88 mclaren body for sale

[ASCMCLRN]

Just think this is a perfect start for someone who wants to make something totally unique. The possibilities are endless. You can go old school and drop a carb'd 302/351/429 etc... or go modular with a nice 4.6 or 5.4! Add a painless wiring kit, interior with a rear seat delete kit (unless you can use an Rx7 or Vettes storage bins) go 4 or 5 lug 4 wheel disc, and so forth.

It is so tempting to start another thread on this titled, "What would you do if you had this car?" Restore it to original? Or how would you customize it?

Nick

[shelbyscarab]

I almost agree, I would mildly modify it, but there are alot of opportunities with it. This car is not that far gone, it has pretty much everything, so I'd hate to radically ghettoize it. Remember that Orange metallic car out in Cali?

What I'd be tempted to do is paint it one of the rare ASC colors that were offered. One of the ones maybe that they only made like 25 or under of. AND in particular, even though it isn't everyone's idea of a hot color, paint it that Summer's Tan that was offered but they didn't paint ONE car this color. You'd be able to say you have the only one.

I don't know if I'd do it to this one though, there have been a few others come along recently that would qualify more for this. Remember that white basket case on the trailer? you could barely tell it was a McLaren at one time, it had so many parts missing or the parts it did have were GT parts.

[ProTouringASC]

I'd love to do the following two cars from "basket case" McLarens.

1) a super high luxury "Lincoln" edition. An upright Lincoln style grill, Haven't decided on tail lights, but maybe something like the ones on a Continental. Lots of leather, upgraded dash, that sort of stuff. I'd call it a Lincoln LSX.

2) an '80s/'90s two-seat Thunderbird. Bring the headlight hoods forward a bit (like the '58 T-Bird), some sort of square version of a '60s Ford tail light, stop the side body line 1/4 up the front fender with T-Bird looking vents, some sort of squared off oval grill on the lower front bumper, and put the rear tag on the rear bumper.

Ah, a nice day dream... Like I need another project!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
The Yellow '89

[ASCMCLRN]

I'd love to do the following two cars from "basket case" McLarens.

1) a super high luxury "Lincoln" edition. An upright Lincoln style grill, Haven't decided on tail lights, but maybe something like the ones on a Continental. Lots of leather, upgraded dash, that sort of stuff. I'd call it a Lincoln LSX.

2) an '80s/'90s two-seat Thunderbird. Bring the headlight hoods forward a bit (like the '58 T-Bird), some sort of square version of a '60s Ford tail light, stop the side body line 1/4 up the front fender with T-Bird looking vents, some sort of squared off oval grill on the lower front bumper, and put the rear tag on the rear bumper.

Ah, a nice day dream... Like I need another project!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
The Yellow '89

I'd keep to the same theme of a Mustang before considering making it something totally different. Perhaps make a Boss or SVO tribute out of an ASC of this caliber.

You did have some great ideas though. Reminds me of a project I would consider doing. A Lincoln Mark VII with a chopped top lowered. There were a few verts made of this car so finding one would be wiser then the other project I had in mind making a convertible. But what you just said made me think of combining the two. Lower the top/ windshield and then make it a vert!

As my mind wonders another would be to place a Taurus SHO motor into a Probe, thats another thing that should have been done from the factory.

Nick

[ASCMCLRN]

I almost agree, I would mildly modify it, but there are alot of opportunities with it. This car is not that far gone, it has pretty much everything, so I'd hate to radically ghettoize it. Remember that Orange metallic car out in Cali?

What I'd be tempted to do is paint it one of the rare ASC colors that were offered. One of the ones maybe that they only made like 25 or under of. AND in particular, even though it isn't everyone's idea of a hot color, paint it that Summer's Tan that was offered but they didn't paint ONE car this color. You'd be able to say you have the only one.

I don't know if I'd do it to this one though, there have been a few others come along recently that would qualify more for this. Remember that white basket case on the trailer? you could barely tell it was a McLaren at one time, it had so many parts missing or the parts it did have were GT parts.

I wouldnt paint it a rare color to pass it off as something it is not but with the intent to show what the car would look like in that configuration and one you wished to have owned from the start. Also aside of the condition of the Cali ghetto car, dont you think that orange was a hot color???

Nick

[shelbyscarab]

I wouldnt paint it a rare color to pass it off as something it is not but with the intent to show what the car would look like in that configuration and one you wished to have owned from the start. Also aside of the condition of the Cali ghetto car, dont you think that orange was a hot color???

Nick

I'm talking about a car that was a basket case or a mess, and I'm not saying do it to pass it off to fool anyone.

The cali car? Well, I guess it was the total package I didn't care for and #2 it wasn't well done - it seemed like it was a hack job from engine compartment - to interior - to trunk..... If you isolate everything and just consider the color, no, the color wasn't too bad. Wonder whatever happened to that?

[351mclaren]

I would just 351 windsor and six speed the car. IRS from a Cobra and do a very nice paint and maybe some 1999 Cobra wheels and have hank make me up a set of stickers to cover the center cap to give it the oem touch. I would not go chrome crazy under the hood, but I would go oem ford crazy with no other aftermarket performance vendors. I'd put the Mach one brakes up front to keep the Cobra name off of the car and probably get a set of Audi A4 power heated seats and have then recovered in ASC trim. Nice stereo system and then call it a day. Any thoughts gentleman? Oh, I have a trick, no cowl hood for the 351 either!!!!!!!!!!!!

[shelbyscarab]

I would just 351 windsor and six speed the car. IRS from a Cobra and do a very nice paint and maybe some 1999 Cobra wheels and have hank make me up a set of stickers to cover the center cap to give it the oem touch. I would not go chrome crazy under the hood, but I would go oem ford crazy with no other aftermarket performance vendors. I'd put the Mach one brakes up front to keep the Cobra name off of the car and probably get a set of Audi A4 power heated seats and have then recovered in ASC trim. Nice stereo system and then call it a day. Any thoughts gentleman? Oh, I have a trick, no cowl hood for the 351 either!!!!!!!!!!!!

That sounds like a pretty good plan to me, DITTO! But only if the car was pretty well trashed.

[ASCMCLRN]

I would just 351 windsor and six speed the car. IRS from a Cobra and do a very nice paint and maybe some 1999 Cobra wheels and have hank make me up a set of stickers to cover the center cap to give it the oem touch. I would not go chrome crazy under the hood, but I would go oem ford crazy with no other aftermarket performance vendors. I'd put the Mach one brakes up front to keep the Cobra name off of the car and probably get a set of Audi A4 power heated seats and have then recovered in ASC trim. Nice stereo system and then call it a day. Any thoughts gentleman? Oh, I have a trick, no cowl hood for the 351 either!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds good. Some input. Bullit brakes are also nice with the Pony's. SSBC has nice polished calipers too. Would like to see 4 wheel discs abs as long as the abs can be shut off. I prefer 3 piece BBS mesh wheels. You can purchase heaters for your seats on Ebay, they slide under your upholsterly and have controls that make it look oem. Think they were $100 a side and were nice quality. I can tell you have a good attention to detail from your ideas btw.

Nick

[351mclaren]

I have been looking for some 17" and can only find the BMW three piece, which is a different offset and bolt pattern. I have a wheel guy here who may be able to convert the bolt pattern. He's pretty good at what he does. So i'll talk with him on tomorrow and see what he can do for me. I like the Bullitt's too, but I prefer a blank PBR if I can't get someone to put the ASC Mclaren Logo on it. I will send them to Hank to see if his machinist can do the calipers for me. I'm really a purist at heart, but I need horsepower, suspension and brakes.

[ASCMCLRN]

I have been looking for some 17" and can only find the BMW three piece, which is a different offset and bolt pattern. I have a wheel guy here who may be able to convert the bolt pattern. He's pretty good at what he does. So i'll talk with him on tomorrow and see what he can do for me. I like the Bullitt's too, but I prefer a blank PBR if I can't get someone to put the ASC Mclaren Logo on it. I will send them to Hank to see if his machinist can do the calipers for me. I'm really a purist at heart, but I need horsepower, suspension and brakes.

Out of curiosity why 17"s? For a balance of drivability and performance? Being a purist why dont you look into having a set of wheel adapters made to your liking so you can swap back and forth? I know they have some made to accomodate our 4 lugs into the 5 lugs of later model Stangs. To bad this is such an expensive hobby I always had dreams of making a nice ride out of almost every motor Ford made lol. I'd rather make two or three to completion that I dreamed of then 5 or 6 projects never being finished.

Nick

[351mclaren]

you are right in your response. Wheel adapters are not the safest or strongest. Also, I cannot run 13" brakes with 15" Wheels. While I love the MSW's, I just simply need more rim and tire. Under hard breaking conditions, the Fox body cars will not stop. They have brake fade galore and I like to corner carve a bit. I do go the extra mile to get a good looking car done. I have all of my parts as I built the motor and have all the little odds and ends as far as perfomance add ons and such. I have been buying parts for neerly 8 years straight now. The only thing that I do not have at this very moment is a top and a 6 speed transmission. I just got my IRS today. I am building the car Ford should have built. It will appear totally stock to the untrained eye. And will run like a raped ape!!!!

[shelbyscarab]

Out of curiosity why 17"s? For a balance of drivability and performance? Being a purist why dont you look into having a set of wheel adapters made to your liking so you can swap back and forth? I know they have some made to accomodate our 4 lugs into the 5 lugs of later model Stangs.........

Nick

Nick, I've been researching these "wheel adaptors" for a little while, and I stumbled across another mustang/thunderbird forum site that talked in more detail of real experiences with these exact $150 adaptors. 1. one guy said he had a set and 1 or more broke causing damage galore (just imagine), and 2. Something they fail to tell you is that it bumps out the wheel/rim 1-2 inches. They had pictures. One guy had them on this thunderbird and it looked ridiculous, he was really not happy with them. (we've all seen the ghetto boyz riding around in their low riders with the wheels sticking out from the fenders 3-4 inches - ughhhh )

So, I have to back up what 351mclaren wrote, I've decided against using them. If someone wants to go to 5-lug, the only good way is to do the operation and swap out your axles and rotors and do it right, the pay-off is an unlimited amount of wheel choices. I don't blame anyone for doing it, I understand. I can't as I want to be able at a moments notice to bolt on the OEM MSW's.

[ASCMCLRN]

you are right in your response. Wheel adapters are not the safest or strongest. Also, I cannot run 13" brakes with 15" Wheels. While I love the MSW's, I just simply need more rim and tire. Under hard breaking conditions, the Fox body cars will not stop. They have brake fade galore and I like to corner carve a bit. I do go the extra mile to get a good looking car done. I have all of my parts as I built the motor and have all the little odds and ends as far as perfomance add ons and such. I have been buying parts for neerly 8 years straight now. The only thing that I do not have at this very moment is a top and a 6 speed transmission. I just got my IRS today. I am building the car Ford should have built. It will appear totally stock to the untrained eye. And will run like a raped ape!!!!

I found a few 6spd tranny if you are interested at: http://karkraft.com/transmissions.htm. Allot of nice items for sale there. As far as tops go there was someone on Ebay recently selling some, also I believe there may be some links on this site. I know what you mean about the adapters but perhaps people with lesser plans can use this for appearance purposes. I am sure you know the downsides about the IRS too. My friend sold his out of his Cobra for a straight axle set up. I've seen some awesome handling kits using straight axles like Griggs or Maximum Motorsports so for me I will stick with it and hopefully get a Cobra with IRS someday. I have been going back and forth on doing a set of Baer 12" four lug or going larger with 5 lug. I am at allot of crossroads with the ASC and though its good to have options its also nice to be finished. You're set up sounds great can't wait to see the pics!

Nick

[ASCMCLRN]

Out of curiosity why 17"s? For a balance of drivability and performance? Being a purist why dont you look into having a set of wheel adapters made to your liking so you can swap back and forth? I know they have some made to accomodate our 4 lugs into the 5 lugs of later model Stangs.........

Nick

Nick, I've been researching these "wheel adaptors" for a little while, and I stumbled across another mustang/thunderbird forum site that talked in more detail of real experiences with these exact $150 adaptors. 1. one guy said he had a set and 1 or more broke causing damage galore (just imagine), and 2. Something they fail to tell you is that it bumps out the wheel/rim 1-2 inches. They had pictures. One guy had them on this thunderbird and it looked ridiculous, he was really not happy with them. (we've all seen the ghetto boyz riding around in their low riders with the wheels sticking out from the fenders 3-4 inches - ughhhh )

So, I have to back up what 351mclaren wrote, I've decided against using them. If someone wants to go to 5-lug, the only good way is to do the operation and swap out your axles and rotors and do it right, the pay-off is an unlimited amount of wheel choices. I don't blame anyone for doing it, I understand. I can't as I want to be able at a moments notice to bolt on the OEM MSW's.

I remember reading some positive info at one time but until I find the link forget it, I also heard the negative. In regards to the extended length you will have the same problem in most other applications such as swapping in a Lincoln Mark VII rear, Thunderbird Turbo Coupe rear, or IRS rear btw. You don't want to use an SVO rear, true they are 5 lug but they use the 7.5 rear. The cheapest most effective way to convert is to swap Mark VII front rotors right in and use Ranger rear 5 lug axles however I imagine that would also extend outward like the others. If you are looking for better braking at an affordable price get the 73mm calipers from a Lincoln vs using the 60mm Mustang calipers. Add on stainless steel brake lines and steel whatchamacallits (bushings?) for the calipers. Huge difference over stock and so inexpensive.

Nick