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SOLD
1979 Dodge Aspen
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I purchased this car in cental New Jersey in February 2001, for $300. It had been kept garaged for 10 years. Attempted to drive it home (about 45 miles), but it overheated three times before I could get it on a wrecker. The car was soon to become familiar with a flat bed tow truck. First thing to do of course was to replace the original radiator and hoses. Then back flush the block and heater core. Man were they filthy. The car ran well for 2 weeks until the old dry-rotted tires blew out. So I had to get towed again...resulting in five new tires. New tires came with an alignment, which wouldnt prove to hold together for too long.

The next big thing was the floors. Underneath the gas pedal and the same spot on the passanger side were rusted through rather nicely. I had a friend weld in some 14 awg galvanized steel (all he had around and hey he was only charging me for the gas). I the gutted the interior and set it up for the CD player and 1300 watt stereo system to be installed. The stereo includes one 12" sub, two 6x9 3 way speakers, two 1" tweeters, two 4" 2 way speakers, CD/AM/FM/changer in dash receiver, one 500bd series amp, one 150.2 amp, cooling fans, and a one microfarad capacator. For a 22 year old car it sure jumps.

I then painted the interior so that the sun faded blue would look much better. A new carpet was also installed (old one was kinda moldy). In September, the transmission went out (it was stored for 10 yrs without much movement). Cost about $1100 to get the torqueflight 904 rebuilt. I don't plan on hot roddding it for a long time, just a commuter car, so i wasnt looking for a high performance transmission. She gets about 17 mpg on the highway if driven concervativly.

With the stereo system installed the Aspen developed an electrical problem. The field wire between the alternator and the voltage regulator fried and the battery would not charge. I replaced the wire and put in a higher amperage output alternator because sometimes when the sub hits hard the draw is upwards of 50 amps (I'm not kidding I actually tested that).

Since I kept loosing wheel covers I went out and got a set of shiny chrome lug nuts and painted the ugly old steel wheels black. cheap fix and doesnt look too bad. I also aligned the front end myslef and now it tracks great. Soon I would also like to upgrade to polygraphite bushings and maybe a new steering gear box. And maybe some new ball joints, although they seem alright, I don't know how many more miles they can handle they have 164k mi on them now.

When we got the first snow storm this year i went out and got some chains cuz the car loves to spin the tires in the slightest bit of snow. Although fun, mostly counter productive.

February 5, 2004:
The car has been off the road for nearly 8 months. Yes I blew up the slant 6. There was a hole about the size of a quarter in the oil pan concealed by the engine cross member. The piston in Cyl #2 came right through the side of the engine. Than God I had a spare engine sitting in the driveway. Its out of a 68 dart gt. I put a 4 bbl intake, a new distributor, and some other goodies. Currently the front end is being rebuilt, I didnt have the time or place to do it myself. In a few weeks she'll be back in my hands, then I have to put in a heater core and put the interior back together. I will upload pics soon.

As it looked when I first brought it home in 2001

front end view in 2006Drivers side view. Some body and primer work done. Minor rust removal.
Passanger side view. all glass is intact. Interior. Custom GT steering wheel (no longer available from GT ($90). Original seats. new carpet. custom painted interior. dash and glove box are not installed but are in good condition.
Another back seat picture. 200 amp rockfort 6x9's mounted in package deck (not included with sale).Rear seat. bunch of dash and trim parts laying in there. All interior trim pieces included.
Right rear wheel. Rims ($165 each new) new and tires have more than 75% tread remaining. no dry rot. Right front wheel.
Rear view. Good glass, decent paint. Defroster grid good. Underhood. Slant 6. 225 cid. Out of 1968 Dart GT. Offenhouser 4 barrel intake ($150).
oversized radiator. flex fan ($40). fresh rebuild holley 4 barrel 390 cfm carburator ($200). new starter.
160 amp high output alternator ($75). Accel high output coil($25). new distributor($60). Accel 8.8mm wires.
Driver door Left side of dash. Headlamp switch, wiper switch, defroster switch, clock.
Speedometer Actual reading 73922.7
bad picture you figure it out right side of dash through custom steering wheel
HVAC controls connector for radio
Old blower motor and new blower motor, both not installed. old one works was just weak. rear package deck with some exterior trim pieces. (speakers not included with sale)
glove box compartment Left side of glove box with hvac vent.
Trip bezel from around instrument panel. Rear passanger seat floor.
Sun visor Ash tray
Fire extinguisher mounted to floor next to driver seat. Left front fender around wheel. No rust.
front left fender towards front of car Bottom of left door
Left rear quarter panel Left rear quarter panel in front of wheel
Right front wheel. (disregard 2x4 underneath for storage) bottom front corner right door
Bottom of right door Bottom of right door, towards back of car.
In front of right rear wheel. worst rust on body. behind right rear wheel.
top of right rear wheel surface rust underneath right rear window.
seam between 2 right windows back of right rear quarter panel
aspen symbol trunk lock
Inside trunk behind left rear wheel. electric trunk latch
Aspen manual by Chilton, with wiring diagrams Full sized spare.
Tool box of goodies. extra belts. EGR. bulbs. Bulbs. fuses. w/p pulley
Fluids behind right rear wheel. Original bumper lift jack
Box where amps wer mounted under rear package deck. with cooling fans and vents. (amp not included in sale of car) Right side of trunk under package deck. can see rear seat
Gasket set. I know head gaskets and valve cover is still in there. bottom of trunk
closeup of gasket box left side of trunk under package deck. you can see rear seat.
Rear parking brake cables. One of those decals for the top of the windshield. Says "Aspen, powered by dodge"

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