i am going to buy a older ford maverick but don't know much about it i do know that it is small light and easy to make fast, i don't know the year or trim level but i think its a straight six if anybody knows a  lot about these cool little cars please help. if possible tell me any weak spots parts to keep and parts to toss I have a 1980 ford f150 with a 302, a c4, and a 8.8 inch rearend with 3.55s that would go nicely in the little car. does anyone know any websites that specialize in the old ford mavericks?  

I know very little about most ford products.  I do know that a ford truck engine wont fit a car unless you work the motor mounts.  That would be some mover with a Windsor though.  Good luck with it.  

The 302 is a drop in, with the correct mounts, the c4 will be fine, might even use the same crossmember, but the 8.8 is too wide.
I would see which rear it has, it may be an 8", similar to the 9" but smaller and weaker, but would be fine behind a mild 302.
Google for some Maverick web sites, I'm sure they can help you find parts.  

would a mustang sub frame fit? what about a thunderbird independant rearend im also considering a t5 or maybe an old four-speed  

There are better people to answer those questions than I. Remember, I'm the engine guy.  

Some later Mavericks had V-8s in them so crawling through a junkyard may net you all the parts you need cheaply. The earliest ones (70) are generally the best as they have the smallest,lightest bumpers.  These cars were Ford's first attempt to re-create the Model-T so they were real owner friendly, coming from the factory with a manual on how to do work on the car most people would have a shop do. A friend had an early one long ago & the only caveat here is you need to know WHEN your Maverick was built as I remember, Ford changed part numbers on some parts of the car in mid-year for some reason. I'm not a "Ford guy" but these are neat cars, having run everything from early Pro Stock ( with SOHC  or Boss 429s) to the old GT-1 class turning mid 10's with smallblocks