1977 PLYMOUTH FURY

Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi

Symptoms: Stalling when warm, Surging at cruise, Hard starting, Dying at idle, No-start conditions with good spark

Fix: Lean-burn computer and pickup modules fail frequently. Most experienced techs bypass the entire system and convert to traditional points or HEI distributor (3-4 hours labor). Chasing bad modules without converting wastes time and money.

Estimated cost: $400-700

Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Delayed 1-2 shift when hot, Slipping under load, Burnt fluid smell, No reverse or erratic reverse engagement, Hard 2-3 shift followed by slip

Fix: Factory cooler undersized, kickdown linkage wears causing band/clutch damage. Full rebuild with upgraded bands, clutches, and proper external cooler installation runs 12-16 hours labor. Band adjustment alone buys time if caught early (1 hour).

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Rattling from front of engine on cold start, Retarded timing that won't adjust properly, Backfiring through carburetor, Hard starting despite tune-up, Engine runs but lacks power

Fix: Factory single-row chains stretch badly, causing jumped timing or total failure. Requires timing cover removal, new chain/gear set, oil pan gasket work. Count on 6-8 hours labor. 225 slant-six uses gear-driven cam and rarely has this issue.

Estimated cost: $650-1,100

Symptoms: Black smoke and flooding, Stumble off idle, High idle that won't come down, Fuel leaking from throttle shafts, Poor fuel economy (under 10 mpg)

Fix: Worn throttle shafts cause vacuum leaks, floats sink, and accelerator pump circuits clog. Rebuilds help temporarily but worn bodies need replacement. Rebuild kit installation 2-3 hours, replacement carburetor swap 1.5 hours. Many convert to Holley 2-barrel for reliability.

Estimated cost: $250-500

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Wandering at highway speed requiring constant correction, Clunking over bumps, Excessive play in steering wheel (more than 2 inches), Uneven tire wear on inside edges, Loose feel through center

Fix: Upper control arm bushings, idler arm, and steering box develop slop. Steering box adjustment helps briefly but rebuilds or replacement needed. Full front-end rebuild with box swap 8-10 hours. These cars are heavy and eat suspension parts faster than A-bodies.

Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000

Symptoms: Visible rust perforation in rear frame rails, Sagging rear end on one side, Leaf spring shackles pulling through metal, Crunching sound from rear when hitting bumps, Floor pan rust-through behind rear seat

Fix: Chrysler's thin-gauge unibody steel corrodes badly, especially where rear springs mount and front frame rails meet the firewall. Proper repair requires sectioning and welding new metal (15-25 hours labor). Surface rust hides structural failure. Avoid cars from salt states unless fully inspected underneath.

Estimated cost: $2,500-5,000

Symptoms: Intermittent no-start after running hot, Gauges cutting in and out, Ammeter showing discharge then normal, Melted plastic smell from firewall, Voltage drop across bulkhead connector

Fix: Ballast resistors fail regularly (keep spare in glovebox, 15-minute swap). More serious: bulkhead connectors overheat due to undersized wiring for alternator load, melting terminals. Proper fix involves bypassing with separate alternator feed and cleaning all terminals (3-4 hours labor for full bulkhead rebuild).

Estimated cost: $15-50 for resistor, $400-700 for bulkhead rework