87 Mustang Vert #416

[avmtdan]

I didnt want to post anything more in the classifieds section so here goes the history of this car, what I know about it, and what needs to be done.

Purchased this car from craigslist (sorry, no link to the site as its too old now.) Here is the original post-"
Rare! 1987 5.0 ASC Mclaren edition mustang. 2 seater convertible. 80% restored. Fresh (original) 302 fully re built. E-7 forged pistons, Molly rings, billet crankshaft, clevite rods/main bearings, ford racing E-303 mild lift camshaft, roller lifters. Water pump, thermostat, hoses, belt, radiator, shroud, fan, clutch all new. Walbro 225 Lph fuel pump, steel lines, rails, 19lb injectors all new. Original aod transmission re-built, 2500 stall converter (tci). Hedman 2 & 3/4 headers. The car has 78k original miles. Have a lot invested, over 3 years time, losing interest, my loss is your absolute gain."

I honestly was not in the market when I decided to go look at this car, I was looking for parts for my 98 V6 that I am planning on stroking and supercharging (yeah I know, why when you can cram a v8 down its throat, but any moron can put a v8 in a stang, it takes a real moron to stroke and supercharge it!). The post intrigued me, I had never heard of ASC Mclaren nor did I know anything of the conversions they were doing, after a few google searches I had to see the car to see if it was worth anything. Realistically, the engine work itself was worth the asking price of a normal GT if it was done right, so I really wanted to check this one out. The car was only about an hour from my house, so I arranged a viewing and really liked what I saw. The car is solid, most everything is installed on the car or came with the car, and it is just missing certain odds and ends that would have been removed for upgrades anyway. Asking price was $2000, I offered $1500 and walked away with the car. Been very happy, now I have a project to play with on the weekends, when Im not working, flying, fixing the house or other 4 vehicles, fixing the plane, raising a child or being a husband.

History of the car:
From what I have been told the car came down from Missouri at some point in its life (I live in Georgia, hence the down reference). It has some rust because of it, the majority the previous owner had cut out and replaced pieces with (the drivers door was infected, as was the right quarter). When I inspected the car before I bought it I also found rust under the drivers side pedals, but only about a 4x6 patch is gone so the rest I will treat and weld in a patch.

Previous owner had wanted to restore the car and had built the engine up with some nice mods, and had his buddy help with the actual engine build (his buddy is said to be in NHRA and builds a bunch of engines, but how can you tell without a tear down?) The engine has not run since the rebuild, it is in place, but needs some work to get the rest of the accessories taken care of. Most frustrating is that alot of the accessory bolts are obviously wrong, and alot of the brackets are loose due to the wrong hardware being installed, Im praying that only the accessories were put together this carelessly.

I have been chasing alot of electrical issues with the car, for whatever reason the engine harness to the left inner fender was cut where it goes into the fender, so I have been splicing wires and making sure not to let the mysterious blue smoke out of the boxes.

The transmission is also said to be rebuilt, personally I would rather have a 5 speed, but the auto will be nice for the wife to run around with since she cant drive a stick. No driveshaft to the rear end at the moment, PO had discarded to make way for an aluminum one. Aircleaner was also discarded for a future cold air kit. I plan on upgrading to the mass air instead of speed density also, trying to procure parts for that project as well.

My plan for the car:
I am looking at this car simply as a project to have fun with, show off on the occasional weekend, and just get it in working order. I like the idea of a one off car that not many people have, and the vert mod is an intersting one. Its a stang, but a different breed of stang. I will be doing the majority of the work on the car, but will not be going for show room quality. Im more concerned with having a car that is usable than original.

The good:
Engine is newly rebuilt
Trans is rebuilt,
rearend is new
front suspension and steering is new
shocks are new
front bumper cover is new
radiator is new
all engine accessories are new
fuel pump is new
Basically, the drive line of the car is new or rebuilt, Im a mechanic professionally so I shouldn't have much trouble finishing up the driveability portion of the car.
I have all the ASC badges, the spoiler, and most of the body kit.
Car has Recaro seats, interior is in good shape, the drivers seat has some cracking but for the most part looks better than the ones in my 98. Seats have picked up some blackening due to moisture, currently trying to find a cleaner that wont strip the red coloring out.


The Bad:
Missing alot of odds and ends, hardware in particular.
The convertible top has no glass, and the top itself is pretty well gone. It is complete, but feels like it would tear easily.
Windshield moulding is gone.
Rusted floor board on one side

The ugly:
Car was being prepped for paint, a bit prematurely I think. The passenger fender has a piss poor bondo job done, along with the drivers door, and right quarter. I will probably have to remove the bondo and re-fill because of a lack of detail.
PO also oversprayed anything he didnt feel he was going to keep, the wheels were sprayed, the windshield and side glass, the rear view mirrors, all of the headlights and turning signals etc. Windshield and sides cleaned right up, as did the mirrors, but the lack of proper prep is frustrating.
Vanity mirrors are cracked/missing covers
Cowl vent cover broken
all lights are painted over

The Missing:
Pull down motor: I have the motor part, but not the drive. Trying to find a replacement, I have been to local junkyards looking at olds and GM motors, but none seem to match the screw type for the pull down.

Tail lights:I might have a line on a set, but havent heard from the guy for a while. If need be I will go aftermarket, but the lx with asc covers looks nice to me, I would like to go that route.

Rear bumper cover
Windshield moulding
Drivers side courtesy light
Driveshaft
spare tire
exhaust: I bought a mac offroad h pipe and mufflers, but did not come with the tail pipes. This set up the pipes actually connect near the rear end just above the pumpkin, looking for a set of pipes.

Stage 1:
Fix all the electrical and driveability squawks.
Get the car running and mobile so I can at least move it around my garage and keep the wife happy.

Stage 2:
Convertible top repair/replacement, along with parts procurement.

Stage 3:
Body repair and finishing, along with floorboard repair.

Stage 4:
Enjoy!

Without further ado, I give you #416 as I pulled her off the trailer and brought her into my home. (note that the glass has been cleaned and is in great shape).

Ps- have a line on parts or suggestions, would love to hear them, thanks!

[Kentennis]

Sounds like you have your work cut out for you!

[avmtdan]

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[negusm]

You're one brave individual.

[avmtdan]

Fine line between bravery and stupidity right?

[Sandy]

Why are so many ascMcLarens driven hard, put away wet,
left outdoors 24/7x12 months,
subjected to "up grades" under hood, stolen, stripped,
abandened, and eventually FOUND sitting in a
field, with no roof? One does not see this"treatment"
with likewise 20 year old Mercedes convertibles, nor
similiar aged Jags, or for that matter, not even
AustinHealy 'Verts. One does see similiar "treatment"
bestowed upon old BMWs,
as they too (in most cases) look like they have
been to war, also.

[avmtdan]

Not sure, I guess since the name isnt that well know that nobody knows what they are. The original price of the car should have kept it in the collectors market, and some of them did stay there, as by your fine examples. That being said, I used to work for Ford, and was appalled at what some people would do to their collectible cars. One of the 98 Cobra Mystic paint jobs came in for a rattle concern, there was 3 large trash bags of mcdonalds cups and other assorted junk in the back.

Its a disposable society, and those that are buying Mercedes and Jags are doing it for a name and status more than utility. Not to mention, the price of those cars brings them to a different class of clientell, ones more likely to own a garage and have the means take care of them. I bought my car from an apartment dweller who was using his former inlaws garage.

[shelbyscarab]

Not sure, I guess since the name isnt that well know that nobody knows what they are. The original price of the car should have kept it in the collectors market, and some of them did stay there, as by your fine examples. That being said, I used to work for Ford, and was appalled at what some people would do to their collectible cars. One of the 98 Cobra Mystic paint jobs came in for a rattle concern, there was 3 large trash bags of mcdonalds cups and other assorted junk in the back.

Its a disposable society, and those that are buying Mercedes and Jags are doing it for a name and status more than utility. Not to mention, the price of those cars brings them to a different class of clientell, ones more likely to own a garage and have the means take care of them. I bought my car from an apartment dweller who was using his former inlaws garage.

Exactly right.....

The original price should've for the most part kept it safely out of the hands of certain people and kept them safe. But the prices haven't stayed high enough unfortunatly. Now you can see one sitting out in the weather in the snowbelt outside someone's apartment parked next to a old nova and a beat up truck. How do you think that will affect an ASC vert. not too well. Since I've been on these boards I've seen quite a few completely trashed ASCs. ASCs, especially the verts, are very delicate compared to other cars, due to the engineering of the tops and materials used.

I still think however believe that there are quite a number of ASCs packed away in peoples garages with low miles, that haven't seen the light of day for years.

I knew of a guy in northern Ohio who had an early build '85 ASC vert and he bought his 17 yr. old daughter a red '87 ASC for her birthday. ...... wonder whatever happened to that one......

[avmtdan]

Ok been a while since I have had any news on 416. I have slowly been acquiring parts, and tracking down people for the restoration. (I have a 11 month old, the only way this car is going to get going again is I pay someone to fix it up, mechanical I can do, paint and body not so much.).

At any rate, I have never been under 416 and taken a good look at what I am dealing with here, until today. Jacked up the car, and found out a bit more of what I am in for, and I have a few questions. I posted new pics in my album, if you feel like tackling a few I would appreciate it.

1) Under my car are frame brackets that run the length of the underside, along with big plates that are riveted into position. Does anyone know if these plates are ASC installs, or did someone else try to beef up the car due to the corrosion?





2) Found some chipping paint on the passenger door frame, the paint underneath is burgundy? For the most part the car is bright red (where there is no primer) , I even have the decals where ASC painted it on the trunk and its bright red to. I thought all the cars that came to ASC were black when they started, ideas?


I believe that most of the corrosion was caused by the car sitting outside in someones yard, it seems to be isolated to the frame and where the extra support brackets are. The undercoating looks like it has been there since the brackets were installed, not sure if this just means that they put on brackets to keep the car a bit stronger or what.

I am also looking for ideas for places to take the car and have them correct the rust issues and get it repainted, I am in Georgia so if anyone has some suggestions I would love to hear them. Thanks for any help or ideas you may have.

There are a few more pics of the cars belly in my album.

[negusm]

Join your local Mustang club. The people ther are invaluable at knowing who locally is worth taking your car to.

-Mike

[avmtdan]

So anyone have any ideas if the reinforcements are stock? And Did Mclaren shoot the car porsche red even though it was already burgundy?

[negusm]

On that car, you have to really dig deep as it's been through the ringer.

Could the panel(s) where the red paint have been replacements from another red car?

Did you scrape beneath that lower layer of red paint to see if there is yet another color layer beneath?

-Mike

[Sandy]

About the paint....Cars with blue interior were FoMoCo painted Oxford White and any other interior color deemed exterior of Black. NO EXCEPTIONS !!

Remember also that the cars were built uponPolice Pkg. underbody items.
I 4-got the code, art this moment.

shoot me a PM with your VIN

or to my e-mail
cigarsandy@comcast.net

[avmtdan]

I will get the vin for you in the next few days, so these brackets may be part of the police package then?

[avmtdan]

Just an update, car is alot worse off then I originally thought. I have it at a mustang restoration shop right now getting the floors reworked, turns out the rocker panels are gone, along with some other lousy repairs.

Interesting thing is there is NO black on this car under any of the paint. I see the Porsche red, and burgundy, but under that is bare metal. Is it possible that not all of the red interior cars came black?