Need some ID help on a 1978 Champion

[Heliarc]

First off, be warned. This camper is getting modified heavily and won't be much of a camper anymore. I paid $300 for it and it looked to be in decent shape until I cleaned all the junk out and really looked at it. I know the previous owner thought it was ok but once I opened up a few of the interior walls the steel struts, top, and bottom plates were rotted beyond repair.The roof was just as bad. Anywhere I opened a small section up, the "rafters" were about rotten through. Anyhow no biggie since I could always demolish it and still come out ahead.I was still bummed of course but make lemonade and all that.

Then I got down to the bare chassis and what was left of the cockpit. It's a Mopar 318, 3 speed auto tranny, and a frame and running gear with only 60K miles and it was killing me to thiunk about junking it and sending it to China to come back as junk tools. By this time I had already made my $300 back and more even including the cost of gasoline to the scrap yard.

So, I now have a running chassis of a 1978 Dodge Champion 25' motorhome. I believe it to be a class A since it's a cabover and the chassis is a much heavier build than a typical pickup truck. The title lists the GWVR as 12,500.

What I'm wondering is, what model of truck would this have been had it not been an RV and what vehicles would I look for in order to scrounge myself a front drive differential.

My plan, since this will not see action as a camper again is to splice a standard shift transmission and transfer case behind the original automatic allowing me to gear this thing way down such as a guy named Bill Whitaker did with his home made tractor. I'd also like to find a from differential that would pretty much bolt up to the front end. After that, the rear axle will be relocated five feet forward of it's present position, a cab will be built upon the remnants of the current cockpit, and flatbed, dump bed, or panel body will be installed/built on the rear end.

So far I've turned up a few things. Mainly I think the chassis would be similar to the W-300 except for the cab over design and the fact that it's appreciably longer than a W-300. Also I believe the axle that I am looking for would be a DANA 60 which was, and in some cases is, still used by most if not all major American auto manufacturers.

Here is a video of the chassis itself but I think there's enough left that many of you should be able to identify it. The front end, dashboard, controls, gauges, and seats are all still there and I intend to leave them even after completion as a nod to it's heritage.

Camper running chassis

After it's done though I should be able to have it road legal since it's only titled as a truck, not a motorhome. The government shouldn't care what form it's in. It will still be able to attain it's original top speed and it will have turn signals, brake lights, running light, headlights, and all the other goodies it used to have.

So despite the fact that I bought a bomber of a camper, I now have the opportunity to turn this around and have just about the most original road going tractor/hauler around. In my opinion that's miles better than cutting a perfectly serviceable chassis to pieces and having it melted down oversees like a common backyard shed.

I appreciate your time and any help you can offer. Thanks.

[barnaclebill]

MrWizard wrote:

So, I now have a running chassis of a 1978 Dodge Champion 25' motorhome. I believe it to be a class A since it's a cabover and the chassis is a much heavier build than a typical pickup truck. The title lists the GWVR as 12,500.

Here, I found this......
1966 The lightest entry in the standard-sized trucks was the D-100. The half-ton and three-quarter-ton models had a new 128 inch wheelbase model for better weight distribution, and a choice of Sweptline or Utiline bodies; for 1966,

you have a 1978 NOT 1966
no mfg sat on a chassis for 12 yrs before building an RV

you could have a 78 RV built on a 77 chassis, this is every common, motorized RV's are titled by yr of completion/model not yr of chassis

most likely is you have an M-300 or M-400
it depends on the wheel base of the chassis

Mr Wizard, you did not read all the posts from the O/P. He had discussed his "1966 W-300 as being 2wheel drive"

[MrWizard]

So, I now have a running chassis of a 1978 Dodge Champion 25' motorhome. I believe it to be a class A since it's a cabover and the chassis is a much heavier build than a typical pickup truck. The title lists the GWVR as 12,500.

Here, I found this......
1966 The lightest entry in the standard-sized trucks was the D-100. The half-ton and three-quarter-ton models had a new 128 inch wheelbase model for better weight distribution, and a choice of Sweptline or Utiline bodies; for 1966,

you have a 1978 NOT 1966
no mfg sat on a chassis for 12 yrs before building an RV

you could have a 78 RV built on a 77 chassis, this is every common, motorized RV's are titled by yr of completion/model not yr of chassis

most likely is you have an M-300 or M-400
it depends on the wheel base of the chassis

[Heliarc]

GVWR is 12,500. I've heard from one person that it could be a M-375. I thought they went in nice increments of 100. I've looked up "Dodge M-300 chassis" though and came up with chassis very similar to mine as well as campers along the same order as what I have. Regardless, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be looking for a DANA 60, super 60, or 70 for the front end. If I can even find the ratio though it's probably going to break the bank. I might just go rear wheel drive with tire chains now that I know these axles are bringing ridiculous sums of money.

Thanks for all the replies though. I half expected to get the third degree for chopping up a camper in this manner but I really needed people that know campers to even hope to pull this off. Knowing what it is will give me a good idea of what vehicles could have used common parts. Plus at the least if it's running and working somehow I feel better than throwing it away.

[barnaclebill]

Your 1978 Champion shown very briefly in the U-tube is an M-300, M-400 or M-500 depending on gvwr, a 25' motor home is most likely the M-300? As I recall the MB-300 models were the B van cutoff chassis. I hope this helps, Bill

[Heliarc]

Yes, the vehicle in question is a 1978. I was just confused because I had what I thought to be a W-300 but it was only two wheel drive.

[barnaclebill]

Here, I found this......
1966 The lightest entry in the standard-sized trucks was the D-100. The half-ton and three-quarter-ton models had a new 128 inch wheelbase model for better weight distribution, and a choice of Sweptline or Utiline bodies; for 1966, the Sweptlines got a new full-width tailgate that could be opened or closed with one hand. The truck shown above is a D-100 half-ton with Sweptline body. The various D and W series trucks (D series were rear drive, W were 4x4) came with dome light, a single sun visor, painted front bumper and hubcaps, seat belts, dual-speed wipers, a single outside mirror, and front and rear shocks — unless you got a one-ton, which only had front shocks.

Original is at 1966 Dodge trucks and vans http://www.allpar.com/trucks/1966.html#ixzz2aqLL5Jrk
Follow us: @allparcom on Twitter | allparcom on Facebook

[barnaclebill]

All Dodge trucks had letters in their model. W models were 4X4. D models were 2 wheel drive, AW was the Ramcharger 4X4, A was 2 wheel drive, B models were vans or "cutoff's" then the new BR model came out in about 1994? This is NOT for the Dakota, they were N models.

Also I reread your "1966 W-300" I thought you were talking 1970's as in your motorhome? I am talking 1971 thru 1993 Dodge models! But all W's were 4X4

[wallynm]

Dodge

you could post your question here.

Champion

or try this one

[Heliarc]

barnaclebill wrote:
W-300 was a 1 ton 4X4 pick-up or cab chassis...

Now I'm getting even more confused. The 1966 W-300 I had was equipped with the 318 "semi hemi" but it was a 2WD. Maybe someone switched the tags or swapped the front end for something else?

I'm hearing from other sources that I'll be looking for a DANA 60 or 70. Best bet might be a fire truck of all things. And of course the hardest part is going to be matching the ratios. I might have to look for a matched pair and throw in my present ten bolt rear as a bargaining chip. This might be turning into a real can of worms.

For now I'll just get the aux transmission mounted with a bearing on the input shaft, get it rolling, and put on some tire chains. I'll keep looking though and if the fates decide I need it I'll find it.

[barnaclebill]

I found this.......
The Dodge M-Series chassis was heavy duty frame used under various Class A motorhomes from 1968 to 1979. All M-Series chassis used a solid front axle with leaf springs, and Dana 60 or 70 solid rear axles with leaf springs. Frames were used by Winnebago, Champion, and several other RV manufacturers. The line was offered in three ratings, M-300, M-400, and M-500 depending on the application. By 1979, Chrysler Corporation no longer proceeded in selling incomplete chassis and ended production of the M-Series.

The M-Series was available with three engines during its production, the 318 polysphere Chrysler A engine and 413 cid and the 440 cid Chrysler RB engine

[barnaclebill]

W-300 was a 1 ton 4X4 pick-up or cab chassis D-300 was a 2 wheel drive pick up or cab/chassis, M-300 was a motorhome chassis, B-models (100, 200, 300) were van chassis whether cut off's (for cube box or motor home) or full van bodies. That is what I remember. I hope this helps, Bill

[Heliarc]

Alright, In that case it's definitely a purebred motorhome. The body was built entirely by Champion. I've seen the van type RV's and this is nothing like it. Dually rear end, ten bolt cover on the differential, big flat front end like a billboard going down the road. Tag on the front reads "Chassis by Dodge". I've also looked up "Dodge P-300" and found various cabover milk trucks and work trucks. I looked up "1978 Dodge P-300" and found many campers that look like they share a similar chassis to mine. If this were a P-300 would that put it in the same class as a W-300?

*** Searched MB-300, definitely not that.

[1995brave]

It could be a Dodge MB300 motorhome chassis. If it is a Class "C" style it would be the van front end.