77 dodge rv problems

[damien191]

first post - sorry if it is in the wrong spot

i have a 77 dodge rv - model mbh 400 on the title - i'm ahving some trubles with it electrically - we jsut bought it and it seems like everything is shorting out - we drove it three hours home and earlier today when i was trying to back it up to work on it it lost power completely and cut off

there is a long list so far but it seems to have started with a short in the tail light cabling and moved up from there

about 2/3 of the way in our three hour drive the headlights and running lights went out and both fusable links were gone - i replaced them but then only the lights on the left side came on and when on the right turn signal lamp on the dash is dim but on

my most major question is this - if i do some shady wiring can i get it started to get it to a shop to have it looked at - it has a lot of wiring so i'm not terribly sure i could isolate the alt - charge controll - ignition controll - and bat (fuel pump if electric) and start it because i don't know what else electrically is absolutely required for a quick and dirty fix - i plan on only connecting those and unhooking the positive from the rest because of this nasty short going on, so if there's anything else that would keep it from running at all or damage by not connecting it i need to know now

i've done a lot of googleing this morning and it seems like that combo will at least get it started if nothing else to get it moved around - but i wanted to double check to be positive

i planned on starting it straight from the starter if you're wondering why i left parts out...

it is tempting to just wire it that way and get blinkers and tail lights going if that works and is all i need to do - id rather it work and i know how to fix it than it break down again - but this time half way to nowhere - and still be having problems

[damien191]

also - it looks to be a 360 engine if the vin decoder tells me anything

[damien191]

yeah - that's honestly why i was considering re wiring it for the most part - but i still need to know if the basics i mentioned earlier will get the motor running - if i can get it running fine that way ill just wire up whatever else is essential and get down the road

[kerrlakeRoo]

If you really want to hodge podge it you could try pulling all fuses not directly tied to the ignition circuit, Toes may have found you a source there. Then charge or jump it and slowly one fuse at a time work through the circuits to find the ones that are compromised. I suspect as Donn mentioned Mice are the culprits, and if so you likely have a couple of circuits dragging everything down.
One simple way of finding the draw is to use your battery charger, insert a fuse, leave the item turned off so it should be drawing nothing, if the amp meter on the charger changes you have a damaged line.
It sounds like you're going to be on a mouse hunt for a while though.
Good Luck.

[toedtoes]

Regarding the balast resistor, there is an easy fix for that - basically bypassing it and using a GM ignition module. I will post a link to the instructions when I have access to my computer.

Having the wiring done professionally will be very expensive and you'll be hard pressed to find a shop willing to take it on.

Also, go to the Class C forum and look at the Dodge motorhome thread. It's huge with hundreds of pages, but a ton of great information and lots of folks who understand these old Dodges. Ask questions there, and you'll get some extremely helpful advice.

[toedtoes]

Check the VIN to find out the exact year, chassis model and engine of the MH. Here's a Vintage Dodge Van Decoder

I was able to get a wiring schematic of my 75 through the Mitchell's pro database (have a subscription through my work).

[donn0128]

Sorry for your troubles.
Sounds like some real issues. Likely mice eating the wiring. To pay someone shop rates to trace and fix all your wiring issues is going to be extremely expensive. Hope you have lots of available cash. To start with, back in those days, Dodge used a balast resistor to drop starting voltage at the distributor. They were a frequent problem spot. Had one fail in the middle of the road once. Not fun. Unless your really handy or know someone that knows how to trace wiring, I think your simply going to go too far in the hole. A 77 MH is basically worth zero dollars, except for the scrap metal.