My 85 is a CFI and has an automatic transmission. The car has no power compared to my other 5.0's. My 91 5.0 5 speed is a rocket compared to my 85. I am thinking of converting to MASS AIR, the same system that's on the 88-93 Mustang 5.0's. I am also thinking the 85 5.0 is just a low power engine and I might just be better off swapping out the entire engine for a 89 5.0 HO I already own.
The automatic transmission is an AOD, the previous owner installed a shift kit. I took it to a transmission shop and they said in order to get it to shift normal I would need a new transmssion. When the shift kit was installed they drilled out some holes in the transmission to get the higher shift points (2800RPM). The car is a pain to drive with that high of shift point so I want to change it. If I am going through all the effort of changing transmissions I would rather just convert to a T5 5 speed.
I have all the needed parts for both of these changes. How will these changes impact the value of my car? Will it decrease the value or will it just be a wash, better performace but non original parts.
Let me know your thoughts.
Would these two changes hurt the value of my 85?
What is the current condition of your car now?
What is the approximate street value of your car?
Do you have pictures of your car?
My opinion is that a low mileage example worth $12k will take a hit in value.
A $3k-$5k example may be a wash since you are "improving" the car performance wise.
Under $3k and pretty much any kind of improvement will help it's value.
If it were me, I'd convert the original block to a carbed roller setup.
Being an 85, the block should be a roller block just without the spider and rollers and such. Add the spider, rollers and cam and add some headers and a 4160 4v carb and then reuse the old EFI air cleaner and noone would really know it was converted. It would still remain fairly original but yet give that extra 30hp bump that you're looking for.
Down the road though I can tell you very few 85 ascs will have their original engines as most of them were CFI. Whether that will be a black mark against them or if a roller conversion will be worth more even if the original engine is gone, I couldn't say.
-Mike
What is the approximate street value of your car?
Do you have pictures of your car?
My opinion is that a low mileage example worth $12k will take a hit in value.
A $3k-$5k example may be a wash since you are "improving" the car performance wise.
Under $3k and pretty much any kind of improvement will help it's value.
If it were me, I'd convert the original block to a carbed roller setup.
Being an 85, the block should be a roller block just without the spider and rollers and such. Add the spider, rollers and cam and add some headers and a 4160 4v carb and then reuse the old EFI air cleaner and noone would really know it was converted. It would still remain fairly original but yet give that extra 30hp bump that you're looking for.
Down the road though I can tell you very few 85 ascs will have their original engines as most of them were CFI. Whether that will be a black mark against them or if a roller conversion will be worth more even if the original engine is gone, I couldn't say.
-Mike
1985 ascMcLaren Coupe - Midnight Blue
Under Restoration
Under Restoration
My guess the car is worth $3K-$5k, it just got a new top.
Here's a link to my cardomin pages:
]http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2448357
Here's a picture:
Here's a link to my cardomin pages:
]http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2448357
Here's a picture:
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Sandy
- Posts: 5965
- Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 5:13 am
- Location: Northern New Jersey GSP Exit 148
- Contact:
Geeezzz, from what I can see of it - it looks terrific!
Sandy passed away in 2012. He will be forever missed.
1990 Final Car prior to the 12 Silver Anny Editions
1990 Silver Pearl Anny Edition
1986 Coupe Full Pkg #109 of 114.
http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascm ... _mclarens/
1990 Final Car prior to the 12 Silver Anny Editions
1990 Silver Pearl Anny Edition
1986 Coupe Full Pkg #109 of 114.
http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascm ... _mclarens/
Personally I agree with Mike. He pretty much hit it on the head.
If you have a good condition all original ASC, I would leave it alone if it runs and drives nice. Any problems I have with my vert get taken care of with good quality original used equipment or brand new stuff that fits original specs. I made the decision a long time ago that I want show quality classics. As long as it runs smooth and right.
Alot of people ask if the McLaren is fast. My response is it's fast enough. My Mach 1 would wipe the floor with the Mclaren's ass, but different times and improvements on technology. As long as my vert runs good and draws attention from its looks, i'm as happy as can be, more original the better I say.
Good luck with what every you decide. PS I agree wtih Sandy, it looks great!
If you have a good condition all original ASC, I would leave it alone if it runs and drives nice. Any problems I have with my vert get taken care of with good quality original used equipment or brand new stuff that fits original specs. I made the decision a long time ago that I want show quality classics. As long as it runs smooth and right.
Alot of people ask if the McLaren is fast. My response is it's fast enough. My Mach 1 would wipe the floor with the Mclaren's ass, but different times and improvements on technology. As long as my vert runs good and draws attention from its looks, i'm as happy as can be, more original the better I say.
Good luck with what every you decide. PS I agree wtih Sandy, it looks great!
Mike
'88 ASC/McLaren #542 white/gray/black 20,000 miles trailer queen
'03 Mach 1 torch red 7,500 miles trailer queen-sold
'06 King Ranch F150 white over gold/saddle 34,000 miles-mustang hauler
'88 ASC/McLaren #542 white/gray/black 20,000 miles trailer queen
'03 Mach 1 torch red 7,500 miles trailer queen-sold
'06 King Ranch F150 white over gold/saddle 34,000 miles-mustang hauler
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Sandy
- Posts: 5965
- Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 5:13 am
- Location: Northern New Jersey GSP Exit 148
- Contact:
Some thoughts:
A 100% original well kept 1966 GTO is worth a bundle.
Yet, 90% of todays Hi Po cars can make the GTO look like a Plymouth Valiant 6-Cyl. at the drag strip.....So...does that make the GTO worthless?
Well, if you look at the prices of such cars, you will see that in many cases the Concours GTO is bringing more than a stock new 2006 Hi Po car!
Mentally leave the car in the context of it brought-to-market time frame.
My 1986 ascMcLaren Coupe will blow the doors of of a 1941 Lincoln Cabriolet - Which is worth more ??
A 100% original well kept 1966 GTO is worth a bundle.
Yet, 90% of todays Hi Po cars can make the GTO look like a Plymouth Valiant 6-Cyl. at the drag strip.....So...does that make the GTO worthless?
Well, if you look at the prices of such cars, you will see that in many cases the Concours GTO is bringing more than a stock new 2006 Hi Po car!
Mentally leave the car in the context of it brought-to-market time frame.
My 1986 ascMcLaren Coupe will blow the doors of of a 1941 Lincoln Cabriolet - Which is worth more ??
Sandy passed away in 2012. He will be forever missed.
1990 Final Car prior to the 12 Silver Anny Editions
1990 Silver Pearl Anny Edition
1986 Coupe Full Pkg #109 of 114.
http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascm ... _mclarens/
1990 Final Car prior to the 12 Silver Anny Editions
1990 Silver Pearl Anny Edition
1986 Coupe Full Pkg #109 of 114.
http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascm ... _mclarens/
Change can be bad, but if it's reasonable it can be good as well. I don't believe that the intention of this car from reading his post is to have a concours winning stock car, but to have a litttle more power than the cfi delivers. Mike has the right idea, do some tasteful mods on the engine and keep all of your original items.
Restomodding in itself isn't always a bad thing and there is a market for it. There is no reason you cant have a little fun. Now if the car was sandy's I'd agree with sandy, but it isn't and it's been driven, thus you aren't hurting anything here. Just keep all your original stuff in a box!
Restomodding in itself isn't always a bad thing and there is a market for it. There is no reason you cant have a little fun. Now if the car was sandy's I'd agree with sandy, but it isn't and it's been driven, thus you aren't hurting anything here. Just keep all your original stuff in a box!
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Sandy
- Posts: 5965
- Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 5:13 am
- Location: Northern New Jersey GSP Exit 148
- Contact:
Last night, I was trying to add up how much money I could realize from the total & complete garage sale. Selling my 866 mile McLaren Coupe, the final car they ever built, my '90 Azura Blue Convert with 2,033 miles and my 1 of 2 actually completed Silver Anniversary Edition '90s with 7,327 miles along with the daily driver 9,000 mile 2003 Town Car Spring Feature Car "The Limited" (1 of 340 made). Why?
I wandered into the local Jaguar dealership and had a mind outta body experience. There, on the floor was a 2007 XK-R COUPE in a red that was redER than a McLaren, I mean ripe tomato red with jet black leather interior all trimmed in chrome and teakwood. 400+ H.P. and pure oozing auto-sex! It almost stopped my heart. Never, have I ever seen an auto-Rembrant such as that! Window sticker was $89,000.
The Jags make one totally forget any Benz, Beemer or Audi. The Jags reign supreme. LOTTERY TCKETS, PLEASE.
I wandered into the local Jaguar dealership and had a mind outta body experience. There, on the floor was a 2007 XK-R COUPE in a red that was redER than a McLaren, I mean ripe tomato red with jet black leather interior all trimmed in chrome and teakwood. 400+ H.P. and pure oozing auto-sex! It almost stopped my heart. Never, have I ever seen an auto-Rembrant such as that! Window sticker was $89,000.
The Jags make one totally forget any Benz, Beemer or Audi. The Jags reign supreme. LOTTERY TCKETS, PLEASE.
Sandy passed away in 2012. He will be forever missed.
1990 Final Car prior to the 12 Silver Anny Editions
1990 Silver Pearl Anny Edition
1986 Coupe Full Pkg #109 of 114.
http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascm ... _mclarens/
1990 Final Car prior to the 12 Silver Anny Editions
1990 Silver Pearl Anny Edition
1986 Coupe Full Pkg #109 of 114.
http://public.fotki.com/ascmclaren/ascm ... _mclarens/
Today doing that mod will increase the value. In 10 or 20 years who knows.
I saw a hacked up, mustangized ASC capri go at Barrett Jackson for way too much money that was so far from original it wasn't funny.
In general cars stink as an investment. If your car is an original in great shape is the only time I'd suggest selling it to someone who wants it stock and mod something else.
Best of luck!
I saw a hacked up, mustangized ASC capri go at Barrett Jackson for way too much money that was so far from original it wasn't funny.
In general cars stink as an investment. If your car is an original in great shape is the only time I'd suggest selling it to someone who wants it stock and mod something else.
Best of luck!