1977 Dodge Van Class B Conversion Restoration Thread

[Traveler7]

Hi to All Class B and Restoration Fans out there!

I started a thread on my Camper Van at

Pics of My 77 Dodge Vandicraft Class B & a Tire question

Link Camper Van Pics

on the General Class B Forum so please check that out for more Pics-
This thread is about the work I need to do to make it My Future Home.

One of the few problems with the van is the windshield wipers don't work 😞

The PO (Previous Owner) believed that the motor was bad and replaced it with a junkyard motor that also did not work and he assumed that was the problem and advised me to buy a new motor. Instead I had a friend bench test the motor and found it works fine- the problem unfortunately is ELECTRICAL 😮 😞

I've been using a multimeter to check continuity and voltages and found that the motor was not receiving a fixed voltage- it was ranging from 0- 3.3 volts. I pulled the main firewall connection and probed it for continuity and when I plugged it back in I lost voltage to the motor plug- dropped to .2 volts (ouch). My preliminary diagnosis is failure of the fusible link from the battery- this would explain why the PO would say the motor turned slowly at times (low voltage condition)and why my messing with it caused more failure. Anyone who know electrical please PLEASE chime in here with any advice!!!:h

My next step is to probe the fusible link for continuity and get a tool to push the contacts out of the waterproof connector. What do you think????

As usual with any project I found more problems that needed to be attended to- the wiper linkage bushing were broken or missing in some cases and the linkage was bread wired together. I purchased new bushings and removed the linkage and installed them with lithium grease. The first one took about 1/2 hour to figure out and then they went much more quickly using a closed end wrench and a hammer on some and a vise to press the bushings onto the wiper rotors. Re-installed and it looks great! pics[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/3V7P83rl.jpg[/]


I also cleaned a wasps nest out of a vent over the stove....



and cleaned it out!

Thanks for viewing and I appreciate your comments!

[Traveler7]

You are right about that, Toedtoe- lots of little things done wrong by PO's.

[toedtoes]

That wire in your fuses? I had that - it was the folks who installed the stereo. Instead of properly hooking up the wiring to the ignition, they just stuck the wire in the fuse. Had them re-do it properly. Then had my mechanic verify that it WAS done properly.

Since your radio was connected to your wire, I suspect someone did the same thing on yours.

[Traveler7]

Thanks, Den!

[DenDanger]

It looks great!

[Traveler7]

Hi all- just got a big project completed- van bubbletop is now repainted with two coats of marine primer and two coats of yacht enamel. Pictures:

Masking the van- sanding was done at home and now I have taken the van to my friend in Portland who is helping me paint it. He has an advanced masking product that was so easy to use!





Removed the luggage rack for cleaning:



First coat of primer going on- Interlux PreKote white- it took a full quart for the first coat and about 3/4 quart for the second coat:





Got two coats on and then rain was threatening for later that night...fingers crossed it held off long enough.

The next day was overcast and looked like rain all day, finally about 3 pm we were able to get one coat of the enamel- Interlux Premium Yacht Enamel white. Took about 3/4 of a quart.

Finally on the next day it was hot and clear again and first thing in the morning we finished.





While it dried we cleaned the rack getting crud off and fabricated new rubber pads:





Mounted the new rack with all new stainless fasteners and it looks great!



Looking good on the road at a rest stop on the way home!



Lots of work and time invested in this project- expenses-

Paint ................. $128
Fasteners/ new hardware $ 5
Rubber pads ............$ 2
Prep and Paint Supplies.$ 40
Total...................$175

Thanks to my friend Carl from Australia and especially to RJ owner of Painted Turtle in Portland, Oregon for grunt work, supervision and ideas!!!!

I will pick up the custom Logo decals later in the month and show pics of those.

Thanks for looking in on my resto thread.

[Traveler7]

Next Project- Cleaning, refurbishing and painting the Fiberglass Bubble Top!

On Tuesday we had nice enough weather for me to clean the roof- I used Dish Soap, Green Scrub Pads and a Long Handled Scrub Brush. Pics Below:

I was actually a little shocked by how bad it was, there were a lot of cracks in the gelcoat with black crud in them



There also seemed to be pretty bad UV Damage and discoloration



Took some time, but finally got the whole roof cleaned



Next step will be sanding and filling. Painting will come when I visit Portland in a couple of weeks where my painter friend who lives there will help me.

[falconbrother]

I had a 1977 Dodge van that I converted to a camper back in 1988. My wife and I had a lot of awesome trips in that old van. In many ways it was the best vehicle for travel we ever had.

[Traveler7]

Bedroom Makeover Paint Project Completed!!!!

Pics Below

Looking Backward



Looking Forward



Looking Left



Looking Right and Ready for Next Adventure



Glad to be done with this, now I need to put the new weatherstripping on the Front doors and Clean and Sand the Fiberglass Bubble top to prep for paint!

It Never Ends, does it?

Thanks for checking in on my progress!!!

[Traveler7]

Okay, painting remodel saga continues- today I did the following:

Got two coats of primer on the drop down storage hatch



Will paint it Metallic Copper tomorrow and then done with that! Also finished today- I sanded, primed and painted the Couch/Bunk Slide-out the same green as the wall behind the couch- this will contrast with the Glidden Marble color Flat paint on the Couch/Bunk bottom with the cupboard door

The Slide-out



and the bottom (under the clear tarp now



more done now than not, so with some good work I can move on to the next project:

Putting new Door Seals on the Driver and Passenger doors!

Thanks for checking in.

[Traveler7]

Hi Bordercollie- fortunately I am not having that problem! The Van runs really well.

[Bordercollie]

On our 72 Dodge B-300 Family Wagon, I had intermittent contact problems with the large connector that goes through the firewall on the driver's side. Also had problems with the large ceramic resistor and fusible link. Also had engine cutting out problems, it was a bad coil that would open when it got hot. It's been so long ago, memory is foggy.

[Traveler7]

Okay, a new weekend and back at the painting project:

First coat of Ralph Lauren Metallic Copper on tall wall



After two coats of the Copper I painted the couch wall with RL Metallic Moss:



And the Copper Wall contrast with the Red Maple Ceiling Stain-



I think it is looking great, but still more work in the next few days, Thanks for looking in!

[Traveler7]

Okay, more painting and prep news with pictures:

I put a second coat of poly on the ceiling first thing this AM:



decided I only needed two coats...came out nice!



So time to move on and I started masking the other two spots that are next on the list- small wall with the Electrical Panel on it and the wall behind the couch. This is with the Primer on it and then sanded.



Now I've run out of time for this week until the weekend and then I will paint these areas and prep some more. Thanks for looking in!

[Traveler7]

Working on Interior repainting and staining. The interior was in good shape, but dark with all the same paneling color. I want more color and a lighter, brighter interior so I purchased paint and stain and started sanding. Today I am posting the redo of the ceiling with before and after pics.

First pic is the original:


It is well done and clean, but not what I want so I purchased a stain called Colonial Maple which is lighter and on the reddish/orange tone side; First sanding though:



Then masking and covering everything else:



Three coats of stain with sanding between and one coat of polyurethane (with two more to come):



as you can see- it is much brighter, still shows the grain well and the reddish/orange coloring will fit in with the next painting steps to come!

Thanks for checking in.

[Traveler7]

Thanks TT, some of it is fun!