BitsPerSecond wrote:

So I forgot to mention that mine has a 360 two barrel in it. The previous owner put new points in it and rebuilt the carb to get it running. I can change it back, or leave it as is according to my friend.

So far all I know is that there is an exhaust leak. One of the manifolds is cracked. I haven't decide whether I'm a going to replace it or not. I might take it to the local welding shop and see what they want to repair it as opposed to replacing it. Welding is not currently in my skill set....

I looked up the VIN and it seems to be built on the MB400 (1 1/2 Ton) Chassis. I haven't had any luck locating a service manual. Anyone know where I can find one?

Looks like the manuals for everything else is in the dinette, like the generator, etc. Haven't read through them all yet. Not sure if anything has been upgraded or changed by previous owners other than what I've previously mentioned.

Anybody have an order of operations for fixing these guys up? A method to the madness, if you will. Or doesn't it matter?

Sorry for the really long post. Thanks guys.

StingrayL82 wrote:



As with every other project I've ever done, I just tore into it and went balls to the wall. With the mechanical, I took almost everything out. Mine had the Holley 2245 2BBL carburetor, but when I had the engine rebuilt, I converted to a ThermoQuad 4BBL.

Your rig should not have points, it should have Electronic Ignition. If your buddy changed it over to points, I'd ask him why. This could turn into a hornet's nest, as I found out with my wiring harness today.

Manuals....the factory Mopar Service Manuals I have for 1975 and 1976 do include the MB400, so check eBay, that's where I bought mine, and don't cheap out and get the Haynes or Chilton manuals, they just aren't as detailed as Mopar's.

You have your work cut out, but if you persevere and pace yourself, understanding that your rig won't be done tomorrow, you'll have fun. Wanting to have mine done yesterday has always been my weakness.

Good luck.

StingrayL82 wrote:

As with every other project I've ever done, I just tore into it and went balls to the wall. With the mechanical, I took almost everything out. Mine had the Holley 2245 2BBL carburetor, but when I had the engine rebuilt, I converted to a ThermoQuad 4BBL.

Your rig should not have points, it should have Electronic Ignition. If your buddy changed it over to points, I'd ask him why. This could turn into a hornet's nest, as I found out with my wiring harness today.

Manuals....the factory Mopar Service Manuals I have for 1975 and 1976 do include the MB400, so check eBay, that's where I bought mine, and don't cheap out and get the Haynes or Chilton manuals, they just aren't as detailed as Mopar's.

You have your work cut out, but if you persevere and pace yourself, understanding that your rig won't be done tomorrow, you'll have fun. Wanting to have mine done yesterday has always been my weakness.

Good luck.

Griff in Fairbanks wrote:


I'm with StingrayL82 regarding points ... but I'd shoot first and ask whatever's left, "WHY????!!!!!"

Don't apologize for long posts ... some of us (ahem, me) are long-winded.

I might be wrong but I believe welding cast manifolds are difficult. Used exhaust manifolds are available and new re-pops are also available.

It looks like you did a good job on the door, especially if it's your first effort. (Ask my wife ... I'm never, ever, fully satisfied with many of my efforts.)

BitsPerSecond wrote:

...

EDIT: Is this the book I want? Link

j-d wrote:

That Manual just catapulted me over four decades back in time! I don't think you'll find one for the Cube Van chassis with DRW. Van L--0^0--KS more like our 71 than our 71 did. Ours was a 12-pass window van and it had the Bronze and White paint. Friend had a 74 15-pass that was simply worn out. Had a mechanic go over it and it needed Everything, decided to junk it. I got lots of little stuff. The chrome bumpers, the grille in that picture, the trailer hitch... Maybe exhaust manifolds. Swapped it all over at an A/C shop - JarTran rental lot he had in a less-than-desirable part of Tampa FL.
Went pretty well till the Hitch Part, but first this entertaining interlude... Friend goes out on an errand. I'm removing the hitch and my friend is away running errands. Impact wrench won't get the famous Last Bolt out because the Nut is hidden in the Frame and spinning. So j-d pulls the hitch down to put the Nut in a bind hoping to back the Bolt out. Didn't notice the Directional Button on the air impact got bumped, from Reverse to FORWARD. Pulls down hard, gooses the Impact, finds self fastened to Bottom of Van by Left Thumb. This resulted in a total loss of concentration, dropping the Impact, Socket coming OFF and rolling out of j-d's now very limited reaching range... attached to that Van and all...
Oh, the Ignition went Electronic almost right away. There might have been a 70.5 Dodge Van with the motor moved forward from the old butt-head ones, ours was a true 71, and by 72 possibly 73 the B300 got front disk brakes (that I got off a junk 73) and the Ignition was Electronic with that PentaStar Five Terminal Module Connector. Get you an Electronic Distributor, but I recommend a Delco Ignition Module MOD, just replace the MoPar with the common in-distributor Delco module and call it Good. No, not Good...Better. Unless you're doing a full Numbers-Matching Restoration of course. Same odds as digging up a complete T-Rex.
Oh, our 71 had the 318. With homemade camper conversion inside, weighed nearly 5000. Towed boat weighing 4000. Passing school buses down in South FL, I found we were on the wrong side of the two-lane for a MILE to pass with the 318. The 360 solved that problem. That's when I learned about crossmembers, torque converters and so on. For now, 318 pulls about like a slant six. 360 doesn't sound impressive like 440 but it will get you "out of the hole" and I think you'll be pleased.
Gotta bounce. Up early to get ready for contractor to come do major A/C work. Later...

StingrayL82 wrote:

I'm trying to get motivated to do something today, but being bent over all day takes its toll.

In the meantime, I took a look at the power steering pump yesterday. The pulley is frozen solid to the pump shaft, and there was no getting it off, so the hunt is on for a new pulley.