Spirit R/T as a Daily Driver?

[Daytona22]

How feasible is it to have a '91 or '92 Spirit R/T for a daily driver?

Currently I get about 14 mpg city in the winter and 17 mpg city when its warm out in my Roadmaster. On the highway, I'll get 26 with the A/C on at 75-80mph. I need to either dump a little bit of money into the Roadmaster and keep it or sell it and get something else. I was thinking the R/T might be a fun but practical daily driver.

Any problems with using a Spirit R/T as a daily driver? What city mileage can i expect? I drive like a grandma, usually keep the Roadmaster below 1700 rpms. Besides the timing belt issues, is there anything else that is a common problem? Parts readily available? They are all stick, correct? Any input is appreciated.

[SpiritedShelbys]

make sure the timing belt is properly tensioned and maintain it properly. I drove mine everyday for a few years and wasn't "light duty" with it... it was a perfect driver and very nice to jump on the freeway with! Maintenance is the key with them though.. IMO of course.

[Vigo]

Maintenance is the key with them though.. IMO of course.

^ ditto that. If you change the timing belt and oil often enough, i'd say it'd be a great daily driver.

[mopar-tech]

How feasible is it to have a '91 or '92 Spirit R/T for a daily driver?

Been driving my R/T for 5 years without issues....

<don flame proof suit>

With an 8 valve.

Sorry, cheap shot.

[Tony Hanna]

I agree with the above about the timing belt being replaced and properly tensioned at the correct intervals. In addition to that, I'd suggest an aftermarket oil pressure gauge and a big bright low pressure warning light so you'll be alerted in time if you have an intermediate shaft failure.

Anything to do with the head is going to be high dollar and possibly difficult to track down.

They're all 5spd and the 568 transmission is somewhat rare and expensive. On the bright side, the relatively common 523 will swap right in with a minor modification (drilling the bellhousing for the crank sensor) if you should need to replace the trans in a hurry.

If you get one that's been well maintained and you keep up with the maintenance it should make a fine daily driver.

[dds78910]

I've been driving mine for 2 years now with no issues. It makes about 20 mpg around town and I have a little fun with it everyday! And it has 20% larger injectors.

[Turbo3Iroc]

My Spirit R/T is my daily driver also. Keep the revs under 2000 you can see mid 20s in the city. Around 30 hwy is normal.

[turbovanman²]

Mines not really a Spirit but I daily drive it, awesome, just do regular maintenance, etc and you'll be fine.

[RoadWarrior222]

Radiators are hard to get so make sure you're not putting tap water in the cooling system. Personally, they'd make me nervous as a DD because of that and some parts getting hard to find.

[turbovanman²]

Radiators are hard to get so make sure you're not putting tap water in the cooling system. Personally, they'd make me nervous as a DD because of that and some parts getting hard to find.

They are not that scarce, I have spares of everything,

[Tony Hanna]

Radiators are hard to get so make sure you're not putting tap water in the cooling system. Personally, they'd make me nervous as a DD because of that and some parts getting hard to find.

They are not that scarce, I have spares of everything,

That and there are other ways around the problem of scarce radiators. A Shelby Charger radiator will fit nicely and allow you to keep the intercooler in the stock location if you don't mind doing a little modification.

[rx2mazda]

400hp DD r/t here with no problems. Has been the best DD ever...........get 28+mpg highway and then spank a evoIII priceless.

[SpiritedShelbys]

some of the mexican cars had brass tanks.. I know.. I got one for mine! Parts are out there ya just have to have time to search and have the $$ to buy..

[turbovanman²]

Is that a special, one off rust colour fuel rail and reg?

[Lotashelbys]

I would say yes to daily driving a Spirit R/T. Actually TIII powered cars are all I have driven for the last 3 years.

[135sohc]

Tony Hanna: A Shelby Charger radiator will fit nicely and allow you to keep the intercooler in the stock location if you don't mind doing a little modification.

is that new off the shelf unit ?!?!

[Tony Hanna]

Is that a special, one off rust colour fuel rail and reg?

What else would you expect from a $800 Ebay find that came from northern Ohio with a new set of snow tires on the front?

is that new off the shelf unit ?!?!

Sure is. I think I had about $160 in it from Advance.
Here's the transpro catalog page with all the specs on it.
http://webbase.transpro.com/catalog.php?partnum=433867