Classic Mopar as a daily... Crazy idea?

[DumpsterFire]

One of the silly things about going with 80s lean burn junk is the insane final drive ratios. I'm getting 26mpg highway in my diplomat with a 318 and 3 speed auto.

It was getting 17 until I did a full emissions delete

 

[Detroit Iron]

Driving a classic as a daily is cool and do-able. For me.... I drive mostly around town. When we (wife and I and/or kids) take a trip it's in the family car which is a newer car.

Here's the deal with an old car for daily driving. I'm of the thinking to repair/replace everything mechanical before you embark on your journey of old car coolness. Otherwise stuff breaks, leaves you stranded, and it's a real bummer. Nothing cool about that. Then, make sure you are well prepared for roadside break-downs so you can be self reliant. Have extra common fail parts in your trunk, ICU, ballast, fuses, wire etc. Make a list. Also, carry every tool you will need.

I have tall gears on my old school daily driver, so I can keep up on the freeway. As far as AC, the old Chrysler units aren't very efficient. Build an A/C system that's got modern specs.

Yeah and old car as a daily driver is cool. Just gotta do your homework so you're prepared.

 

[8formulas]

I'm fortunate to work 4 miles from home. On nice days I commute to work in a 70 Barracuda. 340 with Tremec 5 speed. I don't like new cars. They're too busy inside. All I want is a radio and temp control. Anything more than that is NOT necessary for me.

 

[Kern Dog]

I'm fortunate to work 4 miles from home. On nice days I commute to work in a 70 Barracuda. 340 with Tremec 5 speed. I don't like new cars. They're too busy inside. All I want is a radio and temp control. Anything more than that is NOT necessary for me.

Uhhh....how are you able to function without a big navigation screen, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control with automatic braking? What about the lack of parking assist, Sirius radio, heated seats and mirrors?

 

[volaredon]

No Toyota's kia's Hyundai or honduh for me even if for free , even if gas maintenance and insurance was paid for by someone else. Just say NO.

 

[jbc426]

I've had my 2000 Buick Park Ave Supercharged as my daily for the past 6 years or so and it's been a trooper but it's getting a bit long in the tooth. It's about to hit 200k miles on the odometer and I have anxiety sometimes about something big going wrong with it like the transmission or a big electrical failure so I'm tossing around ideas for my next daily driver vehicle. I also don't like having to run premium gas and the fuel economy isn't great, average about 19-21 mpg. For a while I was looking at newer cars but I really hate dealing with electronics-related issues and the complexity they have, difficulty of repairs, expensive parts etc. So I started thinking, the cars I am by far the most comfortable with are the old-school RWD Chrysler cars and trucks. In this day and age most people would think it's crazy to rely on a 50-year-old vehicle with carburetor, distributor, etc to get around but I know these cars like the back of my hand. My '70 Duster was my first car and I've pretty much taken apart and rebuilt every mechanical device on that car at least once. It's now so reliable that for the past few years I have done nothing but regular maintenance and I can jump in at any time and drive it wherever.

My biggest must-haves options are good working A/C and cruise control so I'm leaning towards later upper-end stuff like a mid-late 70s B-body, would love to have a Cordoba or Charger SE (Magnum would be ok too but I don't like their styling as much). What do y'all think? I know I just mentioned gas mileage but if I could manage at least mid-high teens on average being able to run regular gas that would be acceptable.

I've been driving my '68 convertible Barracuda daily for almost 20 years. It started out with a Slant 6, yanked that out and put in a junkyard 5.9 magnum with factory EFI and a 727, then built and installed a 480 hp at the rear wheels 408 stroker Magnum with a 2004R.

My latest upgrade is nearly complete. This one is a Holley Terminator Max EFI with a Magnum based 408, CNC heads, a Novi 1500 and a regeared and hardened 4L60. This motor dynoed at 820 flywheel hp just below 6500 RPM.

The last stroker got 14 MPG around town and 17 MPG at 70 MPH with the top down. Not sure what the latest version is going to do. I'm running 3.91's and 275-60-15's. It has been a blast, and the public loves it! Put more than a few people right in shock when I hole shot them hard.

 

[One Bullet Barney]

I'm fortunate to work 4 miles from home. On nice days I commute to work in a 70 Barracuda. 340 with Tremec 5 speed. I don't like new cars. They're too busy inside. All I want is a radio and temp control. Anything more than that is NOT necessary for me.

Most car accidents happen within 5 miles of a driver's home primarily because that's where people spend the most time driving. Familiarity with local roads can lead to complacency and overconfidence, causing drivers to take risks or pay less attention. Additionally, more frequent short trips, common in residential areas, increase the chance of encountering hazardous situations.

 

[413]

Down side to a mid 60's C body is due to the gigantic footprint they are hard to park and they corner like crap. Gas mileage is poor also for daily driving amd running errands. A freeway road trip is better for fuel mileage.

 

[413]

I like the mid 90's econobox cars for cheap drivers. Multiport EFI, overdrive trans, AC and cruise. Great MPG. If you must have a mopar look at minivans, pt cruiser, and neons.

Find one with some life left in it and drive cheap.

 

[DionR]

I like the mid 90's econobox cars for cheap drivers. Multiport EFI, overdrive trans, AC and cruise. Great MPG. If you must have a mopar look at minivans, pt cruiser, and neons.

Find one with some life left in it and drive cheap.

I would love to have an SRT-4 Neon, but the idea of finding one with some life left in it is pretty daunting.

The FWD turbo cars are fun and would work well. There is an '88 Shelby Z T2 car for $3500 that just popped up locally. It's been sitting in a barn for years so would probably require some work to get running but the interior looks good and it would be a kick. Add a "Gus" valve and zener diode and go have fun with it.

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[DionR]

The real problem is that same guy has an Aspen coupe that along with this thread has me daydreaming about an F-Body build. It's an SE with buckets seats and a console, but I can't tell if it has AC.

It's probably a non-AC car and that would be the biggest reason I would want it. And an SE probably means 76-77 and I would prefer a '78-9.

But it doesn't stop me from daydreaming about it. Paper Tiger specs would be:

5.7 Eagle
8HP70
Custom HDK front suspension
18x9.5 wheels that look like steelies with 275/40R18
8.8 axle
Custom gas tank so I can do true dual exhaust
AC
Cruise
Power windows

Man it is easy to spend money when it is imaginary.

 

[DionR]

Hmm...just noticed that Aspen is a T-Top car. Not a fan of those, seals are unobtanium.

 

[missing linc]

Hmm...just noticed that Aspen is a T-Top car. Not a fan of those, seals are unobtanium.

View attachment 1716437084

View attachment 1716437083

I wouldn't take another t top car for free even, my days of baking what little brain I have remaining are long gone.

 

[64valconv]

I dove a 68 Sport Fury 383 4 speed, 73 Cuda 340 4 speed and a 70 Fury III 383 convertible as my daily drivers until 2000 when I bought a Nissan Pickup. I wished I did what my dad did, park them in the garage and enjoy them on the weekend.

 

[Corsair]

I four-season daily (yes, those are snow tires) an '87 Diplomat (45 minute commute, one-way). Gas mileage is 20-22 mpg. I do spend a fair amount of my weekends working on it in some capacity, but that's part of the fun. Mine was almost mint-condition when I got it too. Not worried about it getting wrecked, not worth that much anyway. Parts are still readily available too. Most M-bodies, especially the Chryslers, come with with A/C, cruise, decent radios and other power equipment. I highly recommend, only downside is the looks and the slowness, that 2.25 rear gear is not getting up and moving you around in a hurry. I recommend removing all the smog equipment, more reliable that way. Got a new Holley 2-brl, a new electronic distributor and new exhaust system.

I only own this and a '68 D100 that I occasionally use for truck stuff.

 

[barbee6043]

Sold these F bodies 5-6 years ago. 1. 79 Volare 225 slant, col; auto. It came no doubt from a granny via the young guy I got it from. No rust, good interior, drove great. It had a fender and hood replaced probably at the beginning of its life due to their rust issues on those areas. I did a scub and shoot to make ot the col;or I wanted. Took a year to get $3500 out of it. Buyer got it for his late 20s son. The very next day, the dad called me and asked IF I had another auto trans he could have., It took his "kid" 24 hours to blow it up. I drove t a year no issues.
2. Second Volare was a 76 318 Roadrunner, console auto, NO AC. Bare. A guy about 25 had it in HS and he got it from a girl that was her HS car. Run great, drove really good, I liked that car, the "kid" was a good mechanical minded one, he had done some engine work on it, it had floor rust and a few other spots. I repaired all the rust and painted it back the original orange. Looked good! Interior was a little worn. I dove it some about a year or so. It took about 6-7 months to get $6500 out of it. It went from here in Tx. to Fl. via transport. Or was it $4500!!!! Probably! I forget!!

 

[8formulas]

Uhhh....how are you able to function without a big navigation screen, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control with automatic braking? What about the lack of parking assist, Sirius radio, heated seats and mirrors?

View attachment 1716436991

All those options you mentioned turn my stomach.

 

[Kern Dog]

Same here. I don't need any of them.
I'm no dinosaur. I like a comfortable car but I don't need it to drive for me. I like good mirrors and clear sight lines. I don't need the car to warn me or to brake for me either.
I love paper maps but I do like the satellite radio. I don't need it but I do like it. AM radio? I don't care for religious talk radio or Mexican music so, no thanks.
I can go either way with automatic or stick shift.
I'm not interested in manual steering. It is often too heavy and too slow compared to a good power steering system.
An air bag may have saved me from some injury during a wreck I was in November 2007 so there is value in those.

 

[barbee6043]

My idea of high tech, is the BluesMobile cop car!!! Big engine and a really big loud speaker on the roof telling all the idiots to MOVE OVER... I cam coming thur!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[abodyjoe]

So I started thinking, the cars I am by far the most comfortable with are the old-school RWD Chrysler cars and trucks. In this day and age most people would think it's crazy to rely on a 50-year-old vehicle with carburetor, distributor, etc to get around but I know these cars like the back of my hand. My '70 Duster was my first car and I've pretty much taken apart and rebuilt every mechanical device on that car at least once. It's now so reliable that for the past few years I have done nothing but regular maintenance and I can jump in at any time and drive it wherever.

My biggest must-haves options are good working A/C and cruise control so I'm leaning towards later upper-end stuff like a mid-late 70s B-body, would love to have a Cordoba or Charger SE (Magnum would be ok too but I don't like their styling as much). What do y'all think? I know I just mentioned gas mileage but if I could manage at least mid-high teens on average being able to run regular gas that would be acceptable.

depends how far ya go for work.. fo me there is no way i will be bothered with an old car for a daily. i have a 80 round trip to work, live inthe rust belt and enjoy my AWD subaru with heated seats, great a/c, great heat, adaptive cruise control comfortable interior and its 30+ MPG, not to mention its a thousand times safer in an accident then a 50 year old car... maybe if i worked from home or say under 10 miles from work i'd consider it but in reality just can't be bothered.. its not like our dart couldn't do it. its just not something i want to beat all up and drive every day.

 

[66fs]

I've had my 2000 Buick Park Ave Supercharged as my daily for the past 6 years or so and it's been a trooper but it's getting a bit long in the tooth. It's about to hit 200k miles on the odometer and I have anxiety sometimes about something big going wrong with it like the transmission or a big electrical failure so I'm tossing around ideas for my next daily driver vehicle. I also don't like having to run premium gas and the fuel economy isn't great, average about 19-21 mpg. For a while I was looking at newer cars but I really hate dealing with electronics-related issues and the complexity they have, difficulty of repairs, expensive parts etc. So I started thinking, the cars I am by far the most comfortable with are the old-school RWD Chrysler cars and trucks. In this day and age most people would think it's crazy to rely on a 50-year-old vehicle with carburetor, distributor, etc to get around but I know these cars like the back of my hand. My '70 Duster was my first car and I've pretty much taken apart and rebuilt every mechanical device on that car at least once. It's now so reliable that for the past few years I have done nothing but regular maintenance and I can jump in at any time and drive it wherever.

My biggest must-haves options are good working A/C and cruise control so I'm leaning towards later upper-end stuff like a mid-late 70s B-body, would love to have a Cordoba or Charger SE (Magnum would be ok too but I don't like their styling as much). What do y'all think? I know I just mentioned gas mileage but if I could manage at least mid-high teens on average being able to run regular gas that would be acceptable.

My brother Tom and I have put 500,000 miles on daily driven Barracudas through the years. Both 273s and were absolutely stone axe reliable. The 67 was automatic trans with AC, the 64 was a 4 speed. Both ran 3.23 gears. Both would get low to mid 20 mpg depending on AFB or TQ. Never worried about breaking down somewhere, we both ran cross country many, many times. In 75 our 318 Cordobas would get mid 20's for gas mileage, handled well, had great brakes, and had the most comfortable seats. Since you are in Augusta, GA, I assume traffic is not horrible. The Barracudas are not daily driven today, but I would not hesitate to run cross country either.

 

[barbee6043]

All this reminds me of my wife and her smart phone. I am convinced it is actually taken root on her hand and therefore it is there morning till nite. Not sure how she gets it off for bedtime????
How did we ever find our way anywhere decades ago, no GPS. Back then, a state road map got you there. Going many state over, I had a Rand McNally atlas that lasted me 25 years! Scotch tape held it together.
Hi tech food was the invention of chicken pot pies. And whoever invented biscuits in a can should be shot!
Heated seats with AC and a massage??? really!?????????????
Technology???? Just wait till AI breeds an army of burger flippers!

 

[abdywgn]

should have read back but I'll just ask, is it the only car in the family? here, my wife would have the new/newer car for everyday and bad weather use. then, if I got myself in gear, I'd have the older car as an EA, extended antique. March thru November I think. top of the line choice would be a 68 Plymouth B-body wagon with 360/auto. or 1/2 ton 8' bed 2WD pick-up a close second. last, but not least (because I already have it) would be a 73 Hornet Sportabout. while the 360/auto combo would be fun, parts "adapting" might be a challenge for me. I'm more of a bolt/un-bolt type. that's mty 2 scents you didn't ask for.

 

[SpeedThrills]

How did we ever find our way anywhere decades ago, no GPS.

And just to go a little bit more off topic, my wife and I were in West Virginia, maybe five years ago. There was no cell service in the entire area where we were staying. We couldn’t find our cabin. We stopped at a small local store. Like in the old day, to ask directions! The woman knew exactly where we wanted to go and gave us great directions. The entire time we were staying there we patronized her little store!

 

[MDchanic]

All this reminds me of my wife and her smart phone. I am convinced it is actually taken root on her hand and therefore it is there morning till nite.
Not sure how she gets it off for bedtime????

My wife's phone is in her hand when she falls asleep.

Fun Fact: If you fall asleep with the phone in one hand, and one finger of the other hand resting on the screen, it will never turn off.

I don't know how many times I've woken up thinking someone was shining a flashlight into my eyes, only to find that phone glaring like the sun at me.
Try to take the phone out of her hand: "Huh? What're you doing?? I was watching something."

Oh, Brother.

- Eric