Supplemental Aspen and Volare Information |
The accuracy and reliability of this information is not guaranteed.
| Aspen R/T |
"George T. Tortora" <gtortora@epo.hsc.sunyb.edu> wrote:
I would like to comment on the early Aspen/Volare models and to use your phrase the "much maligned" Aspen/Volare.
Consumer Reports called these models the "most recalled car in history." (maintainer's note: the Ford Fairmont later made the Aspen/Volare look not very much recalled at all!) The recalls, exept for the upper pivot bar on the front end, were mostly nonsense.
I bought a new Aspen R/T with the 318 and 4 spd overdrive in 1976. I still have it.
It has endured 19 years of hard driving and now has 173,605 miles on it. I have done 99% of the maintenance and repair work on the car myself. The engine is original and required no repairs to the basic engine itself. I have replaced 2 waterpumps, the first one a 94,000 and the second at 140,000, and one fuel pump at 115,000. It has the original alternater, carburetor, and stater motor. I did replace the brushes in the starter motor for $2.15. The ballast resistor wast replaced once. The car was epa rated for 22 mpg at 55mph when I bought it.
I still get 21 mpg at 65 mph on the highway. It tachs about 2200 rpm at this speed with the 3.23 rear.
All in all it has been the most durable and easy to repair car I have ever owned. I bought it because my beloved 68 Roadrunner was stolen, but of course performance between these cars can't even be mentioned in the same sentence (335 hp vs. 145 hp.) The R/T handles well (getting the 76 Motor Yrend Car of the Year award) and can easily keep up with modern V-6s even with 173,000 miles.
| Volare Road Runner |
I have a 1976 Plymouth Volare with the Road Runner package. It was bought new by a friend of my dad's. He gave it to me when I graduated high school. It has the unkillable 318 and many of the common problems listed on this site. Painted factory Hemi orange with the rear spoiler, RR graphics, and the Beep Beep horn. I still have the window sticker from the dealer. Everything is original but the starter. I have made a reputation of its ability to suck the competition's doors off and burn through a set of rubber in a weekend. I understand they are fairly scarce in existence. Thought you might like to know there is still one around. I work in a scrap processing facility and have seen and crushed many of the cars you have talked about in these sites; I am sad to see them die but cannot save them all. I have an interesting cure to exhaust problems though; I found some 304 stainless pipe about 2 inch in diameter and made inexpensive an leg pipe for the side. The Road Runner still gets me to work every day. I love reading about old Mopar so keep up the excellent work.
-- jsriesse@iastate.edu
| Aspen Bracket Racer |
Rick Mariano wrote (summarized):
Many A-bodies cost too much. I answered an ad for a 79 Dodge Aspen with "needs work". It was a 2 door coupe with a 318 and an automatic. I drove it home for a 165 bucks. The next day it pitched the timing chain.Over the course of one day I completely stripped the car. I took out the drivetrain, wiring, interior, plumbing, everthing !!! Only the front and rear suspension and steering was left. I started by removing the front suspension and completely rebuilding it using a PST polygraphite kit. Don't bother. Just go to your local auto parts place and order a rebuild kit as the are manufactured by the same company, my PST kit and parts purchased locally had the same lot number stamped on it. I removed the power steer box and replaced it with a manual one (you will need to have the steering shaft extended - any good welder can do it). I pulled the power brake booster and converted it to manual brakes. Both these moves saves about 60 pounds.
I installed the front end and replaced the rubber isolaters with the cast iron racing set (P5249550). I had a Comp Engineering 8-point roll cage installed. I use P/N CCE3123 they say it fits only A-bodies. S&W makes a F-body kit also.
Out back find a B-body 8 3/4 rear. The mounting pin holes for the leaf springs should measure 44 inches apart. Late sixties Road Runner or Satellite (stout axles) are my preference. Remove the entire rear end assemby including the front spring boxes, but leave the rear drum brake assembliess intact - they interchange!! You will need spring box hanger extension kit (P4120081) and despite what Mopar Performance tells you the are not a bolt in, you will have to remove some of the rocker panel brace. Don't worry, the car won't fall apart. I used the super stock spring P4120863 and 64 for 3000 pound cars, if your car weighs more there are other spring applications.
The width of the B-body rear spring perches is 44 inches. The F-body perches were 44.45 inches apart. After assembly the leaf springs will angle in somewhat and not line up with rear shackle mounts. Use the .80 offset spring hangers (P4120075). It looks like a factory installation.
I used A-body super stock shocks (P4529514) but a set of Monroe full size truck shocks will do. Finish with an adjustable snubber (P3690182). The drivetrain installation is straightfoward. My total cost including the car itself was $5755. I just ran 11.68 at 112.35 with a 10-1 motor hyrdaulic cam, 10 inch tires, a 3500 GER converter, on pump gas.
| More Feedback |
Ron Jansen wrote: I read your page and thought I would drop you line and let you know that Aspens are alive and well in Ontario.
I live in a city of just over 15,000, and there are at least 3 other Aspens that I know of besides mine. I saved the life of mine about 5 years ago as it was headed for the crusher.
Sinse then I have completly restored it . It is a 1978, high gloss black with flames coming out the hood and down the fenders. I just built a 360, with 340 heads and all the other goodies in the engine. It has a 727 tranny and a 4:11 posi rear end. They can be truly nice machines if they are cared for properly.
JnJBledsoe@aol.com wrote: Hey, great page on a car that is like the Rodney Dangerfield of Mopars - no respect. I have a neighbor that has the sweetest '79 Aspen I have ever seen: It has the original dark blue paint, is an original R/T with the louvered rear quarter windows, and it has factory T-tops. I also believe it has the 360. Anyway, a nice change to see such a car, since most Aspens you see anymore are rusted-out hulks that are on their last legs.
My name is Jason Goldsack and I'm from London,Ontario,Canada. I just aquired my first Aspen SE by trading my Duster drag car for it. It has a '77 440/727 and 8 3/4 rear with 3.91 gears. The motor and tranny are pure stock. The body is brown with a gold/burnt orange interior. This car was obviously taken care of well because it is mint. On street tires and through the exhaust, last weekend it ran 13.96 @ 96 MPH with no traction for 100 feet. I think I'll keep this car for a long time. Great site, I'm still looking for an Aspen/Volarie club to join. You can reach me at goldsac1@netcom.ca if you know of any. Thanks.
Drmopar318@aol.com wrote, You have a simply outstanding page! ... Wish I had mine back!!!!!! I had HP41G6F190183. The only real problem it ever had was rear axle problems (7 1/4" axle). I think they slipped in a 6 cyl axle.
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