same lowly Falcon. The other posts are right about the Pinto being the platform for the 74-78 Stang... Then, came the Fox platform that most Fords sat on for years... This design has alot of Pinto influence. Your friend needs to study up Fords, and lighten up. If he likes Shelbys, then he might as well know they have the same basic underpinnings as a Maverick! He'll never look at 'Eleanor' the same again.
You must not have experience with spark plugs in any other cars! Especially much later models... I thought my dad's V8 Monza plugs were terrible when I was your age... Then I got some transverse V6s, and eventually owned three 4th generation Z28s! Try the plugs and wires on an LT1 Camaro! LS1s are a bit easier because they did away with the distributor, but I could still change all 8 Maverick plugs in the time it takes to get to #8 plug on an LS1! My wife's Pontiac Montana is a nightmare compared to just about any old Ford. I'll get off my soapbox now!
I had a chevy beretta and a buick lasabre , both with the 3.8L v6 It takes 10 min to change the 3 plugs in front and about 4 and 1/2 hours to get the three in back
I posted this pic a couple weeks ago on another thread. I bought this ratchet (one like it) about 25 years ago from the Snap-On truck. I can take out all 8 plugs on a v8 Maverick in 10 minutes or less with this tool. They are still available. I shall never be without mine! No...you can't borrow it!
You can get the same shaped ratchet from any of the auto store "lifetime guarantee" tool makers. They are called offset ratchets and are a help when pulling plugs from any SBF engine.
What's wrong with the pinto, or mustang II??? Double unequal length A-arm front suspension, same 8" or 9" rear end configuration. Any engine fits without the need to re-engineer the entire car. Even if you filled Pinto with lead, I doubt it would be over 3,000 lbs. The runabouts looked pretty good, IMO, and the small bumper cars obviously look much better than the big bumpers. The mustang II and especially the King Cobra are disco-rific!! What were you guys thinking in the '70s??? Anyway, people who like to dog on the pinto or mustang II don't know much about cars, or appearance is way higher on their list than function or performance. That's just my little rant. Back on topic, if you just want basic transporation, the maverick can be made to fit the bill. In stock form though...you'd be better off buying some 5-10 year old econo-box.
