Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?

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Topic: How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?

Posted By: Goatmaiden on 03/27/08 03:31pm

Hello everyone - not to interrupt the conversation but I am loving this board!

I am the proud owner of this:
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/rvs/619611197.html
as of 2:30 today - a 1978 Class C Road Ranger with a Dodge 440. My partner and I have been looking since October and this had great layout, great owner/sellers and the price was right. And it runs.

However, since this is the Dodge thread, I thought I'd just ask out right - is this a problem engine? Most of what I've found says that. Understandably it's old, but does anyone have any other comments (I'm looking at you Power Wagon! I'm in Portland now, but we are moving back to Wisconsin - I'm from La Crosse.)

* This post was edited 03/27/08 05:37pm by an administrator/moderator *

***********
1978 23' C class KIT ROADRANGER
Dodge 440

Posted By: Leeann on 03/27/08 04:09pm

Problem????!!!! Heresy!

I don't know what you're reading (seriously), but there's absolutely nothing wrong with the Dodge 440. My '73 has a 440 and runs sweetly - and powerfully.

The only potential weak link is the Thermoquad carburetor - and that's only if it's been mistreated. If it's been correctly treated, it's a great carb.

* This post was edited 03/27/08 05:37pm by an administrator/moderator *

'73 Concord 20' Class A w/Dodge 440 - see profile for photo

Posted By: Goatmaiden on 03/27/08 07:06pm

Thanks for the cleanup on my post, mod :-)

And for the reply Leeann - good to hear! - I may just be paranoid. Most of the research I did was online and also talking to someone who works on Dodge muscle cars and modern trucks. I was hearing horror stories about it being a very hard engine to work on, stories of of engine fires, knocking, and mainly, "replace everything and it still won't work well." Good to hear something positive! The people we bought from were very nice and seemed to really care about and for the vehicle.

Also - am I correct in assuming that this is probably the 440-3 (I haven't really had a chance to spend a lot of time under the hood yet.)

Thanks again!

Posted By: Leeann on 03/27/08 07:18pm

In general, the 440-3 is the engine used in motorhomes. I can't say that all 440s in motorhomes are 440-3s, though.

If they have engine fires, it's due to leaking valve cover gaskets - if left untended, the leaking oil has a chance to light on fire when it hits the exhaust manifolds. That's simply due to neglected maintenance.

Ours, with 56,000 miles on it (and little maintenance before we got it), doesn't have any knock. At all.

We did rebuild the carb but, as it turned out, all we needed to do was adjust everything correctly. It had been rebuilt recently but absolutely nothing was even close to factory spec on it. Other than that, all we've done is plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coil, ballast resistor, ignition module, oil & tranny fluid change. In other words, simple maintenance.

Posted By: Kendas on 03/27/08 11:59pm

Welcome to the Dodge world... Like Leeann said "Hersey". Absolutely no problems with the 440 in mine other than the PO forgot to put the plug wire back on on number 3 when he changed them out. Was a little sluggish on the hills and the mileage was down to 7 mpg. After fixing the plug wire it "gets up and moves right along".

As Leeann says, the ThermoQuad is not a problem as long as a ThermoQuad experienced mechanic has been the only one to "play" with it. This carb is adjusted like no other carb and can be screwed up in a "heartbeat" if you've never worked worked on one before.

1978 21ft Tioga Dodge 440 Motor,
4.5kw Generac and 80 watts Solar
1984 Goldwing Interstate (Daily driver)
Misc Things I've done to my RV pictures

USAF Retired
To Err is human... To Forgive is not SAC Policy.

Posted By: Trish Davis on 03/28/08 03:42am

Goatmaiden wrote:

Hello everyone - not to interrupt the conversation but I am loving this board!

Welcome, Goatmaiden, neat-O spot here, we like it.
Tell me you have not read the entire 228 pgs of this thread...
And, please, feel free to "interrupt" ...;-)

Goatmaiden wrote:

I am the proud owner of a 1978 Road Ranger with a Dodge 440...Since this is the Dodge thread, I thought I'd just ask out right - is this a problem engine?

Nope, the "problem engine" would be the 400.
No relation to your 440 big block at all. In fact, I'm not sure the Dodge 400 (you gotta wonder what they were thinking) is any relation to any Dodge engine ever.

Posted By: 79powerwagon on 03/28/08 05:59am

Welcome!

Every Dodge engine that was built in the US is a good, durable engine. 440 is no exception. They are NOT difficult to work on, NOT difficult to get parts for, Not unrelaable, and absolutely do NOT break in half like so many Ford engines! [emoticon]

People who complain about their Mopar engines most likely have either a Carter BBD (2v) or Carter Thermo-Quad (4v) carbs that are worn out. Small block V8 engines (A, LA, and Magnum series) have a notorious issue of wearing out their timing gear set (which is VERY easy to replace with an after-market kit that is far superior in design, and still under $50.00).

The lowly 400 big block isn't really as bad as most people think. It, like every other engine ever built, can be de-smogged and made to make some serious power. It is basically a 383 with a larger displacement. You will NEVER hear anyone complain about the 383's! The only real complaint for the 400 is the smog equipment choking it's potential, and it's painfully low compression, which is very easy to "correct"!

Enjoy your old Mopar! Enjoy your RV-ing! Enjoy us on this wacky thread! [emoticon]

Eric

She ain't purdy, but at least she's slow!

Posted By: MasterBoondocker on 03/28/08 07:33am

79powerwagon wrote:

The only real complaint for the 400 is the smog equipment choking it's potential, and it's painfully low compression, which is very easy to "correct"!

Painfully is an uNderstatement ! .. but very EZ to correct ? .... how so ? ? ... [emoticon]

Posted By: COtrekkerdeactivated on 03/28/08 07:48am

Goatmaiden wrote:

I have a 440-3 with Thermoquad in my 81 Establishment that has been very neglected, yet, after a little TLC, I towed a fully loaded 6X10 U-Haul out of Utah and over Monarch Pass (11,300 feet).

Most negative comments about Mopars (Chrysler Corp.) products come from those that lose to them, from my experience (42 years of Mopar Motoring). Not to mention how embarrassing it is to a guy in a Honda "ricer" to find out his fart-can muffler will not let im out accelerate a motorhome. . . .He didn't get past me, anyway [emoticon]

Budd

Pedestrians = 50,000 points
Vehicles = 10,000 points
insects = 1 point

So many bugs, so little time . . .

Posted By: COtrekkerdeactivated on 03/28/08 07:59am

Trish Davis wrote:

Goatmaiden wrote:

Hello everyone - not to interrupt the conversation but I am loving this board!

Welcome, Goatmaiden, neat-O spot here, we like it.
Tell me you have not read the entire 228 pgs of this thread...
And, please, feel free to "interrupt" ...;-)

Goatmaiden wrote:

I am the proud owner of a 1978 Road Ranger with a Dodge 440...Since this is the Dodge thread, I thought I'd just ask out right - is this a problem engine?

I'm sorry, but you are incorrect.

The 400 is based on the "B" block engine line (361, 383, 400) and the 440 is the "RB" block engine line(early 383, 413, 426, 426 Hemi, and 440)

The 400 only has troubles in stock form due to the emmissions modifications, but it can be one heck of a runner with proper modifications.

I had a 400 in a 72 Charger that regularly dusted a 375Hp Chevelle in my hometown. He never did learn to leave well enough alone.

Budd

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