Great content ! I had a 78 Aspen R/T with the 318-4V and 994 with lockup converter . I special ordered the car when I was stationed in the UK. Back in 1978 . I owned it for 13 years and put 358000 miles on it. It was built for export . I regret selling it
I got reccommended this video just now, as UA-cam knows I daily one :P I daily a 1977 Aspen early model, 318 sedan. No rust worst than surface, hump tank in solid condition, grill has only a single crack, I knee this beast was in too good of a condition but I never realized just how good I have it. I’m the third owner; first owner drove it 40k miles before parking it in a barn until 2009 when the second owner bought it, saw the tank was sludged, and left it be until I got it ($500) in 2019. I bought it because my first ever car was exactly the same (even the color and trim) except for the worn out slant 6, massive rust holes, and spider web frame webs 😬 I knew just about every thing mentioned here except the leaf spring bit. I know mine are bad; they’re almost level, no curve at all, so it’s been on the list to replace them. I did get outside just now because of this video to feel around on the bushings. They seem OK but now I’ll be thinking about that as well as I continue to work on saving up for the leaf spring repair 😬 Anyways, great vid, thanks for it 👍
The fire wall rotting has been a thing on Mopars since the early 60's the cure is to make sure the cowl is clean and the drains are open same goes for the bottom of the fenders and the rockers make sure the drains are open I have seen cars that people sealed the drains in the rockers and the bottoms of the doors and wonder why the door is rotted out nobody thinks that the drains are there for a reason make sure they are clean
oh nice channel,, i just found it earlier, .. I'm 65yrs old and live alone,, i own a 1978 Ply Volare 43 kit car. The engine still cranks up but the gas tank began to leak,, so its parked now. And no way I will ever be able to fix it. Im on disability now and don't really drive anymore. I have had this car since was new. Wow, good times.. I never raced it, i just loved to cruise in it haha. This channel has tons of info. I have never read good stuff like this in any other sites. Thanks to Dutch Guys Garage for posting these very interesting vids.. yeah! A total 'like' for me! Good Job! Cheers! :)
Appreciate the kind words! I'd love to see some pictures of your Petty car and add it to the Petty car registry. Please email me at dutchguysgarage@gmail.com
I had an 80 Plymouth volare roadrunner, had factory t-tops, factory posi rear. Black exterior with gold striped and interior.. replaced the 318 2bbl with a 74 360 4bbl cop car motor.. sold it pa early 2000's..
Thank You Dusten For A Very Good F Body Malady Run Down However I was Surprised you Didn't Mention the ESC/Electronic Lean Burn Ignition Computers Which Were Mounted to The Air Cleaners. Almost None of These Computers Exist in Original Functioning Condition Today which Means Of You Get A ESC/ELB car a Ignition Conversion Kit likely Needs installed On Rust Issue A Additional Nots By Mix Years of 78 A Semi -Effective Anti Rust Coating Was Applied to The Body Shell & Front Fenders but IMHO it Could've Been Executed on Body Shell Better on My 2 Wagons - My 3 Sport Coupe Cars including the T-Top Car All were Idaho only Cars With Little To No Rust & 3 Had intact Unbroken Grilles (Definate Rarity). Thank you on Great Video. Walt Ronk
My second car was a '77 Aspen. The cause of the dreaded front fender rust was that Chrysler put a piece of foam molding inside the fenders, presumably to stop water intrusion into the fender. Unfortunately, that rubber molding simply allowed the salt and moisture to gather inside the fender more efficiently. Once inside the fender, a rust hole would form, and a stream of rain/melt water would often be diverted into the interior. My car died when the water flowed into the rear floor pan and sloshed back and forth (I could hear it), and eventually into the front seat motor, which shorted the seats in the full recline position. Eventually, the charging circuit was impacted, and the lights dimmed as the car drifted to its final berth in front of our house. It would not restart. The car was $900.00 and I think it lasted 3 years, so it was a great car for the money.
Really appreciate this info. I was planning on purchasing a really cool 77 Volare Wagon. But after watching this, I looked closer at the pictures, and it has signs of almost every issue mentioned in this video...
Thank you for all the info. I purchased a 80 Wagon. I will be going all over it. Actually I have been all over it already but will check closer. So far I have found not issues except for a terrible respray. The car is brown :( Just over 40K on the clock. Orig. except for a built 360 replacing the slant. The 727 had an awesome rebuild. 3:55 gears. Has the 6 radiator with and aux fan that keeps it cool when nec. It was rebuilt with all the above, then the owner moved on to other things and there it set. I love driving the car. No one has a clue about what it is or its abilities. Again, thank you so much. You live it and breath it.
That car you were sitting in at the beginning had the same interior as my first car had it was a red on red 79 2 door Aspen so instead of the brown like you have it was red I bought mine in 93 for 400 bucks it needed tires, small hole on the drivers floor patched, brakes pads and shoes and one wheel cylinder and a side marker light and it was road worthy I was only 14 years old when I bought it with my own money. Mommy and Daddy never helped me with anything except My DL they gave me the money when I turned 16 to get my DL that was it.
I remember a recall on Aspen/Volare fenders where the original fenders prematurely rusted and we’re replaced by Chrysler. On metallic paint cars the matching of the paint was problematic.
Great 👍 review and information ! My parents owned a 1976 Dodge Aspen sedan. The engine and transmission were pretty reliable but the body integrity were the pits but she gave us 12 years of reliable service LOL body rusted out within 8 years.
Hmm, I daily drive my grandpa's 1980 Aspen and it doesn't have a spot of rust on it, and it's sat outside it's entire life. The frame rails and floor pans still have the original paint on them, the whole car is painted an odd shade of tan and the paint seems to be really thick for some reason. Maybe they fixed the rusting problems by 1980 or some paint colors offer better protection somehow
If only I listened 😭 In HS and bought a 78 as my daily in Michigan the heat barely works and the holes are plentiful. Slant six runs decent still though. 183,000 miles still going strong mostly original
My first car was a 79 Aspen 2 door red on red with a super six it spent it's life in the rust belt and had some rot but it was not as bad as I have seen some of them
still new here & re- leanring all this stuff all over again here wondering have u all put or can u put / fab up.....a body drive train or floor pan's or etc,. over too the aspen's & volare's......................................???
I have had a few Aspens right now I have a 79 Aspen R/T my buddy has a couple cars too a 78 Aspen R/T and he has a 80 Plymouth Volare I know all about the cars and where there bad spots are on the frame
Had a '77 Volare in the family at the time. And yes, rust. The body looked like it had cancer, rust would begin beneath the paint all over. The slant 6 engine was bullet proof.
I have never had any issues with the tops of the fenders on any of the cars I had the rust on my cars were rust on the bottom fenders between the door and the wheel arch and the quarters on the bottom between the door and the rear wheel arch some worst then others and the bottoms of the quarters behind the rear wheel arch where most cars rot and the one car I had rot on the top area on the rear side windows that was it for the car I bought in 93
replacing part's old wel worn out stuff how's the best way to really inspect a buying ride esp., in all the lil area's they pre rust in / @ on these rides..............???????? so no one makes bad buying's of the rides.........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????????????????????????????????
Ther isn’t a Mopar out ther that didn’t rot out on the top of front fenders it was way before 77 trust me I’ve owed more mopars unless it’s from down south it’s or warm parts of states they all rotted I had a 70 road runner 5 years old the tops of fenders the quarters in 5 years because I’m from Ontario Canada I have a 71 dart swinger I’m putting a 440 in right now and it’s from down south the sun gets them down ther it has surface rust all over the bottom of car is mint and the fenders are good but got a lot of sanding to do over the winter I just found a cordoba 76 at junk yard it’s in great shape I only want the wheels for front end and all the disc brake stuff off of it but I guess they did get a little worse back then after 75 but they all rust in Canada if the owner didn’t undercoat
They will make them sooner or later ther starting to make more stuff for a body’s now I’m sure the aspen or the volare / roadrunner some of these cars are desirable the r/t hump tank is it the one that’s on top of the donut on the trunk I mean the place they put the tire would a a body tank not work
Aspen and volare are like late B body's red headed step children! The Aspens and volare a little worse... JC Whitney used to have patch panels for them but the are long gone now and they weren't that good of quality in the first place....its just a little bit better for C body's but not by much....takes a real man and a resourceful person to keep them on the road. Good thing a lot of small stuff does interchange thank God for little miracles 😂👍
You can get a good portion of parts from a sedan also. The rear interior panels are the tricky part. We have a upcoming video on how to fix your originals
What is the code for a the R/T package on a 1980 Aspen R/T? Are the fender tags easy to see, I looked all over and couldn't find one. I bought it anyway, I got it cheap enough that if it is a clone I don't really care but it would be nice to know. Thanks.
@@dutchguysgarage Definitely no fender tag. You are the expert, the 1980 Aspen R/T (maybe?) that I bought has an all white grill. It's not painted, it is molded plastic and the entire thing is white. Under the hood the grill, all the mounting brackets for it, headlight buckets, basically everything in front of the rad is white plastic or painted white metal. What do you make of that? I have never seen an Aspen RT/Volare Roadrunner with a white grill nor can I find any pictures of one. The bumpers are also color matched in white.
@@nbrider7235 only year for painted bumpers was 78 for the super Coupes. They seen a flat black bumper. I'd say you have a pretty cool custom. 80s are definitely the neatest with that one year frontend
@@dutchguysgarage Thanks, I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I'm picking it up Sunday, I can send you some pics if you want to have a look it at to get a better idea of what I'm talking about.
well now being 2023 ppl,. r now doing 3 D Printing of all sort's of thing's esp,. body part's & panel's & engine part's & pieces tooooooo WHO REALLY KNOW'S BY NOW i'm sure some 3 D Printing gal / guy has some how 3 D Printed hole panel's of all sort's of car / truck bodies !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOOK UP LOCAL TO U WHERE EVER U LIVE CITY OR STATE WISE & SEE WHO'S ALL 3 D Printing auto stuff..................................or....... Maybe even Fiber glassing body panel's save on weight & rust hummmmmm?????????? MAKES YA WONDER HAAAAAAAAAAA??????????????????????? lol
3d printing isn't a magic cure all. There is a lot of time that goes into trying to make the part you want in something like AutoCAD. And if it's a complex part that you don't actually have an intact example of on hand, it's a bit problematic.
Hey man I got a super “clean” 80’ coupe I’m doing a restoration on and I’d love to get your email or something so I can ask you some questions as I go along
Great content ! I had a 78 Aspen R/T with the 318-4V and 994 with lockup converter . I special ordered the car when I was stationed in the UK. Back in 1978 . I owned it for 13 years and put 358000 miles on it. It was built for export . I regret selling it
That's a great story, thanks for sharing!
I got reccommended this video just now, as UA-cam knows I daily one :P
I daily a 1977 Aspen early model, 318 sedan. No rust worst than surface, hump tank in solid condition, grill has only a single crack, I knee this beast was in too good of a condition but I never realized just how good I have it. I’m the third owner; first owner drove it 40k miles before parking it in a barn until 2009 when the second owner bought it, saw the tank was sludged, and left it be until I got it ($500) in 2019. I bought it because my first ever car was exactly the same (even the color and trim) except for the worn out slant 6, massive rust holes, and spider web frame webs 😬
I knew just about every thing mentioned here except the leaf spring bit. I know mine are bad; they’re almost level, no curve at all, so it’s been on the list to replace them. I did get outside just now because of this video to feel around on the bushings. They seem OK but now I’ll be thinking about that as well as I continue to work on saving up for the leaf spring repair 😬
Anyways, great vid, thanks for it 👍
The fire wall rotting has been a thing on Mopars since the early 60's the cure is to make sure the cowl is clean and the drains are open same goes for the bottom of the fenders and the rockers make sure the drains are open I have seen cars that people sealed the drains in the rockers and the bottoms of the doors and wonder why the door is rotted out nobody thinks that the drains are there for a reason make sure they are clean
oh nice channel,, i just found it earlier, .. I'm 65yrs old and live alone,, i own a 1978 Ply Volare 43 kit car. The engine still cranks up but the gas tank began to leak,, so its parked now. And no way I will ever be able to fix it. Im on disability now and don't really drive anymore. I have had this car since was new. Wow, good times.. I never raced it, i just loved to cruise in it haha. This channel has tons of info. I have never read good stuff like this in any other sites. Thanks to Dutch Guys Garage for posting these very interesting vids.. yeah! A total 'like' for me! Good Job! Cheers! :)
Appreciate the kind words! I'd love to see some pictures of your Petty car and add it to the Petty car registry. Please email me at dutchguysgarage@gmail.com
I’m restoring an 1980 one that’s been in a feild for years, this video helps a lot thanks
Your most welcome, Thanks for Tuning in!
Just bought a 1977 volare premier, now im watching this video😂
I had an 80 Plymouth volare roadrunner, had factory t-tops, factory posi rear. Black exterior with gold striped and interior.. replaced the 318 2bbl with a 74 360 4bbl cop car motor.. sold it pa early 2000's..
Thank You Dusten For A Very Good F Body Malady Run Down However I was Surprised you Didn't Mention the ESC/Electronic Lean Burn Ignition Computers Which Were Mounted to The Air Cleaners. Almost None of These Computers Exist in Original Functioning Condition Today which Means Of You Get A ESC/ELB car a Ignition Conversion Kit likely Needs installed
On Rust Issue A Additional Nots By Mix Years of 78 A Semi -Effective Anti Rust Coating Was Applied to The Body Shell & Front Fenders but IMHO it Could've Been Executed on Body Shell Better on My 2 Wagons - My 3 Sport Coupe Cars including the T-Top Car All were Idaho only Cars With Little To No Rust & 3 Had intact Unbroken Grilles (Definate Rarity). Thank you on Great Video. Walt Ronk
Where has this channel been my whole life???
My second car was a '77 Aspen. The cause of the dreaded front fender rust was that Chrysler put a piece of foam molding inside the fenders, presumably to stop water intrusion into the fender. Unfortunately, that rubber molding simply allowed the salt and moisture to gather inside the fender more efficiently. Once inside the fender, a rust hole would form, and a stream of rain/melt water would often be diverted into the interior. My car died when the water flowed into the rear floor pan and sloshed back and forth (I could hear it), and eventually into the front seat motor, which shorted the seats in the full recline position. Eventually, the charging circuit was impacted, and the lights dimmed as the car drifted to its final berth in front of our house. It would not restart. The car was $900.00 and I think it lasted 3 years, so it was a great car for the money.
Really appreciate this info. I was planning on purchasing a really cool 77 Volare Wagon. But after watching this, I looked closer at the pictures, and it has signs of almost every issue mentioned in this video...
Thank you for all the info. I purchased a 80 Wagon. I will be going all over it. Actually I have been all over it already but will check closer. So far I have found not issues except for a terrible respray. The car is brown :( Just over 40K on the clock. Orig. except for a built 360 replacing the slant. The 727 had an awesome rebuild. 3:55 gears. Has the 6 radiator with and aux fan that keeps it cool when nec. It was rebuilt with all the above, then the owner moved on to other things and there it set. I love driving the car. No one has a clue about what it is or its abilities. Again, thank you so much. You live it and breath it.
Sounds like you got quite the gem!
That car you were sitting in at the beginning had the same interior as my first car had it was a red on red 79 2 door Aspen so instead of the brown like you have it was red I bought mine in 93 for 400 bucks it needed tires, small hole on the drivers floor patched, brakes pads and shoes and one wheel cylinder and a side marker light and it was road worthy I was only 14 years old when I bought it with my own money. Mommy and Daddy never helped me with anything except My DL they gave me the money when I turned 16 to get my DL that was it.
I remember a recall on Aspen/Volare fenders where the original fenders prematurely rusted and we’re replaced by Chrysler. On metallic paint cars the matching of the paint was problematic.
I had the 79 duster version . Favorite car
Great 👍 review and information ! My parents owned a 1976 Dodge Aspen sedan. The engine and transmission were pretty reliable but the body integrity were the pits but she gave us 12 years of reliable service LOL body rusted out within 8 years.
Some good life outta a car not designed very well that's for sure!
Hmm, I daily drive my grandpa's 1980 Aspen and it doesn't have a spot of rust on it, and it's sat outside it's entire life. The frame rails and floor pans still have the original paint on them, the whole car is painted an odd shade of tan and the paint seems to be really thick for some reason. Maybe they fixed the rusting problems by 1980 or some paint colors offer better protection somehow
If only I listened 😭
In HS and bought a 78 as my daily in Michigan the heat barely works and the holes are plentiful. Slant six runs decent still though. 183,000 miles still going strong mostly original
My first car was a 79 Aspen 2 door red on red with a super six it spent it's life in the rust belt and had some rot but it was not as bad as I have seen some of them
Great vid, I learned something new about my cars. Thanks!
My first car was a 77 SE Aspen with a 318. Really wish I had kept it… Looking for one now has become a nightmare. 😂
still new here & re- leanring all this stuff all over again here wondering have u all put or can u put / fab up.....a body drive train or floor pan's or etc,. over too the aspen's & volare's......................................???
Nice crew cab truck behind you
I have had a few Aspens right now I have a 79 Aspen R/T my buddy has a couple cars too a 78 Aspen R/T and he has a 80 Plymouth Volare I know all about the cars and where there bad spots are on the frame
Wished I got an '80 used in '85 since got some of the early bugs worked out.
''Clunkers and Classics'' YT channel used an M body 5th Ave for interior metal parts like vent area and floors.
360 4spd did happen, just not in the American cars. The Mexican produced cars did come with a 360 4 spd.
Your correct, but that's not a Aspen or Volare, that's badged as a Valiant
The a body dart clogs up ther also I got a 71 that I got to get after that’s a easy fix I bet the gas tank from a dart might work also
By the 1980 model year they had basically worked out the bugs, but then they stopped making it/ Too bad.
Had a '77 Volare in the family at the time. And yes, rust. The body looked like it had cancer, rust would begin beneath the paint all over. The slant 6 engine was bullet proof.
Interesting video!
I have never had any issues with the tops of the fenders on any of the cars I had the rust on my cars were rust on the bottom fenders between the door and the wheel arch and the quarters on the bottom between the door and the rear wheel arch some worst then others and the bottoms of the quarters behind the rear wheel arch where most cars rot and the one car I had rot on the top area on the rear side windows that was it for the car I bought in 93
I have a 1977 plymouth volare herders and lots more to improve
I had a 77 RT wish I could find another one. i live up in the great white north very very hard to find them
replacing part's old wel worn out stuff how's the best way to really inspect a buying ride esp., in all the lil area's they pre rust in / @ on these rides..............???????? so no one makes bad buying's of the rides.........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????????????????????????????????
Ther isn’t a Mopar out ther that didn’t rot out on the top of front fenders it was way before 77 trust me I’ve owed more mopars unless it’s from down south it’s or warm parts of states they all rotted I had a 70 road runner 5 years old the tops of fenders the quarters in 5 years because I’m from Ontario Canada I have a 71 dart swinger I’m putting a 440 in right now and it’s from down south the sun gets them down ther it has surface rust all over the bottom of car is mint and the fenders are good but got a lot of sanding to do over the winter I just found a cordoba 76 at junk yard it’s in great shape I only want the wheels for front end and all the disc brake stuff off of it but I guess they did get a little worse back then after 75 but they all rust in Canada if the owner didn’t undercoat
They will make them sooner or later ther starting to make more stuff for a body’s now I’m sure the aspen or the volare / roadrunner some of these cars are desirable the r/t hump tank is it the one that’s on top of the donut on the trunk I mean the place they put the tire would a a body tank not work
My framerails are fine, however, my drivers side rockers and rear quarter is rotted out. Passive looks really good. However it's a Louisiana car.
Aspen and volare are like late B body's red headed step children! The Aspens and volare a little worse... JC Whitney used to have patch panels for them but the are long gone now and they weren't that good of quality in the first place....its just a little bit better for C body's but not by much....takes a real man and a resourceful person to keep them on the road. Good thing a lot of small stuff does interchange thank God for little miracles 😂👍
Great Video Man! 🤘
My instrument cluster isn’t working will one from a volare wagon work for my roadrunner?
Yes sir
I’m about to drive 4 hours to get 77 aspen wagon that has been sitting since 2018 I’m scared now
There used to be a Browns Dairy ice cream shop on Van Dyke in Centerline Michigan, is this some how related to Brown Dairy Equipment?
Eleanor Roosevelt was married to a FDR, who was of partial Dutch extraction, but I didn't know that she was an aficionado of "hot, nasty ass speed".
Know anything about a voltage regulator causing the instrument cluster not to work
Only thing I can think of on that one is if it was overcharging and broke a solder joint on the board
Ok do you know what would cause my gauges to not be working?
Same issue I'm having with my 79. Still searching for the issue.
Have you had any front suspension issues with the transverse torsion bars?
Was 76 plymouth grill made out metal or aluminum?
I found a rust free complete wagon. Needs a bunch of work on the interior
You can get a good portion of parts from a sedan also. The rear interior panels are the tricky part. We have a upcoming video on how to fix your originals
What is a 1977 roadrunner RT with t tops, like new condition with 1700 miles on it worth ? On blocks for 35 years in heated garage?
love these old cars since i was in them new when i was 8
Email me some pictures at dutchguysgarage@gmail.com.
Lots of variables
I don't know what it's worth but with a whopping 160 horsepower under your foot you better hold on when that baby gets rolling.
anyone know an online source for cat back dual exhaust sustem for mopar F Bodies?🤔🤔....lmk in the comments!!
Did Aspens and Volares come with factory tachs?
No they did not
You could get a digital clock in 79.😄
@dutchguysgarage Not even in the R/T, Road Runner and Super Coupe versions? Uncool.
will a 77 volare grill fit in a 79?
Yes it will. Headlight buckets are different so you'll need those also
What is the code for a the R/T package on a 1980 Aspen R/T? Are the fender tags easy to see, I looked all over and couldn't find one. I bought it anyway, I got it cheap enough that if it is a clone I don't really care but it would be nice to know. Thanks.
Fender tag would be on the driver's fender apron. Code is A57
@@dutchguysgarage Definitely no fender tag. You are the expert, the 1980 Aspen R/T (maybe?) that I bought has an all white grill. It's not painted, it is molded plastic and the entire thing is white. Under the hood the grill, all the mounting brackets for it, headlight buckets, basically everything in front of the rad is white plastic or painted white metal. What do you make of that? I have never seen an Aspen RT/Volare Roadrunner with a white grill nor can I find any pictures of one. The bumpers are also color matched in white.
@@nbrider7235 only year for painted bumpers was 78 for the super Coupes. They seen a flat black bumper. I'd say you have a pretty cool custom. 80s are definitely the neatest with that one year frontend
@@dutchguysgarage Thanks, I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I'm picking it up Sunday, I can send you some pics if you want to have a look it at to get a better idea of what I'm talking about.
@@nbrider7235 sure, send me a email at dutchguysgarage@gmail.com
Oh gosh... cars of the 70s & 80s... they were marketed, rather than made. Restoring these things would be like trying to flip an old mobile-home.
well now being 2023 ppl,. r now doing 3 D Printing of all sort's of thing's esp,. body part's & panel's & engine part's & pieces tooooooo WHO REALLY KNOW'S BY NOW i'm sure some 3 D Printing gal / guy has some how 3 D Printed hole panel's of all sort's of car / truck bodies !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOOK UP LOCAL TO U WHERE EVER U LIVE CITY OR STATE WISE & SEE WHO'S ALL 3 D Printing auto stuff..................................or....... Maybe even Fiber glassing body panel's save on weight & rust hummmmmm?????????? MAKES YA WONDER HAAAAAAAAAAA??????????????????????? lol
3d printing isn't a magic cure all. There is a lot of time that goes into trying to make the part you want in something like AutoCAD. And if it's a complex part that you don't actually have an intact example of on hand, it's a bit problematic.
Good video! I just wish I could find one to buy. I'm a great fabricator and welder, the rust issue doesn't bother me much.
There out there but getting harder and harder to find
Hey man I got a super “clean” 80’ coupe I’m doing a restoration on and I’d love to get your email or something so I can ask you some questions as I go along
Email us at dutchguysgarage@gmail.com
78/79 Volare grilles are definitely superior