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

[whiteknight001]

I'm new here, and curious.

How many of us in Class C own Dodge B300 incomplete
cab/chassis based RV's? I know two others- Steve aka
Ripsaw, with a 1977 Brougham, and Leroy aka 1978_Dodge
_Delta who owns a 440V8 powered sharp looking 1978
Delta RV. I would like to ask, and offer, help, idea
swapping and comparing notes on our particular RV's
which are based on the Dodge B300 van chassis.

Yeah, I know. These are low tech, podgy old RV's that
would be considered "entry level" for folks like me,
but I have a deep and abiding respect for the quality
of these old "monsters of the open road". And anyone
wanting to pick brains, joke about, share notes or just
brag about our old A- Dodge-io's are certainly welcome
to PM or email me. Between all of us we can form a real
good support group, and help each other with problems
we know we'll encounter with an older vehicle.

Sure. I'd love a new RV. But I'd rather have an older
one already paid for, and a lotta great memories. Call
me frugal, an old hippie, or whatever you will. I'm proud
of my old land yacht.

Mopar Madness Manifest in the flesh,

Mark aka White Knight

P.S. Mine's a '72. Is there an older one out there someone's
motorvating in? Maybe even a Travco? W/K

[eyeteeth]

Systems converted to R-134 suck. I've had it done before, and it's never as efficient. I would much rather pump some R-12 with some Dye into the system, and go from there.

I did (as you know) finally get a genset for the Rv, I'm just not sure how well the rooftop will keep the cab cool with that big ole 440 under there. (And I'm the only one that's a yooper and want's it cold)

[Leeann]

eyeteeth wrote:
Sweetnessmonster -

I'm in the same boat you are for parts. '79 with a 440. Much like the lite ut suv I used to have. A '94 jimmy with a 4.3ltr Vortec. All computers and books said the Vortec wasn't available until '95 when they changed the body style.

Apparently, they've fixed that. I have no problems getting parts for my '93 Bravada with 4.3L Vortec - you just tell them CPI, not TBI (the Vortec actually was used as a marketing tool...Vortec heads were on carbureted 4.3L).

As for the R-12, you can still get bigger containers of it but you need a license to do so. It's a lot easier and cheaper to convert to R-134. We don't have dash air, but we wouldn't do the conversion b/c the bf is an HVAC master and always has R-12 on the truck (and he detests R-134).

[overdrive75]

^^On the R12. I just convertered mine to the R-134a and all is working well and blowing ice cold. The conversion consisted of 2 fittings for the high and low side connections at the compressor and some ester oil. Go ahead and switch. R-12 is very hard to come by and has gotten very expensive.

[eyeteeth]

Sweetnessmonster -

I'm in the same boat you are for parts. '79 with a 440. Much like the lite ut suv I used to have. A '94 jimmy with a 4.3ltr Vortec. All computers and books said the Vortec wasn't available until '95 when they changed the body style.

Anyway... if you find a source for the running boards, post it. 🙂 I'm curious to see pics of the inside, the window set up on yours looks almost identical to mine, I wonder if we have the same floor plan.

I'm looking for a couple other things if anyone can help...
1) The plastic "basket" that goes on the very end of the speedometer cable and "snaps" onto the back of the speedometer. Mine's cracked and I need a replacement.
2) Someone here mentioned a source for R-12 for these older AC systems. I'm hoping to not be too lazy in just asking rather searching through 60 pages of this thread. 🙂

[overdrive75]

I am not sure where my running boards cam from but I really like them. Yes they are diamond plate

[overdrive75]

The brochure has a 78 and older chassis. Yours if for sure a 79 or newer.

[sweetnessmonste]

The VIN number on the doorjamb is F44CA9V724028. The sticker on the air cleaner housing says this vehicle conforms to all US EPA regs for 1979 model year engines, and is marked as 12/78 engine manufacture date. Looking at the the spark plug holes, it definitely needs tapered seats. So I guess I will just get new RV9YCs for it.

[denisondc]

The typical auto part places wont have listings for trucks of one ton or heavier ratings - such as a b300 chassis, let alone for one as old as the 70's. You need to find either a NAPA store, or a place that caters to light trucks, delivery vehicles and utility company fleets. At a NAPA store, dont let the clerk tell you they dont have any listings - if he only looked in the computer. Tell him to bring up the hard copy books and start looking. NAPA franchises dont all want your business bad enough to be consistently encouraging. After all, you might represent .01% of their business.
The 440-3 engines, used in the motorhomes, have different heads than were used in the vans, pickups, and passenger cars. Hence the spark plugs with tapered seats instead of the kind with gaskets. There are enough other differences to make finding parts a little time consuming now and then.
But they are tough engines! If yours has a viscous drive fan clutch, remember those fan clutches weaken year by year, but never just die. At some point it will be worthwhile to get a new vicous drive fan clutch - for those days when you are going up a slope, in 1st gear, and its 99f in the shade.

[sweetnessmonste]

Also, anyone know a good place to get some running boards for the cab?

[sweetnessmonste]

Possibly, but I was given a huge folder of paperwork, everything from all the original manuals and a lot of receipts from 4 different owners. Had a CD of photos from the tranny rebuild but nothing about an engine replacement. So I think it's highly unlikely. I'm going to look for block and head numbers. Should tell me what I need to know. Do you know where the numbers are?

It's interesting that my 1979 factory brochure/manual shows round headlights:

Here's mine:

[overdrive75]

If you have the square headlights, you definately have the '79 chassis as mine is a true '78 and has the two round headlights. Is there an outside chance the engine was replaced and maybe an older engine than the Chassis?

[sweetnessmonste]

I figured that a build date of 12-78 would be a '79 model year (didn't the model years usually change around Sep?), especially since it has the 4 headlights. Maybe the chassis is a '79, and the engine is a '78. But according to the Champion apps list I've seen, the RJ12YCs are for a '78. But they are so different than what was in there. I'm inclined to just go get some new RV9YCs, but I'd like to get to the bottom of the application questions. When did the 440-3 cease production? Isn't '79 one of the last years? Where do I find identifying numbers on the engine and/or heads?

[Leeann]

You have a '78 440, not a '79 (the chassis is the '78 date and the coach is the '79). Having said that, my books only go through '75, but the plugs say BL-9Y in the 440.

[sweetnessmonste]

Quick question about spark plugs. My motorhome is a 1979 Tioga (incomplete vehicle mfg date 12-78, it has the 4 rectangular headlights instead of 2 round, so it's a '79 model correct?) with a 440. The auto parts store had trouble finding a listing for a '79 440. Seems to be a common problem when I've been looking for parts, so they found the listing for a '78 440 and gave me a set of Champion RJ12YC plugs. I just pulled the currently installed plugs and they are Champion RV9YC. Totally different plugs, the 12s have a 9.5mm reach, a gasket seal, and 13/16 socket size. The 9s have a 11.6mm reach, tapered seat, and 5/8 socket size. I found some info that says the RV9YCs are for a '73-'75 440-3, and the RJ12YCs are for a '78 B-300 Sportsman. So what are the correct plugs to use? The 9s were in it when I bought it, are they correct? Why do most parts application lists not show a 440 in '79? Any help or info would be most appreciated.

[goreds2]

I think I got it. Thanks Leeann! (Camera Phone Quality though)