New Owner - 1985 Vert - Let The Fun Begin !!

[CocoLoco]

Hi All - well, you were right. I got the McLaren bug. Just couldn't resist. I bought the red one that was listed on Ebay a couple of weeks ago (see separate thread). I know there were some issues with the car, but I think it's a pretty good find. In a nutshell, the past 2 owners were collectors that put very few miles on it. The recent owner works at a dealer, but this was his private vehicle for 5 years. He has numerous cars (17 or a few less now) in a garage and a big barn. Very nice collection. He is selling off many off them now, the McLaren included.

The car has beautifiul new paint and re-upholstered Recaro seats. He added the 140MPH speedo and the white overlays because he likes them. That simple. I'll probably take the overlays off. The engine is in excellent condition. Drove it from Philly home to Pittsburgh. Ran GREAT!! There are a few issues with the car, but I was able to get the price down into the "typical" range. So I'm happy - so far. I've owned lots of used cars so I know you get what you get. As is, where is. But I like the McLaren so much, that I took a chance. There may be other ones out there, but by the time you travel to look at it and have it shipped, it's a lot of extra $$$$. So this one was close enough to drive home. I'll take the $$$ saved and fix it up .

Now onto my issues. I appreciate any help that you folks can give me. Some are basic (AC recharge, horn not working, etc) but some are McLaren specific. So here we go.......

1) The roof pin will not latch into the hole on the back of the tonneau. I have seen a lot of info on the roof operation, but I think the older Capris are different from the Mustangs. The pin in hooked on the end. I believe the newer ones had spiral grooves. Different mechanisms?? Where should I start?
2) On the drive home (top down), the tonneau cover (the vinyl coverd part) came loose, lifted up and broke. I think I can fix it but was wondering how it is attached. Looks like it's just thick, black glue of some type. Worse case, I'll have to get a new one.
3) Some of the the badging was lost during the re-paint. The 5.0 emblems have to go. What is the correct badging for this model? I think the 5.0 SC is on the right trunk lid. I have also een some pics with the ASCMcLaren on the left trunk lid. Was the Muscat nameplate on this model ? Was there a build number plaque on the dash?
4) Also under the badging topic, there is a flat bracket slot on the right front grill. I think this is for the ASCMclaren badge. How does this attach and what size is it? Same as trunk?
5) There's a whole bunch of buttons on the Recaro seats. I know one of them is for the heaters (working?? don't know. Doubt it). The others, not sure. Oh, by the way, the speakers work.
6) I assume the only speakers on this model were in the seats. Correct?
7) The outside moldings on the windows need replaced. Standard Capri parts?
8 - The dash has a couple of cracks. Very common in older cars. Is this stock capri part? Are replacements available through some resto company?

So that's it for now. It seems like a lot, but I do most of the work myself. And I have all winter to get it ready for next summer's cruise season.

And thanks for the warm welcome to the site. I look forward to hearing from all of you as I get deeper and deeper into this car !!!

Dwight

[Kentennis]

The seats have 2 'rocker' switches and 3 blue buttons. The one rocker os a 'momentery' one and that blows air into 3 bags in the seat. You have to hold it down. Should be the farthest back from the dash. The rocker that stays when pushed is the heater.

The blue buttons let air out of the bags. You'll notice the seatback is divided into 3 pieces. Each one has an airbag. You can let air out till you're comfortable, and you can change them while driving to increase/decrease the pressure points in you back.

Speakers? I don't know. My drivers side quit working when I pushed some wires down into the seat crevice. No sound since. Waiting for cooler weather to look at it. Hot in Florida sun right now.

The hook system for the top is a pain in the ass!! Kinda touchy. There is a set screw and locking nut that adjusts the gear that engages that hook. As the tonneau cover goes down the mechanism that locks the hook hits a positive stop. That is what determines how the gear engages the hook, amnd holds it. Mine backed all the way out, (Locknut came loose. Or I didn't tighten it). Again, getting it back in adjustment is a cool weather project. Althought I think I can get the adjustment close, without breaking something, by screwing it in, pushing the closure button and testing the gear that holds the hook with my finger. If it pushes back, it will need to go in farther. Too far and you can probably break something. Good luck. It's quite a surprise, when you're going 70-80 MPH and the gear isn'y perfect (That engages the hook) cause the top will disengage and flop up and down. Sure gets your attention!

[CocoLoco]

Thanks for all the info. I'm a little confused on the hook issue. Is the setscrew on the hook or on the latch/gear? How do I access the latch/gear assembly? Thanks for your patience. I'm real new at this. I guess ya gotta learn sometime.

[CocoLoco]

Success !!!!! I think it was just cockpit error. I wasn't putting the hook in the hole soon enough. Didn't realize the motor I heard which lowers the cover also engages the hook. Worked perfectly once I knew what to do.

THANKS KENTENNIS !!!!!! A big concern now gone ! I'll check out the sets later today.

[negusm]

I think if you had speakers in the seats in 85, you didn't get any in the rear section behind the seats.

There were no Capri verts in 1985...so I think most outside window mouldings are asc specific mouldings. Maybe Mustang vert mouldings can possible be worked to fit...a vert owner here should know.

For the grill badge, you need the Capri grill badge from 83-86. The asc badge sticks on top.

FMR (FoxMustangRestoration) has NOS dash hulls. You need to grab one now as they are not reproduced. When they are gone, THEY ARE GONE. Reproductions, if ever made, will NOT be an exact fit. They never are. If FMR doesn't have the color you need, just repaint it. EVERY SINGLE dash hull from Ford was painted. None were moulded in the exact color.

-Mike

[tfs2121]

I will start befor number one. The horn... Well the air horn Is a ascMcLaren part. The air compressor should be on the drivers frame rail. It's probably bad. Your car should have the muscat badge on the quarter panel. The muscat badge should have the cars build number on it. The slot in the left side of the grill is for the grill emblem. it should say Mercury NOT ascMcLaren that was an 86 only thing after ford wanted there name off the car. I need a better description of the out side molding on the door? Are you talking about the "dew wipe"? There are repo dash pads but they don't fit very good. The nos dash pads are very expensive. You should be looking for mustang dash pads they are the same thing. Most of the parts on your car can be found on a mustang.

I hope this helps.

[capri50asc]

If you are looking For the molding that runs across the top of the door. National Parts Depot just got them in. Includes the weatherstrip or window felt. These crack with time, I replaced one on passenger side on my 86 Capri and one on my 86 ASC Vert. Dropped both off at the Mercury Dealership. They painted one SVO gray and one ASC white. They fit PERFECT! Remove your door panel and mirror.( place towel or rag so the mirror does not damage the door) half hour job, also lube your door tracks, window motors before putting on the panel.

Part number 79-86 Black replacement style repo

20544--- M20544-1BP

Phone 734 397 4569

Chris

[CocoLoco]

Thanks again for all the replies. Here's what I think I think so far:

I need the dash pad (top), not the hull. Can the pad be painted? It comes in red, black, gray - of course, I need tan. The one on the car is actually a little browner than the dash hull itself.

The moldings I need are the dew moldings. They go on top of the door panel and wipe the exetior of the window. Mine are chrome with black rubber, I think. (I say I think because I put the McClaren away for a week while I clean up my Stang for the MCA show next weekend. ) I do not believe they need painted. So am I looking at the same thing?

I found a picture of the Mercury emblem for the front grill but couldn't find one to buy yet. I may just build my own and use the McLaren badge. I think that looks better anyway and I am not an absolute purist when it comes to these things. I like to keep things pretty stock but I will bend the rules a little now and then.

I will dig into the horn after next weekend. I need to get this fixed to pass inspection here in the slightly misguided State of Pennsylvania.

My wife also mentioned some of the light bulbs looked dimmer than the others. Could be because they have been replaced at different times. Some are probably original. I will start by replacing all the headlights with new halogens and all the tail light & brake light bulbs. Hope that solves that issue. If not, time to play with wires & electricity !!! YEA !! My favorite thing (I'm a EE after all).

[negusm]

Tailights need to be resilvered inside. It's not really a bulb problem. Bulbs don't really fade over time. Just burn out. usually it's dust, overspray, bad ground/wiring.

The Dash pads they sell...I don't know if they can be painted. I would hunt for a good original one. Those can be painted.

Or you can ship your old pad off to Just Dashes and they will re-foam and re-skin it in the right color.

-Mike

[CocoLoco]

Thanks. And now for some good news.

The last owner gave me a book full of paperwork. I dug throught it and it contains a copy of the Ford window sticker, the ASC invoice and the payment info to ASC. It also has info on all the previous owners, service records, Ebay listings, Carfax reports and misc. brochures, etc.

It sure is nice to get all this. Usually doesn't happen. So now maybe I can do some research to find the build number.

[Kentennis]

Mike: Check out antiqueautobattery.com

Maybe, just maybe they replicate the ones for our cars.

Ken

[86ASCCoupe20]

Congrats on your purchase. Is this the black one? I love tan interior.

[CocoLoco]

Congrats on your purchase. Is this the black one? I love tan interior.

Thanks ! This one is red. And I also like the tan int and the tan roof.

[tfs2121]

Good luck finding the Mercury emblem it took me 6 years to find one. The dew wipes are being reproduced by a few companies you should be able to find them pretty easy.

[CocoLoco]

If you are looking For the molding that runs across the top of the door. National Parts Depot just got them in. Includes the weatherstrip or window felt. These crack with time, I replaced one on passenger side on my 86 Capri and one on my 86 ASC Vert. Dropped both off at the Mercury Dealership. They painted one SVO gray and one ASC white. They fit PERFECT! Remove your door panel and mirror.( place towel or rag so the mirror does not damage the door) half hour job, also lube your door tracks, window motors before putting on the panel.

Part number 79-86 Black replacement style repo

20544--- M20544-1BP

Phone 734 397 4569
Chris

Thanks -And I was wrong - they are black, no chrome. The insides have chrome. I went on the NPD site and couldn't find them. So I looked around and found some from Blue Oval Industries. So I'll try those and see what happens. I think they need shortened for the McLaren because of the mirror. I see Paradise sells the gaskets for around the mirrors. Don't need them yet.