I am Quasi and I have a problem...

[QuasiMofo]

I can never leave well enough alone. I am a tinkerer and one of those guys who does not see why something cannot be done. I wanted to build cars for a living but the chips never fell my way, so now I am a Service Manager for a repair facility and I build cheap cars to satisfy my fix.

In October I was given a 1981 Triumph TR7 that had competed in the Grassroots Motorsports $2004.00 Challenge. It faired poorly and I was happy to lowball the owner out of it in order to build a better pile of junk out of it. I started looking at my usual boxes of parts and felt bored. So I researched other options and found that the Dodge 2.4L (non SRT4 engine) could be pretty neat if boosted and is made to go RWD (Liberty). I set out to find a couple of JY engines to part together and came across a Lincoln Mark 8... I am a sucker for 280hp 350 lb DOHC V8s. I bought the whole parts car for $330.00. I left happy and was working on an excuse to tell my wife why I am broke again (my "car" money not "our" money in this case)... I stopped by a salvage yard that I used to work at and low and behold they were just getting in a 1994 Mark 8... $125.00... Discover had room on it... what the he... So I get the second car home first and start the stripping process, it runs and drives and is in fair shape outside of the body damage. While on the table I measure the engine... problem it's EXACTLY the same width as the shortest width in the TR7s engine bay... Sawzall and welder are both handy but I started making a back up plan just in case.

My F150 never gets used. It sits and sits and is too nice to let rust into the ground. I decided to sell it and pay off Mr Discover when I got an email. An internet buddy knew of my probs and wanted to know if I was interested in his "Capri" I said I would consider it we talked about it on the phone and I wasn't sold. It is an ascMcLaren, it is rough with an emphasis on the ugh. Then he says the magic words... "You are looking for $2,000.00 for your F150? I will give you $800.00 cash and the car. Sold.

So know is the issue at hand, when I go down at the end of January to pick up this car I get to make a decision on wether or not it is worthy of restoration (which is by far too expensive for me) or modification. If it is Modification then how modified? Rebuild the injected mill or drop in the spare 4.6L DOHC and a SN95 suspension? (I have one of those too )

Woe is me.

[negusm]

Well, these cars right now are not "worth" restoring....yet.

Basically, you will not get your money out of them whether you restore or modify. If you modify you will most likely get less than if you went the restoration route unless you found a buyer who likes how you modified the car.

They only made 115 of these cars for 1986 and its a shame they don't bring more than they do.

If you aren't happy with the standard 302 v8, I would keep the mods down to bolt ons so that it could be put back to stock in the future or if you really want a new engine, store the stock engine away.

-Mike

[ASCMCLRN]

Kind of hard to read into you. You like to customize things to your liking and invite challenges however you mention budget quite a few times too.

IMO it will be unique and you do like making stuff modified to your liking so have at it if its going to please you. If not the hp difference can easily be fixed with nearly just heads on the 302 to make up the difference a 4.6l dohc would give.

Bottomline if its dollars and sense, stick with the 302, if its modifying to what you want with a challenge that makes you happier do it. The only catch is if you dont feel you will keep this car and it is not meant to please you for long term think of the cars long term and stay stock.

Nick

PS It wouldnt be the first 4.6 in a fox nor would a 460 big block for that matter.

[QuasiMofo]

Oh this I know. As far as mods go there are a lot of 5.0/Fox mods that can be done for VERY little money. I worked in and ran salvage yards for 15 years and just using the JY parts network I can do a lot, even more if this happens to have the original engine. Ported Explorer/GT40P heads can be done for less than $200/pr. A Megasquirt computer can be built to handle fuel controls and make better than Mass Air numbers on a speed density car for $150.00. 3.73:1 Gears from a Ranger $50.00. SN95 K member, lowers, spindles, brakes, rear ends all can be used for eVil on the Fox for handling purposes. I am more concerned with IF this car is really one of three (White Full Option Auto) then as bad as it is how much could it be worth? (rhetorical Q) If it is only a $4500.00 car then I will mod it to my hearts content. It already needs $1000.00 worth of light covers that I will not buy for it

I guess I am just trying to make conversation and A: try to warn you of my impulse buying problems and B: try to figure out what the best route is for my latest impulse purchase!

Your input is appreciated.

[MHISSTC]

Quasi,

I love what's going on at eVilallianceracing.com and Grassroots Motorsports. I'm a lurker and a closet subscriber. I've been trying to get myself and a couple of guys in our local car club motivated to build a Challenge Car for a couple of years now. We all have a lot of parts lying around and sources for cheap stuff, but we haven't agreed upon a single project vehicle or found the time to make it happen. One of us owns his own business and myself and another guy work rotating shifts in the same office.

Anyway, here are my rambling thoughts:

First, that TR7 looks like hell! I think the boosted Dodge 2.4L motor is just what that project needs.

Second, I think a DOHC mod-motored Fox with SN95 suspension is a SUPER idea. Cobra motors go for big money, but finding a salvage Mark VIII like you have is the next best thing. It doesn't put out as much HP as the Cobra motor, or have quite the power potential since it doesn't have guite as beefey internals, but it's dang close!

I've got a "spare" Cobra motor that is currently in my '96 Mystic Cobra that I'm hoping to put into a FOX body, or one of my '64 Ford pickups, if I ever get my original Cobra motor rebuilt to replace the "spare". I'd love to build up a road-race Mustang or Capri with my "spare" motor. I have an '85 and '86 Mustang GT and an '81 Capri RS...all rollers...that are potential candiates. I also have an '85 Capri GS 5.0 and '85 Cougar XR7 that will probably retain their original powerplants, but may someday become candidates for SN95 suspension parts.

My problem with putting the Mark VIII motor in the Capri is that I could never bring myself to tearing into a 1 of 115 made in 1986 car like that whether it was currently worth restoring or not. I feel like there has got to be somebody out there who would want it as a restoration project. I say that without seeing the current condition of the car. If it's a basket case and ready for the crusher anyway, I say do with it what you want and sell all the McLaren specific parts, if there are any left, to those who will use them restoring other McLarens.

My suggestion is that you offer the car For Sale complete with lots of pictures and a good description of the car and your plans for the car if it does not sell both here and at www.foureyedpride.com for one month. If the car does not sell to a fan of such a car in a month, let the mods begin knowing you tried to get it into the hands of someone who appreciates the car for what it is(was).

Scott

P.S. If you do happen to drop the DOHC 4.6L motor in the Capri along with the SN95 suspension and sort it all out into something that can be autocrossed, opentracked, and/or roadraced, let me know when you get tired of it!!

[plumkrazy]

You know doing a DOHC and indepent rear would be GREAT!! It all is bolt in with little having to be done that cannot be changed back. And I think if done RIGHT would bring more money then if stock. Look at what they are doing with 60'smustangs with new motors wheels and such they are bring $50,000+. I would just save the OEM parts for the next guy.

[QuasiMofo]

Will do, and don't worry about lurking at eVil... log in and start slinging sh.. well you know. Once you log in the real fun stuff starts!

[MHISSTC]

You know doing a DOHC and indepent rear would be GREAT!! It all is bolt in with little having to be done that cannot be changed back.

Yea! I'd really like...um...er...I mean, I think you'd really enjoy the challenge of installing an IRS from an '04 Cobra. It may not work on a budget build due to the Cobra part price premium. It may not be the simplest or most durable for track only duty either. It would be good for a street driven dual purpose car though.

Will do, and don't worry about lurking at eVil... log in and start slinging sh.. well you know. Once you log in the real fun stuff starts!

I grew up in Colorado and have an association with some of the Mustang, Cobra, and SVT folks there. I've kept a curious eye on the Frankenstang projects. There's some pretty sharp and unique individuals over there. I like the seriously independant spirit and high degree of mechanical skill most of the folks seem to have. Even through there a lot of unfinished projects, they all seem to fall generally into the catagory of "doers", while a lot of folks at other sites are "watchers" or "talkers". Although I lack some of the skills and time to actually get things done, I do have a lot of willingness, desire, and a large amount of raw project material! I'll eventually get things done and start contributing, but it may be a while.

Scott

[negusm]

And I think if done RIGHT would bring more money then if stock.

I don't think an IRS swap is going to add value to these cars. If you took an LX 4cyl coupe and did it, maybe its worth it to a hobbyist who would like to go out and race it. But to a collector looking for a rare car, its a big negative. A collector is not going out to race it, he wants to cruise in it and show it.

Collectors have money. Hobbyists do not.

My $.02.

Of course, these cars may all retreat into obscurity and be worthless. Who knows?

-Mike

[ASCMCLRN]

And I think if done RIGHT would bring more money then if stock.

I don't think an IRS swap is going to add value to these cars. If you took an LX 4cyl coupe and did it, maybe its worth it to a hobbyist who would like to go out and race it. But to a collector looking for a rare car, its a big negative. A collector is not going out to race it, he wants to cruise in it and show it.

Collectors have money. Hobbyists do not.

My $.02.

Of course, these cars may all retreat into obscurity and be worthless. Who knows?

-Mike

I wouldnt generalize that hobbyist dont have the money (although in my case you are right lol). It is more the case that they like to do things themselves vs buy someone elses. It also gets rare that people have the same preferences so it makes it more difficult to turn over ones project. It all boils down to appeal. For instance these Eleanor clones are fetching serious money, so are these retro Camaros, Stangs, Cobras, built new from scratch from hobbyist as well.

If this project did go through I can imagine short term its not going to fetch what you put into it, however long term it is going to have some rare hybreed to it and be worthy of something.

Nick

[dahberg]

And I think if done RIGHT would bring more money then if stock.

I don't think an IRS swap is going to add value to these cars. If you took an LX 4cyl coupe and did it, maybe its worth it to a hobbyist who would like to go out and race it. But to a collector looking for a rare car, its a big negative. A collector is not going out to race it, he wants to cruise in it and show it.

Collectors have money. Hobbyists do not.

My $.02.

Of course, these cars may all retreat into obscurity and be worthless. Who knows?

-Mike

I wouldnt generalize that hobbyist dont have the money (although in my case you are right lol). It is more the case that they like to do things themselves vs buy someone elses. It also gets rare that people have the same preferences so it makes it more difficult to turn over ones project. It all boils down to appeal. For instance these Eleanor clones are fetching serious money, so are these retro Camaros, Stangs, Cobras, built new from scratch from hobbyist as well.

If this project did go through I can imagine short term its not going to fetch what you put into it, however long term it is going to have some rare hybreed to it and be worthy of something.

Nick

These retro stangs were at the SAAC 30 meet last July and everyone of them was well over $100,000 in price!



Unfortunately, I think Mike might be more correct than he might like to be in stating

Of course, these cars may all retreat into obscurity and be worthless

when refering to the ascMcLaren and especially the Capri versions. Certainly not my hope or preference, IMOHO this is more of the reality! Examples like Sandy's may well end up on Barrett's for a primo price one day, but the vast majority will soon be forgotten.

[RARE-ASC]

I truley feel unique documented low mile original unrestored 5.0L capris asc's & mustangs real nice ones like mine and sandys will bring big money in the future i plan to keep my GPIV and 83 RS for a while i tried to sell the 83 rs on ebay to test the waters and i did in the mid 8's not too bad but could not justify selling it for that way too nice of a car but will see what future brings? I do plan to obtain a few more like them and if i am wrong who cares i will end up with anywhere from 10 to 15 nice a$$ rides to wipe down with a diper .