ascMcLaren Enthusiasts

maxemueller · Joined: 31 May 2022 Posts: 1 Location: Milwaukee, WI

I brought my 88 ASC McLaren to a shop for a complete new suspension and ended up with a stock LX Coupe suspension. The car sits higher and isn't as fun to drive.
The shop said they'd fix this for me but they got rid of the original stock parts so I'm not sure what to have them put on. Any suggestions?

negusm · Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2022 3:00 pm Post subject:

Yeah, no shop will have any idea on the special parts needed.

Looking at the notes on these cars, they got lowering springs.

Probably Motorsport springs are what you want. Doubtful they can be sourced anymore.

You can try SVE lowering springs or call Hank in Florida for the correct springs. He's be the only guy I would think would have originals kicking around.

For shocks, not sure what would be a good replacement.

Too bad you didn't research this ahead of time as the springs rarely go bad and you would have been fine if the shop had just reused them.
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1985 ascMcLaren Coupe - Midnight Blue
Under Restoration

svo413 · Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 2:29 pm Post subject: Suspension

A common trick back in the day was to use the stock 4 cylinder springs. It lowered the car a bit. They are progressive rate springs so there is no concerns about bottoming out or a stiff ride.

I'm pretty sure it's posted on this site what Motorsport springs were used or similar. B or C. One is not a progressive spring and will give a stiff ride.
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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

svo413 · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2022 5:08 pm Post subject: Spring

This is one of the posts from 2011 which seems creditable. From an ASC source. No alignments were done.

"What I got from him was Capris ONLY got the springs verts and coupes. Also 2 types of springs were used early (how early was unclear) cars got a spring that was too stiff so they switched to the motorsport spring. He did not know what part number. Im sure sandy is right and it is the "B" spring."

This matches the story that McLaren supplied springs in the beginning.

I have not compared my 85 to my 88. By 87 they were specifying chassis parts from the mustang vert. ASC supplied parts would not be listed in the Ford build sheets.
_________________
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