My 1979 Plymouth Volare
#305827
05/02/09 05:45 PM
05/02/09 05:45 PM
|
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 18
Cincinnati, Ohio
BradyC
OP
member
|
OP
member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 18
Cincinnati, Ohio
|
Hello Everyone, I'm new to this and have just recently got a 1979 Plymouth Volare. It has a red vinyl top. I was thinking of taking it off and repainting the whole car and having it just be a solid color. However I'm not sure what it will look like without the Vinyl top.
Would it look good and like a normal solid body?
will I be able to take it off and paint the car one solid color and have it look as if it never had the vinyl top?
I would appreciate any input, thanks!
-Brady
Last edited by BradyC; 05/04/09 02:12 PM.
|
|
|
Re: My 1979 Plymouth Volare Vinyl Top
[Re: BradyC]
#305828
05/02/09 07:00 PM
05/02/09 07:00 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,065
Milwaukee, WI
In_The_Pink
master
|
master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,065
Milwaukee, WI
|
This is what you might find under the vinyl top:  Volare Premier and Aspen SE coupes had rear 1/4 window plugs, as shown above, so many times you'll see sanding marks and rust from the lack of paint in some areas. The vinyl top hid all sorts of evils.  You can remove the plugs and add regular 1/4 windows, but you'll need matching inner rear 1/4 panels and such. I suggest you leave the top in place unless you're prepared to go all the way... 
|
|
|
Re: My 1979 Plymouth Volare Vinyl Top
[Re: BradyC]
#305831
05/04/09 01:17 PM
05/04/09 01:17 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Mr.Yuck
Not enough dumb comments...yet
|
Not enough dumb comments...yet
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
|
Quote:
Thanks everyone! If I do take it off and do not like what I see, is it possible to put back on the vinyl top? or would that be too much of a hassle?
-Brady
Once it's off you'll have to buy a new one. And the padding. I'd just rip it off and be prepaired to do some sanding,  more snading and 
PS I'd also yank the body side molding.
|
|
|
Re: My 1979 Plymouth Volare Vinyl Top
[Re: BradyC]
#305832
05/04/09 01:45 PM
05/04/09 01:45 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,065
Milwaukee, WI
In_The_Pink
master
|
master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,065
Milwaukee, WI
|
Quote:
Thanks everyone! If I do take it off and do not like what I see, is it possible to put back on the vinyl top? or would that be too much of a hassle?
-Brady
You're going to see what's in the picture I posted, with maybe more or less rust. 
I suggest you decide if you want to keep the top as-is or get rid of it completely. There really is no middle ground here.
It's possible you could re-install the vinyl top, but odds are it's not going to come off in one piece, so realistically, I'd say it's highly unlikely you'll be able to re-use the original top.
You could probably have a shop install a new top if you do decide to remove the old vinyl and have it replaced.
|
|
|
Re: My 1979 Plymouth Volare Vinyl Top
[Re: BradyC]
#305834
05/04/09 03:16 PM
05/04/09 03:16 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,713
S.E.Ohio
Magnumguy
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,713
S.E.Ohio
|
Quote:
I was also wondering if anyone could help me with giving it faster take off. It has the 225 Slant 6 with a 2 barrel Carb. I've heard you can make this engine run pretty fast but I'm just looking for faster take out as opposed to high top speed, any help would be great, thanks!
-Brady
Probably a different gear in the differential will help, you're probably running a 2.7 or 2.9, and a 3.2 will help.Also, is the leanburn still in tact? You might consider replacing it with a elect. ign. conversion kit.
Legendary might have the vinyl top in the correct grain, and even maybe have an entire NOS top
|
|
|
Re: My 1979 Plymouth Volare Vinyl Top
[Re: BradyC]
#305836
05/04/09 06:12 PM
05/04/09 06:12 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Mr.Yuck
Not enough dumb comments...yet
|
Not enough dumb comments...yet
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
|
Quote:
thanks Magnumguy, I'm new to all of this so how would I get a 3.2 gear and also an elec. ignition conver. kit.? Thanks!
-Brady
you should already have electronic Ingnition. I'd just look online for a used intake....(small 4bbl) and header. getting the good air in and the bad out is always a good thing. You could always upgrade to a 318..easy to find and cheap.
|
|
|
Re: My 1979 Plymouth Volare Vinyl Top
[Re: BradyC]
#305838
05/05/09 09:00 PM
05/05/09 09:00 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 14,610
Not2farfromNashville, TN
Rug_Trucker
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 14,610
Not2farfromNashville, TN
|
Swapping to a V8 is viable. You will need a SB tranny. If it is a 7 1/4" rear? A new rear!
"The only thing to do for triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
"NUNQUAM NON PARATUS!"
|
|
|
Re: My 1979 Plymouth Volare Vinyl Top
[Re: BradyC]
#305839
05/05/09 09:21 PM
05/05/09 09:21 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,065
Milwaukee, WI
In_The_Pink
master
|
master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,065
Milwaukee, WI
|
Quote:
Thanks a lot, yeah I have thought about just putting a 318 or a 360 in it. I found a rebuilt 318 and 360 online for 1367.00. That's not too bad, if I put a new engine in it would I still have to change the gears?
You don't have to change the rearend's gear ratio, but if you want better acceleration, you should.
I have a Super Six, A-833 4-speed, and 2.94 rear gears with 27" tall rear tires. A set of 3.55 gears would be a much better choice and the car would feel like it has more get-up-and-go, even though the power output hasn't changed.
Your car's rearend, if still orignal (which it most likely is), has the 2.7x ratio- great for highway cruising, but a dog in stop and go driving. 
I swapped in a rebuilt 360 I had last summer, and with my combo above (exchange the /6 for a mild 360 4-bbl), the rear gear ratio was definitely the weak point. Way too low for city driving IMHO...so back in the /6 went. 
|
|
|
|
|
