rebirth

[77superpak]

I finally finished the R/T in time for this Father's Day car show. There are still a few bugs to work out. For some reason the gas gauge stopped working. Ughh. I can now turn my attention to the Road Runner. Here are a few photos.
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There are more photos showing the rebuild and so forth at http://www.motortopia.com/garage/cars/77superpak

[1980roadrunner]

Man that is beautiful :drool5: What all did you do to it and how long did it take you?

[77superpak]

About
This vehicle was purchased in 1977 from Guptills Dodge in Horicon, WI. The previous owner took very good care of it. He traded it in for a mini van. I am the second owner. I bought this car after I was out of High School.
The only flaw was a broken flare on the front spoiler. I upgraded the tires, ignition wires and radio (still have the original). I kept the Stewart Warner tach that came with the car too. It seemed to fit the car.
Every weekend I would clean the car and go cruising. If the scene died down in my home town, I would go to Fond Du Lac or Madison. The girls loved it and had a few street races in it. That fun lasted for about 7 years. Then an ex-girlfriend tried to "scare" me. She drove her vehicle in my direction while I was sitting in it. She turned at the last second. She was going pretty fast and slid into my rear quarter panel.
That started a rebuild that has lasted 15 years. I had to put the project on hold now and again. It has been rewarding and difficult. Parts have been hard to find but I fired the engine up recently. I finally can start to enjoy my ride after so long.

Specs
The car started out with a 318-2bbl. It has an A833 4 speed OD transmission. The rear end is a 8 1/4 SureGrip with 3.23 gears. In original form, the car had approximatley 180hp. Ouput is now about 325hp with the modifications done to the engine.

Factory Options
This car wasn't ordered with a lot of extras. It came with rally wheels and the Superpak option. The car also had the light package. For some reason it never had a cigarette lighter. Lucky for me the previous owner didn't smoke.

Mods
I started with going .030 over with the block. One of the cylinder walls had some damage. I'm still using the stock crankshaft, had the rods reconditioned and bought forged pistons.
For the cylinder heads, I am using a set from a '88 Dodge Ram. They now have 2.02/1.60 stainless valves and heavy duty springs.
I chose a Crane camshaft, a little hotter than stock. Lift is .467/.494 and duration is 278/290 degree. The intake is an open plane Weiand, topped with 750 cfm Holley. I rebuilt the stock electronic distributor. The ignition wires are 8mm MSD's and the ignition coil is an Accel Super Stock.
I left the transmission and the differential pretty much stock. Just freshened them up with a rebuild. Had the radiator recored since one wasn't available aftermarket, unless I went with an all aluminum one ($$$).
I still plan on putting in a CD player. I already upgraded the speakers.
For the wheels, I kept the fronts stock 205/70R14. In the back I went with 255/60R15. I think it fills the wheel wells better.

[1980 R/T]

Amazing car, everything looks perfect. Its always nice to buy something off of the original owner.
Well that definetly would scare the crap outta me if someone drove directly at me, especially close enough to where you still got hit. Maybe it was a good thing she did that, gave you a reason to rebuild the car. An absolute flawless rebuild it is too. :thumbsup:

[Casey]

About
This vehicle was purchased in 1977 from Guptills Dodge in Horicon, WI.

I have a Dodge/Dodge Trucks dealership keychain fob from Guptill's Dodge which I found in a old Dodge plumbing van at Van's Auto Salvage in Waupun, WI a few years ago. Please PM me your mailing address and I'll drop it in the mail if you want it.

I'm located in Mequon so perhaps we'll run into each other at a show someday...provided my Aspen gets some tires, soon.

P.S.- the car looks great. There's just something about the '76-'77 Aspen R/Ts that look great to me.

[White Aspen R/T]

Your car is great looking Ron...I am glad you kept it and brought it back to life...that's also what I am doing with mine...yours is seen all over the internet if you google a Aspen R/T...I am going to PM you about having your radiator rebuilt...mine is a two row and I would like have someone turn it into a three row...the tanks are wide enough there just isn't that third row there...Eric

[77superpak]

Thanks Eric. The radiator is just another one of those parts like the early style gas tanks. Not as wide as the A/C cars and later builds. So that means the other rads won't bolt directly in. I talked to some people at the local car shows and got a recommendation for a radiator shop. I took my old one in to have it recored is all. They did a great job. Clean work and hasn't leaked at all. After I got it back I shot it with Eastwood Radiator paint.

[270SE]

So the radiator is 22" or 26"? I take it you have a 22"?

Heads from an '88 Ram, 318 or 360? I take by the 2.02/1.60 bit you mean 302s.

You did an awesome job setting this thread up. Looks, works, and reads great.

[77superpak]

It is the 22". I noticed in the Road Runner someone modified the opening for a 26". At least two other F-bodies I've had came with the 26". One was a '79 R/T w/318 and the other was a '80 w/225.

The heads are the 302s.

[White Aspen R/T]

It is the 22". I noticed in the Road Runner someone modified the opening for a 26". At least two other F-bodies I've had came with the 26". One was a '79 R/T w/318 and the other was a '80 w/225.

The heads are the 302s.Mine is the tiny wheeny 22" one..but if you look at the opening in the radiator support mine is probably 26" wide...the brackets on my radiator go far out on both sides to bolt it down...I wish I could find an NOS 26" one and a NOS fan shroud...Texas is hot

[270SE]

Mine is the tiny wheeny 22" one..but if you look at the opening in the radiator support mine is probably 26" wide...the brackets on my radiator go far out on both sides to bolt it down...I wish I could find an NOS 26" one and a NOS fan shroud...Texas is hot
The 26" is the wide thick muscle car rad or is it the 3/4" thick wide as mess one?

If it's the 3/4" thick wide as mess one, the rad is $150 and the shroud is cheap. If it's the other, the rad was/is commonly available due to being in most B/C/E bodies.

[White Aspen R/T]

The 26" is the wide thick muscle car rad or is it the 3/4" thick wide as mess one?

If it's the 3/4" thick wide as mess one, the rad is $150 and the shroud is cheap. If it's the other, the rad was/is commonly available due to being in most B/C/E bodies.You can actually get brand new ones on e-bay and rockauto but I need that Mopar symbol and part number on top....I might send my narrow one off to have the third row put in it...right now it is only a two row core..

[270SE]

You can actually get brand new ones on e-bay and rockauto but I need that Mopar symbol and part number on top....I might send my narrow one off to have the third row put in it...right now it is only a two row core..
I've seen several write-ups on putting a '80s truck rad in and I'm close to doing it, but haven't yet. Need to measure more.

I know they are available new. I have a narrow bugger with the MoPar emblem and all. It's literally falling apart after 34 years in the car though.

[77RTNJ]

Napa, advance auto and autozone also have them, they are just special order. Mine is the 26" one as I have A/C. Don't know how many rows, but my car never gets that hot. I haven't taken it on a long trip yet , but I had it idling outside in 100 degree weather for a long time and it barely seemed hot. And I have a 195 degree thermostat in it.

I hear people complain all the time about overheating on mopars. I have never had problems overheating in my mopars. The only time we ever did was in our 71 dart swing /6. It overheated on a trip to florida with five people and luggage in it. My dad had bought it used and the guy must have never changed the anti freeze. May dad changed it before the trip, but the radiator was so clogged they had to recore it at the dealer on the way down. They cut the core open and showed us how clogged it was. Never overheated again. We have had 318's and /6 all with A/C and never any issues. I don't know if having A/C makes the difference due to the larger or multi-row radiators. I can actually say my family never owned a mopar without a/c.

Kevin

[270SE]

Napa, advance auto and autozone also have them, they are just special order. Mine is the 26" one as I have A/C. Don't know how many rows, but my car never gets that hot. I haven't taken it on a long trip yet , but I had it idling outside in 100 degree weather for a long time and it barely seemed hot. And I have a 195 degree thermostat in it.
Mine got up to operating temp when I was doing around 70, give or take 15 mph continuous through 95 degrees with the windows both cranked down and the A/C off. That was maybe 3-4 hours. That is my new way for sure.


I hear people complain all the time about overheating on mopars. I have never had problems overheating in my mopars. The only time we ever did was in our 71 dart swing /6. It overheated on a trip to florida with five people and luggage in it. My dad had bought it used and the guy must have never changed the anti freeze. May dad changed it before the trip, but the radiator was so clogged they had to recore it at the dealer on the way down. They cut the core open and showed us how clogged it was. Never overheated again. We have had 318's and /6 all with A/C and never any issues. I don't know if having A/C makes the difference due to the larger or multi-row radiators. I can actually say my family never owned a mopar without a/c.

Kevin
Overheated with some. Mostly stupid crap. Too much compression on pump gas, etc.

[79rr]

Ron, did you know theres a website using the picture of your car.
http://www.mr-aspen.com

[77superpak]

Copyright infringement!!! Just kidding, didn't know about that site. I'm cool with it.

[77superpak]

I bought some valve covers from Eric awhile back. I just finished customizing them. Now I'll need to find some sort of finned air cleaner assembly to compliment them.

[77RTNJ]

I am assuming they are now the ones with the red on them. real nice, that looks sharp.

Kevin

[77superpak]

Thanks. Yeah, they came to me blue. I media blasted them, then polished and painted red.

[White Aspen R/T]

They look good Ron....glad I was able to help...Eric

[77superpak]

I had bought these for my current project. They looked too good to just sit there so I put them on the R/T. I'm really liking the look.

[White Aspen R/T]

Those look like mine....:p....oh ya you bought em....they make your car shine just like they use to on mine...just that I have different purposes for my car....glad they found a good home Ron

[270SE]

Pretty cool car, rims look nice on there.

[79rr]

Ron, The R/T really looks nice :thumbsup: with the new rims.

[cudazappa]

Got specs on the rims and tires? I have a set of 17x8s and 17x9s waiting to replace the ugly steel wheels... Wondering what the width/offset/backspace is....

[77superpak]

I have 205/50R17 in front and 275/40R17 in back. Running on BFG G-force tires. I don't recall what the backspacing is on the rims

[cudazappa]

Cool, I know my 245/45s will fit all around, but its promising to see I may be able to fit my 275/40s, too! (yes, I run 10" tires in front)

[White Aspen R/T]

4.5" back spacing and they are 8 and 9's

[77superpak]

Thanks Eric!

[77superpak]

I was tired of trying to cover up all the cracks and tears in the drivers seat at car shows. The condition of the drivers seat was just getting worse. Bought some material to recover both front seats. I didn't recover the back seat because there was nothing wrong with it. It also helped keep the cost down. The shop did a great job, I'm happy with them.
51875188

[klb6469]

Who did the work Ron. Im going to need my seats redone.

[77superpak]

http://www.edloautotrim.com/home.nxg

[79rr]

Wow, they look nice Ron. Going to keep that place in mind incase i decide to do mine some day.

[aspen1980]

If you dont mind me asking,how much did it cost to have your front seats done,they look great.

[77superpak]

The material ran me $50 a yard. There is two different material textures on these seats. So I needed 3 yards of one material and 2 yards of the other. Total for the material was $250 plus tax. I ordered my material from SMS. They told me about 3 weeks to get the material. I ended up having to send a couple of emails and finally got it. It took 6 weeks instead of 3.

I visited a couple of shops for estimates. Each one was in the same ballpark with prices. I ended up using a shop that has been doing upholstery and convertable tops for over 30 years. His shop is quite a site. He charged me $400 for the labor. The total for the two bucket seats ran me a little over $650.

Of course the price would vary depending on the material, shop labor, seat configuration and what part of the country you in. Never hurts to just ask for an estimate.

[klb6469]

Good to know. That will be were I take my seats. Thanks Ron.

[sjatm941]

I finally finished the R/T in time for this Father's Day car show. There are still a few bugs to work out. For some reason the gas gauge stopped working. Ughh. I can now turn my attention to the Road Runner. Here are a few photos.
390


There are more photos showing the rebuild and so forth at http://www.motortopia.com/garage/cars/77superpak

Talk about Rebirth , this car has inspired me to get another early aspen . I had a 76 se with a moon roof , cragar ss , 318 sport coupe and i gave the sucker away 8 years ago . any im kicking myself!! Nice car 77superpak