Question about Aspens and Volares
 

Through some trading of stuff, I have ended up with a 78 Aspen and 79 Volare. Both are in very good condition. After going through the runs made this year, I noticed a lack of Aspens and Volares being run. Has these combos been so heavily hit so they are no longer a viable combo.

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

I used to run FGT/H (GT/HA in IHRA) with a 1980 Volare powered by a 2009 5.9L DragPak. It's a GREAT combination. I quit running NHRA because of it being 4 days for 1 race, the massive drop in contingency postings, the attitudes of some high-ranking officials, and unequal application of the rules. When I broke the crank last summer, I changed the shortblock to a 408 stroker (kept the SS legal heads, fuel injection, etc.) and just bracket race it.

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...bf&oe=5A50AA95

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

You may have hit on the answer for some racers. You're still getting plenty of seat time, probably having more fun and even have a shot at winning more money.

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

Don't know how different a 78 Aspen is to an 80, but there is an '80 Aspen wagon with a 318 that kills it in SS/NA, way more than 1 under

Research Nitro Joe's stats

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

The 318 - 4 barrel is a good combination for stock.

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

I had a 79 Aspen I was running in F/SA, It was a great car and pretty Low maintenance, The only downside to that car is the HP factor is 289 and the novas are all 280 HP that all fit the same classes, and there is tons of them in each division. Fun and easy cars though!

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

Why is the stick shift HP the same as automatics? Did anyone ever run one? Sounds like it should be a good car.

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

That would be my buddy Dale Meers wagon. 318 in a heavy wagon running in the high 10s...it's very impressive

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

My Volare was a solid 70-80 under car in G and won a few heads up runs but a 289 rating is fairly stiff and just couldn't fall in love with it like I've always felt about my A-bodies. But agree with Dyno about the 318 combo, just look at what George Widuch and his son ran at Indy this year and one of Steiger's old cars (with Bo Fowler at the wheel) ran good as well. I've admired Wofford's Super Stock Volare many times but ultimately it just isn't as popular a body style for many. Don't know what the CD is on them but suspect a brick has a similar number. If you have a nice one though and can build a decent 318 it can serve the purpose.

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

I am not sure what I am going to do with them. I traded an old water tower that I was going to scrap next year. So I basically have nothing in the money wise. One is a the aspen is a 360 car, engine long gone. nd the Volare still has its 225 engine /(non running)

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

Another weird thing about the cars ('76 - '80) is that most of the 360-4's have the same 289 HP factor. Doesn't matter if its small cam/big cam or small carb/big carb.

I built an '78 wagon with a lot of help from a friend. It ran the index, still needing some tweaks. But water in the oil & budget has had it sidelined for a year and a half.

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

Jim, the Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare has the same CD as the Darts and Dusters; .48

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

We had one of those cars for most of my life. Ours was a 318-4 bbl initially and it seems like that's still a very favorable combination. Angelo Phillips' and Marcus Widuch's cars come to mind.

The 360, on the other hand, USED to be a favorable combo. Now it's rated fairly honest (aka "hard"). Before selling the car, we ran the '76 small cam combo rated @ 284 hp. Ran -.910 before it sold. There's a couple of them that run really good: Bo Fowler, Barry Pollard, and Jim Wahl foremost amongst them. When we first began running the 360, it was only rated @ 270 hp. George Widuch, Jerry Bennett, and Darrell Steiger were REALLY fast with those cars for a long time and worked the factor upwards.

PM me if you have any questions. Happy to help.

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

You are talking about your mother's old ride. I think when i met her it was a K car

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

I'm surprised the Irvings haven't chimed in yet.

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

Very cool car and it sounds evil!

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

Yea, whats up with that?

Re: Question about Aspens and Volares
 

I still have my 1980 wagon and have been slowly collecting parts to put a 318 together for it, Maybe next year.