Re: Volare & Apsen how much $ to build compared to A&B body
[Re: Kern Dog]
#1671713
09/16/14 12:34 AM
09/16/14 12:34 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,826 Castlegar, BC, Canada
That AMC Guy
master
|
master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,826
Castlegar, BC, Canada
|
Also keep in mind, F-bodies were running a close second to AMC's when the crusher came to the junkyard. Those cars didn't sit around long enough to get parted out.
Bloody Mary, Full of Vodka, Blessed art thou among cocktails....
|
|
|
Re: Volare & Apsen how much $ to build compared to A&B body
[Re: Adam71Charger]
#1671716
09/16/14 02:13 AM
09/16/14 02:13 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 16,844 Phoenix - surface of the sun
nomore65BelvJim
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 16,844
Phoenix - surface of the sun
|
New carpet is available as are new covers for the 76-77 style buckets and the coupe rear seat. Hardest thing to find is the 78-79 grilles especially the 78-79 Volare grill. Urethane isolator bushings for the K and rear suspension are pretty cheap. The bent T-bars leave a lot of room for header choices. Every one has disc brake front and 10x2-1/2" rear drums with the 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern so no upgrading required. Most were column auto's. Manual brakes and manual steering are very unusual. Only ever had 1 with manual brakes (out of several dozen) and none with manual steering. I find them easier to work on than a B body and even an A. I dont do E so I cant comment on that one Over all a very nice driving line of cars. Lots of good used parts for them around if you know where to look
|
|
|
Re: Volare & Apsen how much $ to build compared to A&B body
[Re: Adam71Charger]
#1671719
09/16/14 09:39 AM
09/16/14 09:39 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,793 Windsor, ON, Canada
Diplomat360
top fuel
|
top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,793
Windsor, ON, Canada
|
My experience ALL comes from the M-body...but the M-body coupes are pretty much what the F-body coupes are. The suspension, etc, etc interchange.
As some have pointed out the difficulty in this would be sourcing the interior stuff and finding it in a shape that is still usable. My '80 coupe (being made for 2 yrs only, and is different from the '78-'79 yrs) was VERY difficult to source parts for. No aftermarket existed (still doesn't for the most part).
Having said that, stuff like weatherstripping (doors and roof-rail) is now finally available...for me that was by far the hardest part to get...eventually I made the F-coupe work on my ride (took a little custom work...lol).
The suspension is easy stuff...lots of parts to upgrade with, and best of all, aftermarket, the original Moog/TRW/etc parts are there for the HD options...so if you want to run the big brakes, the big tie-rods, etc, it's just a matter of finding the right part number and ordering the stuff from the likes of RockAuto. The K-frame biscuits are easily replaced with either POLY or aluminum...these are readily available. If you want to go a little extreme you can even go custom T-bar way, one of the other M-body guys on here has done that.
So in a sense it all depends what you want your car to be about? I do enjoy driving mine and being told by folks I strike up a conversation with: "...I had no idea they made the Diplomat in coupe style...", or "...wow, I had one like that once, but I never see them around anymore...", in other words, I wanted something different.
|
|
|
Re: Volare & Apsen how much $ to build compared to A&B body
[Re: Diplomat360]
#1671720
09/16/14 01:56 PM
09/16/14 01:56 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,405 Pikes Peak Country
TC@HP2
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,405
Pikes Peak Country
|
I'll poo-poo some of the first three replies and support 65BlevJim,80fbody, and Diplomat360 in their replies.
Yes, bent bar suspension have some geometry issues, but they aren't deal killers, can be corrected, and everything you need to upgrade can be found at Firm Feel. Aside from t-bars, which do cost more, parts are about the same cost as A/B bodies. Additionally, it doesn't take much effort to modify the front to use Camaro shocks and the rear can be updated to use traditional Mopar springs and shocks thus saving $$ over the F body specific pieces. This also has the benefit of eliminating the iso-clamp suspension which is mush.
Correct, there are is no aftermarket support in sheetmetal and interior. Aside from the '76 models, which had issues out of the factory, they balance of late 77-80 versions are no more prone to rust than other cars of the era. Since their production numbers were pretty decent, there are still a lot of used sources out there. Obviously the west/southwest for metal and the midwest/east for interior sourcing.
There is a guy reproducing very good quality spoilers, flairs, and louvers for the R/T, Road Runner, Super Coupes, and Kit cars, so these aren't hard to find any more.
Entry level prices will be better than A and B bodies as well. With careful shopping, rust free standard F bodies can be found for $3k or less. R/T and Road Runners will run you around $5-8k, and Super Coupes and Kit cars are going to be $8-12k, generally speaking as there are always values to be found.
For performance, they respond to all the traditional performance upgrades like any other car. If emissions are a concern in your area, you can find some ways to work around that, but they obviously going to have some impact. They can swallow a big block, 383/400 are easiest to fit, but 440 can be made to fit as well. Depending on the emissions requirements of your area, you might even be able to make one of these swaps look factory. The neat thing about F bodies, they are as wide as a B body, but as long as an A body. This makes working on the engine somewhat easy, but also makes them a more compact driver.
Personally, I think they are fun to mess with. I've always fancied the idea of building one for a handling application as Alterkation does make a coil over conversion for them. Drop it low, flare the fenders and put some massive rollers under it with a T56 shifted, 408 small block. I've built several drag versions and it was a non-stop source of amusement to click off a low 12 second e.t. against a 15 second restored 68-72 big block car. Below is the last one I owned, although I've had several over the years. Notice the lack of rust in the lower quarters. A big plus for later model versions.
|
|
|
Re: Volare & Apsen how much $ to build compared to A&B body
[Re: TC@HP2]
#1671721
09/16/14 07:54 PM
09/16/14 07:54 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 16,094 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
|
Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 16,094
Central Florida
|
I agree with Diplomat360 and the others with similar responses. I absolutely LOVE my A38/E58 Aspen. As mentioned, firmfeel has a ton of suspension parts since it shared suspension with M body.
IMO, once you swap a transverse T-bar car's rubber kframe biscuits to aluminum, it's a great setup. High speed handling is good, no shuddering, and fun car. I have multiple M's and the Aspen.
I used a dash cap after realizing used dashes were outrageously priced, and were probably going to be brittle. Came out real nice. I also used some interior pieces from an M. Package tray is different but would be much easier to make one than on an M. I have seen lots of body and interior pieces on ebay. The Police Aspens and Supercoupes have always been faves of mine.
I say go for it!
Facts are stubborn things.
|
|
|
Re: Volare & Apsen how much $ to build compared to A&B body
[Re: satjoe]
#1671725
09/16/14 11:41 PM
09/16/14 11:41 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 16,094 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
|
Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 16,094
Central Florida
|
RobX4406, I agree, they drive and handle much nicer than A body cars.
Facts are stubborn things.
|
|
|
Re: Volare & Apsen how much $ to build compared to A&B body
[Re: RV2]
#1671726
09/17/14 01:43 PM
09/17/14 01:43 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,405 Pikes Peak Country
TC@HP2
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,405
Pikes Peak Country
|
Quote:
What do these cars weigh?
Most I've had were around 3500-3600, give or take based on options package and engines. There isn't much in the way of lightweight, bolt on parts for them, but you can get creative with weight loss. The brown one I posted above got down around 3000-3100. I forget exact because I sold it don't have my log book on it any longer.
|
|
|
Re: Volare & Apsen how much $ to build compared to A&B body
[Re: RV2]
#1671727
09/17/14 02:09 PM
09/17/14 02:09 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123 Grand Haven, MI
patrick
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
|
Quote:
What do these cars weigh?
my 5th ave with an iron headed small block, 8 3/4" rear, A500 tranny, cop spec suspension, 17x8 mustang wheels, and all the sound deadening was 3850 lbs without me.
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD 1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!*** 2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T 2017 Grand Cherokee Overland 2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
|
|
|
Re: Volare & Apsen how much $ to build compared to A&B body
[Re: RV2]
#1671728
09/17/14 09:35 PM
09/17/14 09:35 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,793 Windsor, ON, Canada
Diplomat360
top fuel
|
top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,793
Windsor, ON, Canada
|
Quote:
What do these cars weigh?
Actual coupe weight here: 3604 lbs, and that's with my bulky bod...all 175 lbs of it and 1/4 tank of gas.
LOL...so I'm thinking the coupe on it's own is about 3400 lbs and then you add gas...that's with a 360 SB motor, 727 auto, 8-3/4" rear end, headers and full 3" dual exhaust (the mufflers I used are heavy, as is the piping this size).
|
|
|
Re: Volare & Apsen how much $ to build compared to A&B body
[Re: dvw]
#1671730
09/18/14 08:43 AM
09/18/14 08:43 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,469 NE Ohio
mopar383
top fuel
|
top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,469
NE Ohio
|
I had a 77 aspen RT in high school and man was that a fun car. It had a built 360 and ran low 13s and I drove it everyday even the winter in Northeast Ohio. The way I drove that car it should have been my coffin .....good times
81 Dodge Ram My dad bought brand new... my 17 year old sons project Jeep Wrangler Unlimited .....my wife's baby Durango....my DD Caravan...an awesome parts hauler 72 Dart
|
|
|
|
|