Capri Factory Authorized Body Parts/Ground Effects

[rescard]

Well, that about settles it. So my plan will be to use the information everyone has given me especially the guidance on the Pace car ground effects/spoiler/hood etc. and see if NHRA will allow them. I will post the results as my project continues.

Thanks for all the support.

[negusm]

Well, that about settles it. So my plan will be to use the information everyone has given me especially the guidance on the Pace car ground effects/spoiler/hood etc. and see if NHRA will allow them. I will post the results as my project continues.

Thanks for all the support.

Unfortunately if ascMcLaren had gotten a bit more behind the coupes and worked on their performance, you probably would have had a host of specialty items to draw from. From what Sandy says, they had ons of performance enhancement plans...but the cost per car would have been crazy high.

-Mike

[1985 Motorsport Capri]

i would refrain from using the asc capri ground effects if your racing the car.
these parts are expensive and in limited quantity & should be saved for people that actualy own cars that came with these items.

also they would add nothing to the performance of your car.
if anything, they would slow it down & add more weight.

[negusm]

i would refrain from using the asc capri ground effects if your racing the car.
these parts are expensive and in limited quantity & should be saved for people that actualy own cars that came with these items.

Unless he uses Hank's reproduction parts. There's really no fear in shortage of those.

-Mike

[rescard]

Guess I was almost set but surely I do not want to deplete scarce or rare components. The class that the Capri will compete in forces me to ADD weight to the car. I was planning on doing that with weight bars, etc. Remember, in Super Stock, the full interior is not required but it still must look stock. There is a ton of weight saved by removing seats, etc. All I am hoping to do is assemble a Capri that is respectable, great looking, and fast. The last thing I will ever do is compromise an honest persons restoration project by using parts that are critical. I do have two cars to pick and choose from, but no ground effects or raised hood.

Is there really a Herbs reproduction company or are you guys busting me?

[negusm]

www.ascmclaren.com (Hank) reproduces most ascMcLaren parts.

The side skirts and rear valence are reproduced.

-Mike

[Sandy]

Hank

Hank bought all of the left over ascMcLaren parts when the production ended. We, who are attempting to keep our cars perfect, mint, original condition (a la "Show Quality Stock") are - at this point - pretty dependent upon him for new old stock parts, when needed. Sadly, every couple of weeks, his inventory inches downward, and nothing new is being produced. As you can understand, if a car is going to be drag raced, bracket raced or street raced, it is going to deteriorate quickly. Hank would prefer to see his valuable pieces survive on show cars. They cannot be replicated, as the molds for many, were destroyed, by ascMcLaren.

[tfs2121]

hank will be happy to sell it all to you but the wing... the wing you will have to get from a guy at FEP mike knows who to talk to

[ProTouringASC]

What about aluminum parts? As I am new to the Ford/Mercury worls, I don't know if they did this, but I read an article once about someone doing this with an Oldsmobile Cutlass for NHRA racing. You see, back in the 80's Olds used aluminum parts in different areas for different options. This included hoods, core supports, fenders, bumper reinforcements, etc. The guy in the article went around salvage yards with a magnet, gathering up all of the aluminum parts he could find, and he found quite a few!

Anyway, like I said, I don't know if Ford/Mercury did this too, but if they did, it would help you quite a bit I would think.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
www.FQuick.com/ProTouring442

[negusm]

Ford used aluminum front and rear bumpers on some Mustangs/Capris.

Mostly 79-80 cars and there is absolutely no rhyme or reason as to which cars got what. 4cyl, v8, turbo, 6cyl....all of them could have gotten a front, rear both, one of each or neither.

There are no other alluminum body pieces.

-Mike

[Sandy]

Yes, everything today is cost driven. Entire committees cetered around "COST" ~ that being, Cost-to-consumer.
asc could have done fiberglas fenders & hood, 411:1 Gearing, 18" wheels/Tire Combos + more. It's the old "How high is up......"

[rescard]

I have been working a ton on my Capri project and haven't visited this site in a bit. As in my past queries, the NHRA has some sketchy specifications for mid-80's Capris. I have a couple of additional questions: 1) what are the body/ground effect differences between an RS and GS in the 1985/6 models. 2) on Capri's that had the hood scoop (open in the front), does anyone know if that was a functional scoop or just decoration. What I am looking for is to understand if there was an opening in the hood, under the scoop, that forced air into the carb. 3) is there documentation that I can get my hands on which indicates shipping weight for bot the RS and GS?

I am getting much closer and this project is really taking shape. The art work for the paint is complete and its pretty cool. Thanks for all the help.
Ray

[negusm]

Technically there was no "RS" in 85-86 for the US. The RS continued in Canada in 85-86 and in the US they switched the cars to be called a Capri "5.0L".

1. The front air dam and front air dam extensions were the only items added to the "5.0L" (formerly RS) Capris of 85-86. The air dam extensions just bolt onto the front lower fenders.

2. All scoops were just decoration. No 85 or 86 had hood scoops. 84s and earlier did and None were open in the front. They all had a black plastic piece covering that area. Don't know if you left that black piece off, if anyone would notice. BTW, I don't know what kind of intake breather you are allowed, but it has been shown that the stock 84-85 dual snorkel air cleaner/breather works better than anything because it pulls cold air from outside the car. On FEP I believe somebody posted a reference to an article where they did a test of this. The consensus is, use a COMPLETE 85 air cleaner setup and a K&N air filter.

In the 83-84 4cyl Turbo cars (and earlier years) they did have a cutout to allow the air cleaner to clear the hood. In 85-86 there was no cutout on any of the cars since there were no scoops.

3. Check my site: http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/Literature
I believe there are brochures that list the weight. There is also spec books from Ford for every year and probably also list curb side weight. Those will be for 4cyl cars with no options whatsoever.

Also, FWIW, if you go out and do some reading on "ram air", I think you'll see some good arguments that "forcing" air into a carb is a myth. What you really get from open hood scoops and the like is COLD/DENSE air which is why those setups do work better that just an open element under the hood. But the Ford guys in 84-85 got it right and the stock setup is really a smart one.

-Mike

[rescard]

Mike, this is great stuff! Thanks for showing me those brochures. It actually helps me out w/ interior ideas as well. Couple of other quick questions. First, you made no reference to the GS model(s). NHRA lists them but w/no details. Do you have info. on those as well? Secondly, many mid 80's Fords/Mercs had grey interior panels/plastic and dashs. I will print out the web site you referenced, but in the meantime, did Capri's have grey as well? Finally, on the hood scoops, I agree w/ ur assessment. My plan is to use the forced air induction as in the stock design, but I was wondering if, in addition, I should open the underneath of the scoop and have that assist drawing cool air. At 125mph or more, that could make a difference. What do you think? Ray

[tfs2121]

did Capri's have grey as well?

yes