ascMcLaren Enthusiasts

[scott86capri]

I am going to be restoring the 86 eurocoupe and have some Questions on what is acceptable when restoring one. this car while in very good shape has 144,000 miles on it now and still has original shocks, struts all bushings, clutch and all accessories on the motor. We will be pulling the motor and trans and going through them to freshen all that needs done internally at that point a new clutch will go in and the rear end will be rebuilt new bearings and such to spec from factory. I am mostly wondering about suspension stuff do they still make the springs and shocks. Are poly bushing and such acceptable to most. I am not looking for performance gains as I have a modded one already. I just want it to run and drive like a new car would have. I also plan on changing the heater core and evaporator core while the dash is out and all vacum lines and go through the wiring. I suspect the wiring is good as everything works and nothing has been changed. the accessories A/C compessor air pump and power steering pump Alt. can you find ford origanal parts or is after market stuff OK. I was planning on changing any and all wear items on this car it still has original brakes though it has had two sets of pads the previous owner said. I can't believe he got that kind of mileage out of the clutch and brakes. could not have been drove hard. I smoked the first set of brakes on my new one in 86 within the first six months of ownership.

[negusm]

No one worries about small changes like bushing type or so forth. I just wouldn't use "offset" poly bushings. Those put undue stress on other parts of the suspension and change its geometry which is not how it was designed.

ascmclaren.com has the springs I think. I think they are just Motorcraft lowering springs.

Regular shocks can be had like Gabriels. If you want carrerra shocks, they don't make that particular model anymore.

I like things that are original but nearly all ascs have minor changes here and there. Struts/shocks/brakes, etc are not a big deal.

-Mike
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1985 ascMcLaren Coupe - Midnight Blue
Under Restoration

[CocoLoco]

I'm with Mike on this one. It's hard to keep it all original because there aren't that many parts out there. Hank is a good source, but even some of his are repros. I have tried to restore & keep mine as original as possible but I have made a few minor comprimises too. Let's face it - not all things on the originals were "perfect". Sometimes you have to adjust just to keep things together and on the road. No sin in that. I guess that makes me only a 99% purist.
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1985 Red ascMcLaren Convertible #218
1990 Seafoam Auqa ascMcLaren Convertible #263
2001 Yellow Mustang Convertible
1977 Red Bonneville Coupe

[svo413]

One of the down sides of owning a Capri is that there is no group out there to judge an all original car. The Mustang Club of America has no interest in Mercury products so who is left? AACA? Doubtful. Any show you go to is going to be "pretty is best". If here was a group to judge them with knowledge, it would be here. Since the car is based on the Fox body Mustang, it would make sense to start with MCA third generation judging as a baseline. I don't know too many other MCA judges besides myself who visit here. My wife gets dinged all the time for production variations when showing our 88 ASC.

I say, do what you have to to enjoy the car. You already have the mindset to keep it original so no preaching needed.
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Kevin Gold card MCA Judge for Fox Body
85 ASC Vert #612205
88 ASC Vert #542 20,550 miles
84 SVO 24,000 miles, 84 GT Turbo Vert.
03 Mach I, 89 LX Vert, 74 Mustang II
14 CA Special, 69 Mustang coupe, 07 GT500
67 T-bird, 15 F150 Tuscany, 16 F250