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Total Rebuild of a 1979 Dodge Class C

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
I would say some of you have seen the start of this build that my brother bgriffey had posted, Well I have now bought the RV from him and plan to post the pixs of the build I have found a lot of rot in this RV I have torn out everything on the inside and have the rear opened up and the skin off the lower driver side, I will be buying a camera for my wife for christmas and im sure she will take the pixs if I can learn HOW to post them on here, Please remember its winter here in Kentucky so it will be slow but we will keep the pixs coming, Like I said this will be a total build from floor to walls and roof and custom inside build so I would appreciate all the help I can get this will be my first build and I will be learning as I go so any info will help. THANKS......Tony Griffey.

A new RV can be very expensive and if you already own an outdated RV then you should just consider a complete RV remodel which can be a significant amount of money cheaper than the cost of a brand new model. If you are retired and use your RV to travel then why not save the money for your travels rather than on spending a large chunk of money on a brand new travelling vacation home. When you decide to have an RV remodel done you can have your old model completely gutted and rebuilt to look just like a newer RV and when the work is done you will not even recognize your old mobile home. Going about having a new RV to travel in this way can save you thousands of dollars and you will not have to worry about the payments on a brand new RV home. Many retired people are travelling this way nowadays so they can travel the country and be comfortable while doing it, and there are many others that own these vehicles that they will take on summer family camping trips. The RVโ€™s that are made today are unbelievable and have all of the luxuries of home at a fraction of the size, these make it great fir families and retired folks to travel comfortably, and having an RV remodel done you can make your old RV look just like a brand new one.

Statistics show that the amount of registered RV homes on the road is growing steadily every year, and much of this is due to the baby boomer generation retiring and wanting to travel the country in comfort and style. Having an RV remodel can make your RV brand new. Some things you may want to consider is having all new beds and appliances put in. Since RV appliances are smaller than your normal home kitchen appliances they are much cheaper, and a complete RV remodel will probably cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $12,000, depending on how many changes are being done. The latter price could even be a little more if you are having your RV completely gutted and redesigned. It will still save you a lot of money over purchasing a new RV home. Another thing to consider during your RV remodel is if you plan on just remodeling the inside or if you want to have the exterior redone as well, and if this is the case the project will cost more money but will still be cheaper than buying a new RV. Most of these vacationing and traveling vehicles have a type of siding on them, and the more modern ones are sometimes made of more durable fibreglasses and plastics, these materials are very nice since you do not ever have to worry about rusting.

If you plan on getting a loan out for this remodeling job then you will first want to get various estimates, much like a home remodeling project. Once you get all the estimates you want you can then apply for the amount of money through your financial institution or credit union. The amount of money you need should not be hard for you to get approved for, especially if you have good credit. If you are a retired individual you most likely can take the money out of your pension or 401 funds, and this would be your best bet due to interest rates. Usually the place where you originally bought the RV can do the remodel for you as well, and if they cannot they can usually refer you to someone who can do the job for you. With the popularity of these vehicles constantly growing there are also many new dealerships and shops that specialize in these vacation vehicles. Having a comfortable vehicle to travel year round in or to just vacation in yearly is a great asset and can also be a great stress reliever. It is also a very popular vehicle for families to use on family camping trips, and the nice thing is that if the kids want to rough it while camping they can just sent their tents up right outside the RV.
Without Trucks,....America Stop's
3,483 REPLIES 3,483

Dan86300zxt
Explorer
Explorer
oldtrucker63 wrote:
Cut the rear bumper off today, Now just need to weld up the bracket to hold the generator, And then weld the bumper back into place, I think I'm going to Fabricate a new spare tire holder also.:h


You built a heavy duty roof>>>>>Fab. a steel tire mount and secure it up there.
~Save the easy access area for items you would be more likely to use often.(like maybe a bike mount or a gas can mount or even a cooler mount)
*How often do you plan to un-bolt and use the spare????
(Never hopefully,if anything, you'll be just checking the air pressure to it!!)

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
Cut the rear bumper off today, Now just need to weld up the bracket to hold the generator, And then weld the bumper back into place, I think I'm going to Fabricate a new spare tire holder also.:h
Without Trucks,....America Stop's

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
Now I'm going to use the glass from that old door at the top just above the sink inside the RV, it should look good after I refinish the wood trim.
Without Trucks,....America Stop's

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
falconbrother wrote:
The dog seemed to be pretty happy with the whole situation.
Yeah she laid there on the porch until we got the door put back in, She just watched the old door come out and the new go back in, At least someone enjoyed it all....LOL:R
Without Trucks,....America Stop's

falconbrother
Explorer II
Explorer II
The dog seemed to be pretty happy with the whole situation.

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
OK The house door is in, Now I just like the window and I can get back to Jolene The old Dodge.









Without Trucks,....America Stop's

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
LOL Yeah I will stick with my 1979 Custom It's a poor boy's retired trucker rig............:B
Without Trucks,....America Stop's

lzasitko
Explorer
Explorer
I would go for headers, lighter and far better flow, even shorties would flow better then the cast. Not only that but they show the cost of one side of the cast about the same price as I paid for headers....

As for the 'diversion' Very nice but price would be way up there. Have seen similar that have been made for actors but being custom made always comes at a price. I have also seen some pretty neat trailers at F1 races that would put that one to shame. I saw one that even had a two story atrium in the middle of it, will have to see if I can find the video of it again....

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
dog_walker wrote:
In a pinch, could the crack in the exhaust manifold have been welded?


Yeah I've fixed cracked manifolds in the past. They are a bit tricky to weld because they are cast, with some cleaning, grinding, pre-heat, and nickle rod, very doable.
This is true, Only this one is cracked right into the exhaust port of the manifold, It could be done but to keep them from warping would be a trick that I can't perform myself.
Without Trucks,....America Stop's

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
falconbrother wrote:
oldtrucker63,

In a pinch, could the crack in the exhaust manifold have been welded?
Yes they could be welded, But the stock manifolds just don't have the amount of flow that the old 440 need's But they could be welded up Just a few tricks is needed to weld them right.
Without Trucks,....America Stop's

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
Dan86300zxt wrote:
oldtrucker63 wrote:
See what you guy's think about all of this, Use stock like these HERE Or find a set of headers to fit the old big block.


I don't know about you, but I am very handy when it comes to fabricating quality metal components.
~I cannot stand the cast manifolds...1 for cracking, 2 for warping, and 3 because they don't flow well.
*I snagged a set of 360 headers that I believe will fit my rig, and if they don't..I'll snag some 1 5/8" mandrel tubing and modify them to fit.
Sounds like something I would do also, Thanks.
Without Trucks,....America Stop's

dog_walker
Explorer
Explorer
In a pinch, could the crack in the exhaust manifold have been welded?


Yeah I've fixed cracked manifolds in the past. They are a bit tricky to weld because they are cast, with some cleaning, grinding, pre-heat, and nickle rod, very doable.

falconbrother
Explorer II
Explorer II
oldtrucker63,

In a pinch, could the crack in the exhaust manifold have been welded?

Dan86300zxt
Explorer
Explorer
oldtrucker63 wrote:
See what you guy's think about all of this, Use stock like these HERE Or find a set of headers to fit the old big block.


I don't know about you, but I am very handy when it comes to fabricating quality metal components.
~I cannot stand the cast manifolds...1 for cracking, 2 for warping, and 3 because they don't flow well.
*I snagged a set of 360 headers that I believe will fit my rig, and if they don't..I'll snag some 1 5/8" mandrel tubing and modify them to fit.

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
TreeSeeker wrote:
And now for a little diversion.

Retired Trucker's Camper
They did not pay for that on a retired truckers pay......LOl....That is cool Hu!!!!!!!!!
Without Trucks,....America Stop's