McLaren Coupes, cams?

[OX1]

Coupes were secretly equipped with the Ford Motorsport B303 camshaft, creating significantly more power than the rated 200/210BHP of the standard 5.0 motors

https://www.facebook.com/MercuryCapr...1282130883962/

This True??

[MIKE'SVO86]

Yes, but it wasn't a secret. It was a known upgrade in the package. Not sure about the significant more power statement either.

[FoxChassis]

Myth or not. Nobody really knows. Nor has it been proven.

[E2ZZGLX]

Myth or not. Nobody really knows. Nor has it been proven.

My 85 coupe #605439 number matching engine as when torn down had pop up pistons and cam that was identical to the “B cam” specs when measured, both pistons and cam have engineering numbers...this was a pre-production car

[FoxChassis]

B303
Adv. Duration: 284°E 284°I
Valve Lift: .480"E .480"I


82-84, 85 CFI
Adv. Duration: 274°E 260°I
Valve Lift: .444"E .416"I


85 4V, 86-88
Adv. Duration: 266°E 266°I
Valve Lift: .444"E .444"I

[plumkrazy]

Never been proving. I think the lower profile tires and gear change made the cars faster. If they changed the cam the EPA would need to know to meet emissions.

[ChuckG]

It's bull****. Ford would NOT recertify the engines which the EPA and CAFE would have mandated. Federal mandates--and budget, are also why they never got four-wheel discs either.

I asked about engine mods in 1985 when I bought my Coupe. I asked Mike Heuen, marketing director at the Autry plant. He told me in no uncertain terms they didn't even bump the timing or install a K&N. They felt the 5.0L had plenty of power and focused only with getting it to the ground.

If that's not enough--the B303 wasn't even introduced until the 1988 SVO Motorsport Catalog. Ask anyone who's put a B303 in a speed-density system how well they run. It's iffy, at best. Nothing that Ford would have released to consumers with a warranty.

The '84 "prototype" I did see in 1985 DID have major mods. It was non-roller motor and there was plenty of flat-tappet cam options out there. The Motorsport catalog didn't have anything for the new roller motors.

[KevinK]

Not sure about the coupes but the verts were shipped from Ford to ASC as an incomplete vehicle with the certification tag stating so. It would sound feasible that things could have been changed at ASC. Again, not much proof. Done at the dealership is more likely just like the speedo upgrade. Without seeing something on paper, it’s hard to prove it today.

[MIKE'SVO86]

Hmm, I was going off of what Hank told me when I purchased mine. I was at the Autry plant several times, never thought to ask.

[ChuckG]

Hank and I have talked about this at length. We laugh at the rumor because Ford was very, very adamant about no engine mods.

Now, Edsel 2.0 DID order one, and so far it has not turned up. He was at Mercury and a fan of performance. He may well have had his modified--his dad routinely had his own customised in-house, but rumor is he did NOT like the car--I haven't asked him why the couple times I've run into him, but I'm told the car was sold on the B Lot and from there, whereabouts unknown.

This car with the odd cam--what's the Marti say? Ed's car would have been delivered internally to a WHQ DSO--or possibly Krug L-M across the street.

It's easy to determine whether it's an exec car and from there, maybe contact him to ask. He's a very warm and gracious guy and loves talking cars.

[ChuckG]

Remember too: we're nearly forty years-hence. Motors get rebuilt. Only documentation and proven unmodified motors would be any indication.

I'm putting ported two-bar marine GT40 heads on my '85. I'm sure someday, somebody will claim it was OE.... Won't be me, but at least some of the '84 prototypes did get ported heads. Of that, I'm sure.

My thought was they were probably planning to use them as press cars, hoping to pull a fast one on the media like DeLorean did with the GTO (he gave them a GTO with a 421 Bobcat'd motor dressed as a 389).

I'm working with a few ex-ASC guys to put together a reunion this coming summer in Michigan. We had a mini-reunion in September at Baker's of Milford. Three Coupes, two GP IV cars, four Verts--and Howard Storch, ex- ASC QC manager.

[ChuckG]

Not sure about the coupes but the verts were shipped from Ford to ASC as an incomplete vehicle with the certification tag stating so. It would sound feasible that things could have been changed at ASC. Again, not much proof. Done at the dealership is more likely just like the speedo upgrade. Without seeing something on paper, it’s hard to prove it today.

Because they had things like radio prep, no radio or speakers--fog light prep, no fog lights. In the case of the Verts, the whole roof and hatch came off.

In early '85, the 85 MPH speed was standard. My bought-new Coupe (May, '85) had one. My late production (Sept, '85) current '85 had 140MPH OE.

My '86 bought new also had the 140MPH OE.