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: Trish Davis on 11/27/11 09:26am

How well I know it.
The Daughter is all "mom, can we put up the tree, please please please" and This Mother is all "M, can you operate a vacuum cleaner now now now" [emoticon]

Jer&Ger wrote:

Now, it's time for Christmas decorations [emoticon]

!!!!

Posted By: Leeann on 11/28/11 03:27pm

Welcome, vaguirrebica and bclaude!

These old Dodges have issues with sending units. Fortunately, a lot of boat gauges are the same resistance as the Dodge ones, so generic sending units from your local boat supply place work just fine (we did this on one of our tanks).

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

Posted By: 92ScottyCTD on 11/29/11 08:50am

First post - just bought a '92 Scotty (Dodge D350-based Class C) last month. Intercooled Cummins and 5spd Getrag. Will work on a pic.

Chris

Posted By: 78DodgeLodge on 11/29/11 12:00pm

WOW! I started reading this thread in the beginning of November for a couple of hours each weekday when I'm supposed to be working and I FINALLY reached the end. I feel as if I know some of you personally and have learned a lot about Dodge motorhomes. So here it goes... My wife and I were looking for a motorhome as our little Shasta Airflyte 12 TT, as cool as it is, has limitations. We were looking at Class A and Class C until I spotted a 1978 Dodge Class C M-25RD Shasta on Ebay. It has a 440/4BBL 727 trans and DANA rear. I bought it from a Mercedes mechanic that has his own shop working on old foreign cars, and he has added an external transmission cooler, rebuilt the carburetor but removed the choke because it idled too high for too long?! Anyway, he replaced the valve guide seals on the heads, machined the heads and exhaust manifolds flat and true so no manifold leaks, tuned it up, converted the dash A/C to 134A, replaced the ignition module, ballast resistor, and a whole list of other things. He mounted four new tires in the rear and gave me two for the front, which I need to have mounted and balanced since the ones on there are cracking on the sidewalls. Someone before the PO actually replaced the whole roof with one big sheet of thick aluminum, and other than a spot below a back window that the paneling is dryrotted from some old water damage, everything looks good. We live in Norfolk, VA and drove to Easton, MD to buy it. My wife wanted to go to IKEA so I followed her in this rig across the bay bridge on RT 50 and then down 95 to Potomac Mills for my first test drive. When I left the guys shop after handing him $3450 in cash, as soon as I stepped on the accelerator it bucked and popped through the carb all the way to the gas station. I figured bad gas but it still did it leaving the station until I held it flat to the floor through all the gears, grey/black smoke pouring out the tailpipe until it cleared out. It ran great all the way home and once a week since then I pump the pedal 5-6 times and turn the key and it starts right up. I just let it idle for about 10-15 minuted until I drive it anywhere. Anyway, I've been working out of town during the week and staying in my TT and coming home on weekends so I haven't done much with it but I will definitely have a few questions, especially about the appliances. I'll write down the make and model numbers of all the appliances and get back to you to get some advice. Sorry this is so long but I wanted to read everything before I posted. I know you guys like pictures so here are the ones taken for the Ebay ad. [image]

1978 Dodge Shasta M-25RD "The Dodge Lodge" 440 4BBL 727 Loadflyte 49800 miles work in progress....

Posted By: 78DodgeLodge on 11/29/11 12:14pm

We took all the seat cushions out and are going to replace them. The foam is dry and hard and the covers are just dusty and nasty as hell. I also removed all the roll up shades and valances because we're doing all new window treatments. Luckily the shag has been replaced with linoleum tiles and I need to replace the lap belts with three points. I like the front seats but we need something with inside arm rests. I also need to put something on the cab floor since the original carpet was apparently shot and removed. I plan on having a hitch and brake controller installed so I can pull a 900 lb open car trailer with either my '70 Volvo 142 on the trailer (2500lbs) or my wife's '85 Volvo 744 Turbo (3000lbs) . The trans shifts great and I was pulling hills on 95 and passing people, so it should tow these cars no problem. The coach battery is new but the chassis battery is not, it has the "hot start" problem when you shut it off at the gas pump and re-start it, you need to hold the pedal to the floor and the starter drags a little like the battery isn't that fresh. The alternator is charging though according to the ammeter. Oil pressure is around 60 psi while driving highway speeds and around 40 around town. No leaks that I can tell but I really want to start poking around to see what it may need. I think it needs shocks and an alignment and when you back out of the driveway it creaks pretty bad as the cab moves back and forth. There's a heavy truck place I trust that I want to check out the front end and brakes. It stops pretty good for drum brakes on a vehicle this heavy, but I just want to be sure.

Posted By: Leeann on 11/29/11 02:40pm

The no start when hot could be heat soak; these are famous for that. The gas boils out of the carb, so you have to pump it to get enough gas in to start. I'm sure the older battery isn't helping, but look at ways to cool the top of the engine when stopped (especially when not stopped long).

Griff has a post or two on here somewhere about using a boat bilge fan to cool the top of the motor.

Oh, and welcome [emoticon]

Posted By: 78DodgeLodge on 11/30/11 05:40am

Thank you for the welcome Leeann! I'll definitely look into some sort of cooling fan option. I wonder if opening the hood while it's shut off for a short time would help? Anyway, I'm going to look at everything a piece at a time on weekends. I need to change the title over and tag it first, so I can drive it legally. I've read every post on this thread over the last two weeks and I've learned a lot. Hopefully this thread keeps going and I'll add what I find and know as time goes on. I hope you and Trish and Mark are all doing better. Everybody take care of yourselves!

Mike (78DodgeLodge)

* This post was edited 11/30/11 06:31am by 78DodgeLodge *

Posted By: Leeann on 11/30/11 06:06am

And I almost forgot: look to see if the starter heat shield's in place. That could make the starter drag a bit during heat soak, too.

I'm improving day by day, a baby step at a time. Thanks ;-)

Posted By: 78DodgeLodge on 11/30/11 06:09am

Good tip, I'll look at that too. I really look forward to each weekend so I can start working on it!

Posted By: Trish Davis on 11/30/11 08:22am

hola,DodgeLodge.

'Tis a nice rig.
What Leeann says about the heat sink.

Cushions: Keep your zippers!
I am serious. Trying to find metal 44" inch zippers is impossible.

Also, keep one of each section of the upholstery, you will need patterns. Measure first, but take them apart with sewing scissors and stash in 1-gallon freezer bags because the odor is not ..uhm, appealing. Do this outside.

Look for 6" foam. Automotive upholstery, fabric NOT velour, will do you right.
I made my 'new' curtains out of what was going to upholster the frt rr seats of a '48 Mercury. My frt curtain is made from its headliner.
Hemmings, baby. You can find anything on hemmings.com.

I dunno, those old Dodge van seats are comfy... Find a chair that will bolt to the existing base and save yourself much grief.

Look to put another spring in the rear for support. Metal fatigue happens and "re-arching," or heat-treating, the existing springs is way too spendy.

Drum brakes are awesome, adjusted properly, they will do you fine.
Look to the coach mounts directly behind the seat and either in front or directly behind the rr wheels.
Rubber mounts dry up, the coach lists, yaws, rubs on top of the black tank and you lose your mind in the racket.
Urethane mounts. Hemmings, again.

Alignment after new tires.
Yeah, it needs shocks. Monroe NOT Bilstien. Monroe makes Bilstien shocks.
Listed in the NAPA catalog, Dodge brake parts & suspension, BSP-VI-05 is mine, probably out of the 09 catalog now.

You will form a love-hate relationship with NAPA.
No, really.

78DodgeLodge wrote:

We took all the seat cushions out and are going to replace them. The foam is dry and hard and the covers are just dusty and nasty as hell. I also removed all the roll up shades and valances because we're doing all new window treatments.

I like the front seats but we need something with inside arm rests.

I think it needs shocks and an alignment and when you back out of the driveway it creaks pretty bad as the cab moves back and forth. There's a heavy truck place I trust that I want to check out the front end and brakes. It stops pretty good for drum brakes on a vehicle this heavy, but I just want to be sure.

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