Reason for the Tilt Wheel Question

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 12:38 pm

I have obtained a faint, worn, stained paper that is/was an internal at ascMcLaren. It's the D32 (code) for HOW the orders for the base car (Mustang) were entered into Ford's computer system and how they were built. It's pretty fascinating. It'a also pretty brittle. The Tilt Wheel Option caused some concern. That option was always bundled with others. Yet some of the "others" were NOT on ascMcLarens, (1987-1990) ~ So they made up especially for ascMcLaren the D32 code, which I am working on cracking.
Does ANYBODY have an 87 or 88 that came from the factory with a Graphic Equalizer located below the radio? If so....SPEAK UP

ProTouringASC · Post by **ProTouringASC** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:32 pm

Hey Sandy!

On your list concerning the D32 options, you show "Passenger-Side Illuminated Vanity Mirror (now just one Illuminated Mirror)." My '89 has a passenger side vanity mirror, but it is not illuminated.

Just thought I'd mention it.

Thanks for doing all of the research!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 12:34 am

I can explain.
After I took a piece of paper and began figuring this all out, I came across a ** footnote. In effect what this footnote said was IF a certain OPTION is on restriction (usually "out" or very extreme low quantities "on line" (on the assembly line available for build.....) and it's a minor option, that they should omit and build the car and ship ASAP.

In other words not to detain the build ~ waiting for the item.
I recall the items were the Illuminated Vanity Mirrors, and the Graphic Equalizer (reason I asked in another posting if anyone on here HAS the G.E. as I, Sandy, have no memory of ever eyeballing one IN an asc/McLarn!)
BTW, Speed Control was ALSO on that listing, of items "out" not to detain he build for.

BTW, just to repeat, 'ya all know the all the "mules" were painted BLACK, except those ordered with BLUE interior, that were painted WHITE, because the FoMoCo computers were set to reject a black car with blue interior. Therefore they substituted White when a blue interior was requested.

The 1990s with white interior began with an "Opal Gray" interior and ascMcLaren recovered the Cloth Articulating Sport Seats in white ascMcLaren leather, added White door partial panels and White Premium Door loooooooong armrests with Town Car Door Courtesy & Warning Lights, and White Sun Visors. The rest of the interior was Opal Grey(Dash Pad, Carpeting, Seat Belts = Opal Grey).

I mentioned before HOW they were parked at ASC.
5-Speed Sticks had their Windshield Wipers left in the UP postion, as if turned off by the engine (not wiper switch) in the rain, UP ON the windshield. Automatics wipers were "parked" down at the windshield's base.
All knew that ALL white cars HAD blue interior.
(Regatta Blue 87 88 & 89 and Crystal Blue for 1990)

The recieving retail Ford Dealer sent the order TO FoMoCo and a carbon copy went to ASC. When car came off the line at Dearborn, it was shipped TO ASC/McLaren. When done, Ford's under contract carrier, picked the car up at ASC and took it to the selling dealer.
The dealer (I was told) did not incur any additional shipping fees.

Problem was, cars ordered FOR STOCK, with NO waiting customer, would sit in inventory seemingly 4-ever !!! Dealers got sick of paying all that floor plan INTEREST and then wind up selling the car for INVOICE ! $$ lost, not made! So......they stopped ordering them.
1,015 ordered/built for 1988, but 247 in 1989 will show you the "real" demand VS dealer orders !
About 400-450 was the REAL actual nationwide demand for the car.

ProTouringASC · Post by **ProTouringASC** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 2:20 am

Very cool information! Thanks for researching and relaying it!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

avmtdan · Post by **avmtdan** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 10:22 am

I know this is really digging up some old posts but I stumbled across this and wanted to see what it was. The 87 Vert I just got parts from had an EQ installed, not sure if it was factory or not. Its an Audiovox AMP 790. Not sure what to do with it, didn't think it was stock, anyone have any thoughts on it? I have put the pics in my album.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:37 pm

Neither your stereo nor the graphic equalizer are what ascMcLaren installed. They used Alpine 7272 Stero and an Alpine G.E.
The G.E. was dropped after the 1988s. The cavity for the G.E. was still there, but for 1989-1990 was place to put_____ whatever. i.e. tissues, cigarettes (god forbid), a small map or writing pad. That kinda stuff.
A"kubby hole"

Up top it mentions the Tilt wheel. Standered FOR ASC MC LARENS ONLY (Optional on all other Mustangs) ..... on 1987/1988/1989 cars built by FoMoCo UNDER D32 CODE, the ascMcLaren CODE ~! Was deleted on all 1990s due to the then new Air Bag in the steering wheel center pad.

I am not positive, but the 1991 had a re-engineered system that allowed both tilt AND air bag to live together in love & harmoney!

foxchassis · Post by **foxchassis** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 4:47 pm

Here is what the Car Facts Books, Fleet Buyers Guides, Launch Guides, etc. say about the graphic equalizer and tilt steering wheel...

1987
Car Facts Book

graphics equalizer (915) optional in LX and GT
tilt steering (52Q) optional in LX, standard in GT

Launch Guide

graphics equalizer optional in LX and GT
tilt steering optional in LX, standard in GT

Preferred Equipment Ordering Guide

Custom Equipment Group (60A), which includes graphic equalizer and tilt steering, among other items, is included with PEP 244A ("Custom" LX) or 251A ("Custom" GT)
graphic equalizer was optional in the Custom Equipment Group when ordered with PEP 240A (LX), 242A ("Select" LX), 243A ("Luxury" LX), or 250A ("Sport" GT)
tilt steering wheel included in Custom Equipment Group when ordered with PEP 240A, 242A, or 243A
individual items in groups could be deleted on the deletion section of the dealer order form

1988
Advanced Ford Fleet Preview

graphics equalizer optional in LX and GT
tilt steering optional in LX, standard in GT

Car Facts Book (02/88 revision)

graphic equalizer no longer part of Custom Equipment Group

Ford Fleet Differences

graphics equalizer optional in LX and GT
tilt steering optional in LX, standard in GT

Preferred Equipment Ordering Guide

Custom Equipment Group, which includes tilt steering, among other items, is included with PEP 240A (LX)
individual items in groups could be deleted on the deletion section of the dealer order form

1989
Car Facts Book

graphics equalizer optional in LX, LX 5.0L Sport, and GT
tilt steering optional in LX and LX 5.0L Sport, standard in GT

Ford Fleet Differences

graphics equalizer optional in LX, LX 5.0L Sport, and GT
tilt steering optional in LX and LX 5.0L Sport, standard in GT

Preferred Equipment Ordering Guide

Custom Equipment Group, which includes tilt steering, among other items, is included with PEP 240A (LX) or 245A (LX 5.0L Sport)
individual items in groups could be deleted on the deletion section of the dealer order form

1990
Fleet Buyers Guide

tilt steering wheel not available

Salespersons Source Book

tilt steering wheel not available

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The tilt steering wheel wasn't available again until the '94 model year.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:07 pm

WOW, I was not aware that TILT was "out" for 4 years!

1990, 1991, 1992, & 1993. I guess they did not reconfigure
the system until then. Seems like a long time

darkhorse40 · Post by **darkhorse40** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:30 pm

Sandy, My car came equipped with the Ford installed graphic equalizer, the same one installed in my '91 four seater.

I guess since the car is number 20, they just didn't run out yet when it came down the line.

No tilt wheel on account of the airbag.

Anything else you need to know?