Detroit Street Racer 427 Tunnel Port, 4-Speed Maverick Rides Again!

[@jaydubb71]

Nice. Good ole old school stick car street racer. The times they ran might be considered average now but back then, that was fast AF. We weren't doing turbos, 8 speed transmissions, efi, etc. It was an engine, a carb and a distributor. No WB O2 sensors. No HPTuners. No EFILive. You read PLUGS. SPARK PLUGS. I come that era (thank God) so yeah. As a Chevy guy, I can honestly say that I like this build (IIRC my mom had a Ford maverick). Much respect...

[@alexcorona]

By Far the most under appreciated Ford vehicle ever made. I think because they came out when the government killed muscle cars so we never got a hipo version in the states….. but in Mexico and Brazil they got GT versions that had 4 barrels and 4 speeds available.

[@albertgaspar627]

there was a Grabber Maverick with a 302, but you the new car owner had to shop the Total Performance catalog to get the power-to-weight ratio you needed. Popular Hot Rodding magazine had an article about Ford could have added the 351C to the Maverick and returned the "supercar" as they used to call musclecars.

[@davidgraham7325]

Yes I have grabber with a302 and it will surprise you raving to 9500 it has a narrowed big housing 9 and a Doug 4 speed 😀 and i just cruise it to Saturday night 🌙 😀 happening s and make 😀 a little money looks stock except for the big tires 😀

[@albertgaspar627]

@@davidgraham7325 so tell us the specs on the 302. i remember when a "narrowed 9 inch" typically meant finding an early Bronco in the junkyard...and later on cutting a Lincoln 9 inch since you got rear disc brakes attached. now i think everyone just orders up from Currie and breaks open a box when its delivered.

[@jaredkish8716]

What a wild ride. I use to have a grabber with 351 Cleveland crate motor, c4, 3k stall, and a 9”. Miss that car

[@gteefxr3094]

Do you make "a little money" from Saturday night "happenings"?

[@simbanugz2906]

You can hear the passion in the guys voice. Ultimate car guy !!!

[@kylevantassel7259]

Thats a good marriage there . If he gets that car to leave harder he is going to shock himself even short shifting it like he is...

[@Garydigsit]

beauty of a engine wrapped in a car 😊. I have a 406 6 pak solid lifters in my 1956 mainline 4 spd, nothin sounds like a fe ford

[@johnnymossville]

That really is a time machine. Those guys are real characters, loved the interview.

[@jackflash6377]

Nothing sounds as good as a big FE block with a cam. They make a distinctive sound and it gets my blood fired up. seems like every person in my family had an FE block in the car. Galaxy - 390, Truck - 390, my truck - 428 CJ, brother's truck - 360, mom's car - 390.

[@rickcarmichael4661]

I'd love to have that with a 408 cleveland and top loader with 3.70 gears. All for the street and some drag test and tune sessions

[@hunterdavis1663]

If you look back at the 50s,60s,70s hell even the 80s they had the coolest best made shit ever! It's like we've regressed as a society and the quality of what we build... it's crazy

[@hangonsnoop]

I always thought that the Ford Maverick was one of the best looking American cars of the 70's.

[@motownXJdad9565]

i remember this car being in the magazines, sure wush my Dad was still aluve to see this video. Ford guys and in particular FE guys in the Detroit area all knew each other, i have no doubts that either my dad or one of my uncles knew Danny the Greek. Super awesome car man!! this is why you want a Maverick boys and girls, its only weighs 2600lbs with a big ole iron big block in it with just a fiberglass hood. he mentioned John Vermeersch, and the 696 freeway, thier club was called "the top enders" and they used to street race on it before it was completed and open to the public. for those that dont know, John had a shop in Mt Clemens Mich called Total Performance, when you called the toll free # for Ford Motorsport or SVO, the call didnt go to Ford, it went to Johns Shop, lol. He has a very famous 61 Starliner powered by a 427 SOHC. i love all these videos with these awesome Fords Evan, takes me back to being a kid again working on cars and racing with my Dad and family, thank you for making them.

[@rayjay8322]

I'll just bet that's a very fun car to drive! I do remember seeing that car in the magazines and drooling over it!

[@jeffschwartz5199]

That's a really cool 😎 car . I never had a 427 , but 390's and a 428 .

[@Bert-b8t]

I could be wrong. 1963 NASCAR put a cap on engine displacement to 428 ci. Chevy/Pontiac pulled out of NASCAR, leaving Dodge with their 426 wedge. Then then came the Hemi. Ford with their 427 low riser, medium riser, SOHC engine. Then finally the tunnel port heads were developed. easily spotted due to their tennis ball shaped ports.

[@lightweightiseverything5068]

I love Midnight Express so much! I was a senior in high school when it was featured in Hot Rod Magazine. Getting to learn a little more about it from Nick Zuk, himself, was priceless! Thank you so much! Regards to everyone from So. Cal. Tim

[@paulegan1296]

Yes, this! I thought I remembered this car from back then. Fierce Ford, love Mavericks

[@DougSlmon]

😊 Dave that is one hell of a sweet Maverick. I like that a lot a lot and a lot.

[@badass6.0powerstroke10]

Wow, wasn't expecting to see an FE in there, i heard 427, first thing i thought was stroked windsor, and Tunnel Port Heads too, Freaking Awesome, and 4-speed !

[@brianreynoldson1965]

I remember that Maverick, I kept that issue of Hot Rod forever ( article was written by Gray Baskerville). That car was the model that I built my Maverick by. I didn't have the 427 FE motor, just a over-bored 302W. Like the "Midnight Express ", my Maverick is safe and intact with a new owner.

[@ronchambers7972]

I knew I had seen this before. The stance, name and intake look so familiar. It was blue, had the same style 5 star wheels. Was there a Gale Banks dual turbo Willys with the same wheels on the cover?

[@ronchambers7972]

Lol! I paused a few minutes to post the above and a few minutes later, sure enough they showed the magazine with the GB yellow Willys. And I thought that Olds trans axle'd T-bucket was on the cover too but but wasn't a 100% sure. But there it was. FYI: I was about 14 years old when that issue came out. I was sitting at a park just outside the magazine store where I bought it. This was in St.Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Yes hot-rodding was a thing down there too.

[@sparkyguitar0058]

Nick the Greek had a lot more cool Fords in the magazines of the day. I had a 70 Mach 1 w/ a 351 W 4 speed to play with on Woodward in Detroit.

[@danielfouardlibertarianono8017]

I freaking love the old dude. He's a character. What a guy I'll bet he's the funnest cat to hang out with in the garage! And that car is just awesome. Thank you brother you busted out another great one. Too bad the owner operator is so scared of her. Let it go bro. That 427 is at home at 7800!

[@davidgraham7325]

Closer to ten thousand like Rays Thunderbolt 😎

[@Gdone]

Big motor small car perfect combo nice too see old race cars still around

[@bobuncle8704]

What a classic. Evan, thank you for bringing us these gems

[@MongoMotors352]

This is the motivation I need to restore my 1971 Maverick

[@aguyinnc2865]

Always loved the Mavericks, I was in high school when Ford started selling them. A friend of mine had a blue 302 Grabber that was pretty mean on the street. Absolutely beautiful car!

[@drippinglass]

I remember getting that issue of Hot Rod magazine as a 13 yo boy. I had no idea in black and white how beautiful that paint scheme is. Great taste Nick! 😎👍

[@adamrodgers2377]

That is a beautiful little car. The Maverick, Falcon and Fairlane GT's are my favorite old Ford cars.

[@mattfarahsmillionmilelexus]

Love it, drag Mavericks set up right are awesome from any angle. That 427 is tightly wedged into place in there.

[@SpressoHead]

I bought a ‘70 with 52k on it back in 81 - I was a sophomore in high school. That summer, I went to the local strip and saw one like this one, with a hybrid 500 inch Windsor/Cleveland doing 4-5 foot high wheelstands coming out of the hole, running low 8-second ET’s. That was unreal for back then. I was convinced I needed to something with that car, but wrapped it around light pole the following winter. These were so cool, but few have survived. They weren’t super great cars after 60k plus, as the suspensions were flawed and got pretty sloppy. I’m sure many were wrecked like mine, but I sure wish I’d found another and hung on to it. Thanks for sharing. She’s a keeper!

[@kcav5374]

I've always loved the body style of the old Mavericks my sister had a brand new 70 model, 6 cyl. auto. If I ever did one I'd want a 347stroker most likely auto. But I DO like that Maverick.

[@sombra6153]

I remember reading the article on that car! Tunnel port 427s in Mavericks weren’t common then. Awesome car. Glad it’s back running.

[@fortyshooter1]

Great story on that Maverick! You can get dual Holleys to run on the street just takes the right tuning. I run a pair of custom Holley 660 carbs I built on my street 427 Dart/Windsor in my 1985 Mustang LX. A mild 480 HP/505 Torq at the wheels at 5600 RPM.

[@skxj]

Hell ya brother, I ran 660's with an Edelbrock tunnel ram on a 355 Chevy with 13.2 to 1 on the street and loved it instant throttle response.

[@drippinglass]

Sure looks kool as well! I have Mopars, a Charger and a ‘Cuda, both Six Pack. 👍

[@coffeecan7440]

@fortyshooter1 - exact combo I’m going for in my ‘85 Mustang GT. Pulling the 306 this winter and looking forward to the build!

[@fortyshooter1]

@@coffeecan7440 My 85 LX which was an original 5.0 HO I bought new. Maybe how Ford would have built one in 1985 kzbin.infoPwjooOAqrjc?si=fmYFRC9i7O6Yscdr

[@gordocarbo]

Friend dailys his tubbed 31 model A. Tunnel rammed 454 it runs flawlessly fires off on the 1st revolution ea time.

[@iggyfritz7150]

I grew up in Detroit telegraph rd on fri & sat nights the big dogs would come out. Especially after Detroit dragway let out. This car represents the kind of machines you would find in Mc donalds or A&W parking lots. The best times ever.

[@timrayburn2461]

Great car,story and people.Thanks Evan

[@chrisdvasquezzl1]

Killer Maverick, great History! Love how the slicks came out, so nostalgic but brand new rubber!

[@chuckselvage3157]

Those 427 Tunnel Ports are awesome. I saw one fitted to a '67 Mustang that was absolutely gorgeous.

[@williamrose8944]

Yes my time frame that Maverick looks Bad Ass good stance , I'd have to build a 390 block make a 445 that way if I broke it I wouldn't feel Bad but I'd be running it . 10 second car it's a Runner....

[@benwatkins7600]

God bless him for reciting that old Ford part number.

[@DeanRicci1]

Love this Evan. I've known Nick for many years, mostly from the model car hobby. This drag machine is really trick. I know he has a white 1970 Fastback Mustang that he used to race at Milan as well.

[@guynoir4733]

I would've loved to have had a street car like this in the late 70's .

[@danmyers9372]

What a cool piece of history.

[@Slowgroovin]

Love the old school snorkels

[@Dld1985]

We ran the old 427 Tunnel Port back in the mid 1970’s in a 1969 Mustang that was originally a NHRA SS 428 CJ. We put the 427 in it with a single 850 Holley. We did run a solid roller I don’t remember the specs. Car ran 10.50’s at 129 MPH. TRW Pistons same Ford 180 degrees intake that’s own this Maverick. We late lighten the car with a strut front end and fiberglass hood and ran 9.70’s at 139 MPH.

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Such a great Video...Tunnel Port and And a Maverick

[@adamskull6268]

Beautiful Maverick! I love seeing old school set ups being runned, especially original 427 FE.

[@oby-1607]

I ran a Maverick back in the 80s and it had a built small block with a tunnel ram running through a top loader into a narrowed 9 inch. I used the same velocity stacks as this one and sometimes when I was parked, It would literally shake at the traffic lights and people would ask what was wrong and I would just say, that is the way it runs. I would come out and beer cans would be on the stacks or roses under my wipers. I still get asked about it today. Seeing this video makes me want to build another one today.

[@boost7983]

What a cool little door slammer. The Maverick was such a cool platform.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

i absolutely love this car,ill go out on a line and say its one of the most beautiful body styles ever made

[@toddbob55]

That is a badass Maverick

[@earleholt4380]

It had me at Cragars!

[@johnp1966]

this is probably my favorite video you've done on the channel, such a great car!

[@revanevan]

Thank you John.

[@johnbarker5009]

That's a lot of engine in a sweet little car!

[@tedsmith3061]

Awesome car. Awesome story. I was in jr high school when that car was built. Thought the hot rodded Maverick was the neatest thing i ever saw. Always loved that car.

[@Mike583]

I love this video! Reminds me of a late friend's '65 fastback Mustang. He put a 454 Ford into it,with a built C6 & a 4.57 9" rear. Changing plugs in it was a bear! That thing would fly! Love the old school Cragar SS wheels! That's what i had on my '65 red fastback w/ 289 hi-po. Yes those t/p's loved the high rpm's! ps...That same friend installed one of those 600 lift,330 duration Ford cams for one of his buddies. It was a '66 Fairlane with a 427 4 speed. A hellacious lope! We had some of the Ford magazines that had all the high performance parts in it. I remember it had the Cobra emblem on the cover. It talked about that big cam,said it was for 4 speeds only,or high stall converters. I wish i still had that magazine, it had the parts #'s & info about each part.

[@YouScroob]

I think that was the old "Muscle Parts" book.

[@Mike583]

@@YouScroob I believe you're right!

[@wheelie63]

i love Mavericks.............and this is one of the best ones i've seen !.............wb

[@jcnpresser]

Love the sound of them fe’s

[@tracyamcneal9597]

Evan, Evan Evan...I am absolutely convinced that the videos you bring us are the very best in the business. The passion and love for high performance is projected so vividly through your guest in these videos. The details that they passionately share with we the viewers is just awesome and very much appreciated. Big High Five once again.

[@gordocarbo]

With that big gear start the burnout in 2nd!! Read all those magazines in grade school spent my paper route money on em and remember lots of these old hot rods How cool to be able to go to your dealer and order a cam like that, 14:1 pistons basically everything to go fast. I was born 10 yrs too late in 68. Love solid FT cams

[@joe-hp4nk]

That's a 9 second car with the right carburetion set up.

[@DallasGunther]

I love Mavericks. A good friend of mine had one. I think they are cool as shit.

[@georgecooke9010]

SUPER LOOKING CAR AND EXTRAORDINARY DRIVE TRAIN! PLAYING BY OLD SCHOOL RULES, 100% COOL.

[@tomp1612]

Cool video and Nick's a cool guy. I am glad to see the Maverick back out and running again.

[@NoSleepTilGitmo]

absolutely loved this one, what a time machine!

[@arkhsm]

A magical living piece of history right there folks !!

[@TurboDog73TX]

That truly IS a piece of history. Kool car.

[@bobleenko512]

Truly a shoehorn to slip that FE in Evan !! What a car!!

[@edsmachine93]

Nice car. Alot of history there. I like the old sick cars. Thanks for sharing.

[@1991CALYPSO]

Everything about it is perfect!

[@forcedinduction5245]

It reminds me of the old Gapp and Roush Maverick. There were a few nice Mavericks running around the Dearborn area when we were growing up. Most were retired drag cars that ended up on the street. Anyone remember the red 71 Comet GT with the Boss 351 in it? Or the Purple one with the big block in it. I think that was an old Don Nickleson car. Yep great wb for drag cars but the old Ford shock towers were always a problem

[@earlpitsch2149]

Old school kool, the original, the best there is, the bedt there was, the best there ever will be!

[@qtrhors1]

That is amazing that car/engine still exist. I remember it from the magazine iit was in. Guess I'm an old Ford guy now. I have a 66 Fairlane GTA with a warmed up 428. Always loved the FE since I was a kid.

[@vrm86gt]

cool looking Maverick!

[@machdaddy6451]

I used to dream of having one of those engines.

[@kirklandracing]

Wow what a great interview Evan on a couple of True Blue Ford guys with an awesome time capsule that is still being used. I still got my 1970 Maverick but it is definitely not being used. Maybe one day when I got more time & less money. 😅

[@ricktotz4078]

I have a 19 69 1/2 Maverick and a 1970 love them both

[@georgecooke9010]

YORK US 30 FROM THE LAND OF NED! GREAT SHIRT. BOY DO I MISS THAT DRAG STRIP. DOES THAT MAKE ME OLD? I'M OLD SCHOOL "FOR SURE", JUST LIKE MOTORCRAFT.

[@georgecooke9010]

DO YOU REMEMBER HEAVY HARVY? HE RAN A BLUE 429/460 MAVERICK AT YORK. HE RAN SUPER GAS AND SUPER PRO. 385 SERIES ENGINES DON'T FIT NICELY LIKE THIS PRO DOES. EXCELLENT WORKMANSHIP AND ENGINEERING HERE!

[@machdaddy6451]

Those shock tower mods look so professional!

[@markmundwiller5842]

Wow John Vermesh.....i haven't heard his name in years. Alot of knowledge there. Take that cam out and modernize it with a full roller set up. The difference will ve incredible. With the custom grind you can make that tunnel port start to work at 3000 rpm instead of the old school 7500. Put it on a dyno and see exactly where to shift it at. Save that old iron.....they are getting very hard to find. I have a tunnel port, a hi riser and a low riser set up. The low riser is in a 63 galaxie convertible. Full roller set up factory bore and factory pistons. Run a fi tech duel quad fuel injection set up. Absolutely love it. I have turned the hiriser and the tunnel port 8500 rpm. The old fe's love the rpm. Now that i have aged i wont turn them past 7000. Make the power down low they have a ton of torque also.

[@GTP427cobra]

Beautiful car love the 427 FE

[@racekar80]

When I was young, I never liked the Maverick. Now I appreciate it and would not mind having a nice one. Basically a Mustang under the skin.

[@paulmokidespaul5347]

Evan, you're simply the best. Good job!!!

[@revanevan]

Thank you Paul. Much appreciated.

[@MeltyGlassworx]

I don’t even know how many sets of tunnel porous heads they made, but I think those were the best my favorite 427 engine by far

[@johnsalvaterra3116]

Great ! Evan nice interview. I have a tunnel port, they do like to rev.

[@marksearcy9708]

Awesome car and excellent piece of history!😁

[@tomnekuda3818]

I had 3 Ford 427's at one time.....two low risers and a side oiler. Built like a vault....the sodium-filled valves were nice as they were a bit lighter and carried the chamber heat out very efficiently. I've shifted SBC's @7200 but never felt comfortable doing that with the big Fords. I should have due to the cross-bolted mains and the good rods.

[@Thomas63r2]

Decades ago I read an article in one of the PHR or Hot Rod type magazines about a guy who figured out how to fit a 428 CJ into his Maverick using a combination of different factory Maverick and Mustang and other models brackets and mounts he didn't cut or relocate any of the body or suspension. He was of all things road racing his Maverick - with an automatic transmission! I'm sure that a modern built 347 with a 5 speed would be a better performer, but at the time he was ripping it up. Those are my favorite valve covers, I had them on my '69 Mach 1 CJ.

[@justinpakarno4346]

Adding the throttle body was a good call. Very cool car. The stats say 3mpg in 1979, I wonder what it gets with the fuel injection.

[@JasonF-o1m]

I remember this car in magazines in the day.

[@DougSlmon]

❤😊 love that 86 Fox body to that is so damn sweet

[@quent1956]

We had a 1970 Maverick with a a straight 6

[@jimmymccormick142]

Great video awesome car Ford powered forever baby keep on pulling the knot out of them boties and the horns off them mopars l love it

[@DougSlmon]

😊 that is so damn sweet I love it keep up the good work Steve Evans I heard of you before I think you had a show long time ago

[@davidkeeton6716]

I hate to bust your bubble, but I used to sell Lakewood, and Competition Engineering ladder bars back in 1978-1979 at Mr Parts in Tuscaloosa Alabama.

[@jaredkish8716]

That 2x4 barrel set up is worth bank I know a guy with a 67 mustang 427 tunnel port dual quads

[@godsowndrunk1118]

Good idea replacing those sodium filled exhaust valves....they had a bad reputation. Thanks for the trip back to the 1970's Evan.

[@robertparker6654]

I believe that is true from what I've heard and read. I knew a highway patrolman who owned a 63and a half Factory Galaxie Lightweight car. He told me the 427 low-rise engine in it was destroyed by dropping a sodium filled valve. I can't believe I had the chance to buy the car. It was different in that it was a factory four speed car with a bench seat. He said it was very low numbers because of that. It came with two 332 and a 352 that ran plus it came with the complete factory cast iron headers, complete exhaust all the way back. He only wanted 800 dollars for all , iwas flat broke. I wanted to cry.😢

[@mikecurtis2585]

Wow great car and amazing story with it!!

[@garryrambo-dp5ur]

Great video and what an awesome story and car

[@lencac7952]

Being a Ford certified tech for many years. From the very early 70's to the mid 2000's. So when he mentioned the camshaft number it made me think about something. MOPAR or GM stuff the part numbers look like just a string of numbers. But Ford's part labeling system in genius. It has a 4 character prefix, I think he said C8AX. The C denotes the era as the 60's. The 8 denotes the year. the AX will tell you the application. Then the basic part number. In this case it's a 6 thousand number, which is engine. Or as example a 7 thousand basic part number is the transmission. Then you have a 2 character suffix denoting the particular info. about the part. The system is rather genius. So as a tech we could just look at the part number and pretty much know exactly what it was for. Knowing the numbers was also very useful in doing warranty claims. Thank You Uncle Henry 😉

[@sorshiaemms5959]

Tunnel ports my favorite FE engine they actually won the 69 Daytona with that motor

[@sorshiaemms5959]

have that hot rod book

[@YouScroob]

Trivia....Who built the 69 Daytona engine? I used to car pool to work with the guy. An interesting story about him building it.

[@sorshiaemms5959]

not sure but he must have worked for JUNIOR JOHNSON @@YouScroob

[@robertparker6654]

I believe I read that back in the day Ford only supplied the tunnel port engines to Nascar and other sanctioned racing teams due to their ability to supply them

[@fernandochaves9665]

Love the old school thing, all motor. Mavericks certainly have some muscle car stance, with fat tires, they become like mini-Mustangs... The Grabber legacy helped to this. Anything with that 427 bird emblem runs and sounds great, man.

[@birdsnestfishing698]

This guy is awesome I would love to see him rip it at 7800 rpm like he says!

[@dangrippo4409]

Awesome, that thing is killer!

[@michaelhicks8120]

Love the 427 side oiler!