Anyone on fabo know a lot about F body cars?

-
Princess Valiant

Princess Valiant

A.K.A. Rainy Day Auto
FABO Gold Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2011
Messages
26,119
Reaction score
23,026
Location
Colorado
So I have what I thought is a 78 volare wagon but apparently the vin says it's an aspen. (I do not know the vin codes for F bodies) (NL45D8)

The car was missing the hood and grille when I bought it.

So a friend knew I am looking for F body parts and he texted me a pic of a complete 4 door donor car...... but it's a 1980 dodge aspen. It's reasonably priced and available.

My question(s) are will the grille and hood fit a 78?
I know by visual appearance the 80 grille looks a lot more square and different than the 78 stuff.

Would the 80 be a useful parts car for the 78?
 
Last edited:
You have to change the entire front clip fenders,hood,grille and bumper. The Volare has a finished fender, the Aspen has an end cap to finish the end of the fender at the front edge.
 
Last edited:
Pretty sure Aspen/Volare hoods interchange. Go over to FBand several F body sites. They an tell you quick about all you need to know! FMR*** etc etc
 
doug 371 said:
thats like saying a b c and listing them...the f body sheet metal will be the same as other f bodies etc
Click to expand...
No I stated at the bottom that they were the same general platform

I know a Mirada fender doesn’t fit a Volare.
Re read post #2 I think you can swap full front sheet metal between the 2 cars.
 
Princess Valiant said:
So I have what I thought is a 78 volare wagon but apparently the vin says it's an aspen. (I do not know the vin codes for F bodies) (NL45D8)

The car was missing the hood and grille when I bought it.

So a friend knew I am looking for F body parts and he texted me a pic of a complete 4 door donor car...... but it's a 1980 dodge aspen. It's reasonably priced and available.

My question(s) are will the grille and hood fit a 78?
I know by visual appearance the 80 grille looks a lot more square and different than the 78 stuff.

Would the 80 be a useful parts car for the 78?
Click to expand...
You would probably have to use the square headlights but yes it will work
 
I was told the spindles, out can be used for A body front disk brakes on these
 
The fact that you insist on installing a hood and fenders at all disappoints me.
 
memike said:
I was told the spindles, out can be used for A body front disk brakes on these
Click to expand...
The spindles are about 1/2” taller than the A body spindles and I heard that they work better but I prefer the A body spindles in an A body. JMO.
 
Mr. Sinister said:
You have to change the entire front clip fenders,hood,grille and bumper. The Volare has a finished fender, the Diplomat has an end cap to finish the end of the fender at the front edge.
Click to expand...
So as long as I use the entire 80 front end, it will bolt on and work?
 
Mr. Sinister said:
No I stated at the bottom that they were the same general platform

I know a Mirada fender doesn’t fit a Volare.
Re read post #2 I think you can swap full front sheet metal between the 2 cars.
Click to expand...
i don't see her asking about any diplomats or mirada's...just volare aspen
 
Nice that you noticed.
I just realized that I put Diplomat where I meant to put Aspen.
 
Last edited:
Princess Valiant said:
So I have what I thought is a 78 volare wagon but apparently the vin says it's an aspen. (I do not know the vin codes for F bodies) (NL45D8)

The car was missing the hood and grille when I bought it.

So a friend knew I am looking for F body parts and he texted me a pic of a complete 4 door donor car...... but it's a 1980 dodge aspen. It's reasonably priced and available.

My question(s) are will the grille and hood fit a 78?
I know by visual appearance the 80 grille looks a lot more square and different than the 78 stuff.

Would the 80 be a useful parts car for the 78?
Click to expand...
I see now the fenders are different 78 to 80 so you probably will need the whole front clip
 
Mr. Sinister said:
FMJ bodies
Volare
Aspen
Diplomat
LeBaron
Gran Fury
Mirada
Cordoba
All different body styles but same general platform.
Click to expand...
isnt F a platform?
isnt M a platform?
isnt J a platform?

giphy.gif
 
diymirage said:
isnt F a platform?
isnt M a platform?
isnt J a platform?
Click to expand...
All of the underpinnings will interchange as a bolt in with no modifications is my point.
Can you bolt an A body k member and suspension into an E body as a bolt in with no modifications?
 
Princess,
My original answer was incorrect as I answered with Diplomat where I meant to write Aspen.
My apologies it contributed to a long drawn out post.
It is bolt on but like my original answer stated you will need the entire front sheet metal.
 
Mr. Sinister said:
All of the underpinnings will interchange as a bolt in with no modifications is my point.
Can you bolt an A body k member and suspension into an E body as a bolt in with no modifications?
Click to expand...
K member? no

but how many of us run C body brakes on our A bodies?
how many of us run a B body rear end ?

sure, some things interchange, some dont and some kinda sorta

the point is, who decided that a 81 cordoba is a J platform and 81 diplomat is an M ?


Ma Mopar did, so there must be enough of a difference there for them to go through the trouble of not making them the same
and to make clear what was "the same" and what wasnt, they put a code on em


now, it makes sense to make as much transferable between all the platforms to keep cost down
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top