New owner 86 convertible

[Kevlar1986]

Hello all, just acquired 86 convertible #86-0231 per serial tag. Black with black top charcoal interior. Got the retro radar detector and air horn. Can’t wait to bust out my 80’s metal cassettes for the premium sound system after I replace all 10 of the fried speakers!
Now lives with distant younger cousins, a 96 bronco and 95 f150 both daily drivers. I have owned several fox bodies in the past (80,82,88) so the mechanicals are all very familiar.

Looking forward to learning more about these cool creations.

[svo413]

Welcome. I have not seen that car come up before. What state was it in previously?

[Kevlar1986]

It was originally sold in NJ, was in FlA, CALIF and then Ohio by 1996 and I know what neighborhood and about where it sat inside for the last 25 years.
Pretty clean and in oem form. Got started on the basics like replacing the dried rubber window/door seals, motor mounts, fluids, etc. Runs exceptionally well for age, really impressive,
can’t wait to get it out more when the weather breaks.

[negusm]

Nice! Keep us posted!

[svo413]

I see only 2 black/Gray cars on my informal list.
#195 in FL, 2023 with 43,000 miles and automatic
#427 in NY, 2012 with 68,000 miles and 5 speed. We know the number 427 is not original.

Any of these match your car?

I will add it to the database here.

[Kevlar1986]

No match there.
Mostly Ohio car. Sold new in NJ, FlA for a minute below 10k miles.

Changed out all oils and fluids, replaced all the usual ford electronics that should be at this age, like coil, ign module, tps, fuel pump/filter, basic tune up. Still has original ford exhaust, has holes, so that’s getting replaced…

It does sound a little different than what my memory tells me from my previous fox bodys, makes me wonder about that B cam story that gets talked about. Hidden from 80’s epa perhaps?

[negusm]

The B Cam probably would have only been in the 85 coupes...not the verts but regardless...pretty sure we sussed out that it was mostly a story asc floated.

[Kevlar1986]

Thanks for clarifying.

[Kevlar1986]

Added magnaflow catback, strut tower brace and MSD distributor. Got some full length subframe connecters to put on. Replaced all 10 speakers so if anyone wants the original Kenwoods….
Replaced the tired door cards, tightened up the map pockets, and redid the door speaker cover fabric while apart.

I just had to put a 92 upper intake on that I bored out to accept a 70mm throttle body, that did add some pep.

Doing the dreaded heater core replacement this weekend so I took out the radio to clean all the potentiometers and replace the cassette belts. I would rather pull and replace the motor than pull the radio and reinstall it, that is a ridiculous and downright stupid design made extra difficult with the asc tunnel bracing spot WELDED to the lower dash brace under the radio. Had to cut those welds to get the radio out. Heater core is cake compared to radio r&r.

While pulling the whole console i got to study the bracing added by ASC along the upper driveshaft tunnel. In the rear area of the console void I found a 12” leather sewn tube, same color as seats, filled with what feels like lead buckshot. It was on the drivers side between the tunnel and the asc bracing. Must be a sound/drone absorber of sorts so I will leave it in there I suppose! Or maybe just some dude messing around during assembly because there was an 80’s style white cotton tank top in there too, along with multiple ball point pens (one is from a resort hotel in California) and the missing factory cigarette lighter. Interestingly someone added a drain to the passenger side rear storage compartment, it had a tube that ran through a hole under the car. I visualized cold beer on ice back there since it was common practice to drink beer when cruising in the 80’s!

While this is apart will be replacing the carpet and re-upholstering the seats with new leather.

If anyone has any wiring diagrams and pictures for the top pull down motor that would be appreciated. Also need pics/diagram for wiring in back drivers side trunk wheel well area. My electric trunk release does not work and I have a new pull down motor to install but the original motor is missing and wiring is not in place.

[negusm]

Sounds like a lot of great fixes.

I am assuming that you're keeping the speaker covers. The speakers aren't worth much themselves, since they can be replaced like you are doing, but if you are getting rid of the speaker covers, I'll save them.

[Kevlar1986]

I am going to try to attach them to the new speakers once I put the interior back together. If they don’t fit they are yours.

[svo413]

Sounds like you have jumped into a lot of work already.

You can find the pull down wiring on the ascmclaren.com site. The wiring is a bit confusing as it taps off the rear defrost wiring with relays up front in the dash and interlocks in the trunk. There is also a switch that piggy backs onto the pull down motor to stop it. There are 2 different connectors types on the switch.

The common problem with the trunk release is that it's interlocked with the tonneau cover. You can release it with the cable. My 88 had an issue where the switch at the trunk hinge separated. Often it would not work but banging and jiggling sometime did.

Let us know if you need more info.

[Kevlar1986]

Thanks that will be very helpful.
In the trunk area where that wiring is located there is a plastic green box with a black top. The white wire connector harness for that box is unplugged and has a “jumper” wire attached to it. Is that green plastic box for the hatchback defrost only? And not used at all for these cars?

Someone disconnected some of the wiring so I need to reconnect it. The diagram in the asc service manual from ascmclaren.com notes a different wire color going to the pull down motor than what I have present back there.

Again-Appreciate the info!

[svo413]

So, there is a front relay module in the dash behind the HVAC panel which taps into the rear defrost power lead. Its hard to miss since its a fat wire. I tried tracing out my wiring a while back. I believe my wiring was intact and working at one point. A couple of radios later, not so sure. I tried to make a diagram on the front relays.

Capri Trunk Relay.JPG (40.38 KiB) Viewed 276 times

The other rear green relay box was also added by ASC. Again tapped into the Ford defrost wiring. The harness from the green box to the pull down motor was added by ASC. You can tell its different.

For years I have been just using the tonneau release and not the pull down motion on my 85. I believe I lost power to the up/down switch when playing with the power antenna power source.

[Kevlar1986]

Thanks much!
That diagram of the trunk relay is what I needed and will probably clear up most of my issues.