Daily driving an A-body

Its funny about new vehicles. They are really quite great until all the electronic gadgets start failing in 5 years or less. Slowly all those expensive controllers fail. My friends taurus, the cooling fan was controlled by the pcm (or some other robot), pcm failed to turn on the cooling fan, caused a severe overheat issue, ended up blowing the head gaskets, he knows nothing about cars and ignored the temp gauge pegging out all the time.
Most modern automatics are so prone to failure that you can look up most any car with an automatic and read horror stories about failures. I too am seriously considering an older Mopar car with an OD manual transmission. I want NO ROBOTS controlling my transmission, cause they are dicks!

Enjoy your Dart
I have used mine for my DD for last 9 years
/6 904

Rice Nuker said:

Its funny about new vehicles. They are really quite great until all the electronic gadgets start failing in 5 years or less. Slowly all those expensive controllers fail. My friends taurus, the cooling fan was controlled by the pcm (or some other robot), pcm failed to turn on the cooling fan, caused a severe overheat issue, ended up blowing the head gaskets, he knows nothing about cars and ignored the temp gauge pegging out all the time.
Most modern automatics are so prone to failure that you can look up most any car with an automatic and read horror stories about failures. I too am seriously considering an older Mopar car with an OD manual transmission. I want NO ROBOTS controlling my transmission, cause they are dicks!

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Because people whine about everything....."no power windows? what will I do!"....."transmission shifts to hard, please dear manufacturer, make it slip its self to death so my tushy feels absolutly nothing"......" no navigation system or radio tied into the ignition wiring and main engine and chassis controllers! but what if someone wants to steal it or I cant find my way to the store?"

Stuff like that and nubs that dont read the drivers ed manual or atleast the section about 'instruments' let alone the operations manual for the nice new car they just bought are just some of the reasons that modern cars 'seem' to spend a ton of time in the shop and cost a fortune. Just like 40-years ago, modern vehicles have manufacturing flaws.....they might not me with body panels or paint but they are still there.

I can say that I have now driven my old rig another month since my post. No more issues, and not a whole lotta work extra once I got the big stuff done.

It runs well. Is paid for and gets better mileage than newer trucks.

If you are willing to do the work and upkeep and are tenacious to get it reliable you are golden.

If all goes well I will have an A body as a 2-3 time a week driver by late spring. Lots of extra parts will be in the trunk for sure.

ROB

mac daddy mopar said:

And you think new junk don't break? too new to get at a parts store.:thebirdm: new junk.
my $.2

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Amen. Our 2002 T&C 3.8L stranded us on the hwy when the power steering pump pulley broke (plastic). The single serpentine belt drives everything. All the auto parts sell the pump, but not the pulley. The repair shop had to drive 50 mi to a dealer to get the $50 pulley. I now keep one in the back ($14, ebay).

Old cars can be very reliable if you maintain them, especially if you keep a few critical spare parts and tools. I always throw the old V-belts in the trunk, keep points to backup my electronic ignition and a carb to backup my Holley fuel injection. My two 1965 automatics can even be push started.

Parts are so cheap and available, I have spares for most repairs in garage (starter, water pump, even a tranny). Amazing how many people don't travel with a gallon of water or even check the radiator before a long trip. Helpless people pay big bucks.

Re safety, the real danger is crazy drivers - aggressive, erratic, belligerant, or inattentive, take your pick. All the air bags and anti-lock brakes in the world won't protect you from the idiot weaving lane to lane with no turn signals, trying to squeeze by on the right, or looking at their lap while texting. Most drivers of classic cars are very careful, because they don't want to spend years searching for a body panel or fixing the paint job they spent months on.

lilredridinghoo said:

a-body as a daily driver ? nothing better, my 4door 70ties valiant is more reliable than most cars i had before - and makes much more fun on everyday

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I agree...I came out of the Field and my 74 Valiant was one of the only cars that started right up. So while others had to wait for a jump I was good to go.

I wouldn't necessarily sell your other car, unless it is a "one or the other" kind of deal, as project cars can take some time to fix depending on the problem. She isnt much for the cold, but then again...who is?

Bottom line is that I drive my A Body to work every day and still fair better than many of those with newer cars. Bonus is that you can actually work on these without being a certified mechanic, unlike my wifes Dodge Magnum:wack: ,and this is room to actually work under the hood:thumblef:

I would give my sac to have a Plymouth a body DD. My wife would kill me if I got another vehicle, however once the duster is on the road, I do intend to make it a 2-3 day a week driver. If I am not on my Harley, or winter!

I picked up a 72 swinger this fall that is going to be my daily driver in the summer time only. Slant six should get ok mileage and mechanically how much simpler can a car be. Mine is a basket case that should be ready by may.