BAD ASSpen SE :: 1977 Dodge Aspen SE

[dch-65]

BAD ASSpen SE :: 2012 (2012-02-04 06:59:03)

[White Aspen R/T]

Great job on your garage and your car Dave.

[droptop]

Great car. Please show and tell us more about the exhaust. This is basicly what I want to do with my '80 RR.

[dch-65]

Great car. Please show and tell us more about the exhaust. This is basicly what I want to do with my '80 RR.

This is a description for my project thread
Exhaust system is complete. We took a little different route than originally planned. The set up is 2 1/2" pipes through "X" pipe(purchased from Dr.Gas) into Flowmaster RV mufflers(these were the best we could get for flow and still be pretty quite). Then pipes over axle and exiting behind rear tires where the rear wheel opening ends. Seem to have plenty of clearance everywhere. Depending how it sounds when I'm driving it we can still extend to rear bumper if necessary between rear springs and exterior panel.Entire system painted flat black and the exhaust ends are not visible. I think the system looks great and very solid with a couple of rubber mount points so I hope no rattles.

[79runner]

Very nice, makes me regret getting rid of the 318 that came with my 79 RR.

[77AspenRT]

Nice work on your Aspen! Fantastic engine and exhaust work. I had talked to an Aspen owner last year at Carlisle and he had said that the gas tank had to be moved to the center of the frame to run his dual exhuast system. Did you have to do something similar for your set up?
Your garage is awesome, TP

[dch-65]

Nice work on your Aspen! Fantastic engine and exhaust work. I had talked to an Aspen owner last year at Carlisle and he had said that the gas tank had to be moved to the center of the frame to run his dual exhuast system. Did you have to do something similar for your set up?
Your garage is awesome, TP

It was not necessary to move the gas tank. The shop that did the work said they could do the install and the tank could stay in it's original position. They were right . The exhaust exits behind the rear tires but you could fit it between the springs and the rear fender all the way to the rear bumper. I originally wanted it to exit at the rear bumper but I'm glad the way it ended up. It is almost invisible where it exits and I am happy with it that way. I have several hundred miles on it since the install and no rattles so far. They were very careful to install rubber mounting points at several location and I think that helps.
Dave

[kotto]

how much it cost you for this very nice car??where did you get dodge parts??nice engine and exhaust there man..

[dch-65]

how much it cost you for this very nice car??where did you get dodge parts??nice engine and exhaust there man..

It gets a little embrassing when you talk about the money you spend on your project. It's the type of thing you NEVER want to reveal to your wife. Whenever she asks about cost I give her a number and she always says well if I want the truth I guess I better add $5K to that. Actually my orginal budget was $12K for the project not including any body work or paint and when I went over the figures and part list with my friend Frank who has done this most of his adult life he said it will cost double that at which point I laughed at him. I had every part that I planned to get listed with the cost for each part -- how could I be that far off. I'm a construction estimator by trade since 1976 wiith the same company so I'm usually pretty close or I would be fired. Well if I estimated the cost of restoring cars I would have been fired long ago. Bottom line is Frank was right, didn't double it but came close and then I decided to have the car painted and that did me in I ended up over double my original budget. I was my worst enemy because I got carried away with the motor. If I had that to do over I probably would be a little more conservative in that area.
For all the origianl parts I went to Marty's Corner first then if he didn't have them I just keep searching and asking questions on this site. Someone here with a lot more experience that me can always point you in the right direction.
Dave

[kcfan58]

Just going to chime in on the money here, I have to agree you will spend more then you expect. I spent $1900 to get my Aspen R/T and I have around $6000 to $7000 more into it so far and it has not been painted yet, and I didn't have to do a lot to the motor. The wife is good and understands the spending I do on the car.

Mike

[dch-65]

Just going to chime in on the money here, I have to agree you will spend more then you expect. I spent $1900 to get my Aspen R/T and I have around $6000 to $7000 more into it so far and it has not been painted yet, and I didn't have to do a lot to the motor. The wife is good and understands the spending I do on the car.

Mike

Bought the car for $1,200 but it got expensive from there. Far better off $$ wise I my opinion to buy a restored car and tweek it from there. That's from a guy with limited mechanical/bodywork ability.

[kotto]

how much it cost you for this very nice car??where did you get dodge parts (http://www.car-stuff.com/dodgeparts.htm)??nice engine and exhaust there man..

What I mean was the parts now a days are getting expensive. even cars. right?we all wanted to have a very nice car. but we also need to save some money.

[pinkcar]

Very nice aspen I like it very sneaky car and extremly clean well done, Can really relate to the cost part on tI did a lot of ebay hunting and traded my purple 77 r/t that I put a 400 ci motor in for the paint and body work on this one i came out ahead . The motor i picked up alot of parts from Ray Barton , my wife call her the misstres.

[Scotty]

Bought the car for $1,200 but it got expensive from there. Far better off $$ wise I my opinion to buy a restored car and tweek it from there. That's from a guy with limited mechanical/bodywork ability.
bought mine for a crazy $4600 and have at least 5k more into her now and not done ,,still needs body ,paint, and new rims

[Scotty]

part of my problem is im becoming a part hoarder,stuff i dont need ,,starts of as 1 extra pc just in case i need it . then the next think i new its 3 or 4 pieces of the same part??:Whacky:
i just picked up a un-cracked black dash pad today ,i already got a mint black one in the car and a mint green one that could be stained black,why did i buy it ??just in case lmao:eek2:
got 3 mint sets of gill louvers as well black (not for sale ) as i collect them now ,and am looking for more :Help::money::money::money::money::money::money:

[dch-65]

Very nice aspen I like it very sneaky car and extremly clean well done, Can really relate to the cost part on tI did a lot of ebay hunting and traded my purple 77 r/t that I put a 400 ci motor in for the paint and body work on this one i came out ahead . The motor i picked up alot of parts from Ray Barton , my wife call her the misstres.

Ray Barton parts that's about as top of the line as you can get. I bet that is one impressive motor!! No sneaking up on anybody with that car but I bet there are not to many guys that want to mess with it. Great looking car.
Dave

[dch-65]

part of my problem is im becoming a part hoarder,stuff i dont need ,,starts of as 1 extra pc just in case i need it . then the next think i new its 3 or 4 pieces of the same part??:Whacky:
i just picked up a un-cracked black dash pad today ,i already got a mint black one in the car and a mint green one that could be stained black,why did i buy it ??just in case lmao:eek2:
got 3 mint sets of gill louvers as well black (not for sale ) as i collect them now ,and am looking for more :Help::money::money::money::money::money::money:

Scotty
I have the same problem. If I had a good "F" body with a good interior and no driveline I could put another one together with all the parts I have in the barn. I don't think there is a cure for that problem
Dave