aussiebrewerinc
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Re: 1976 Dodge Sportsman Help
Argh looks like my priorities have changed on this RV. Being inexperienced and stupid driving one of these, I caught the corner of the garage and tore a nice size whole in the siding! So that will be priority 1, then the power steering. Being snowing a bunch here so hard to work on but been researching how to repair. Seems there are a few standard patterns you can purchase new siding in. Then there's the option of trying to find some at a scrap yard. Has anybody here replaced a sheet of siding one one of these things? Currently have it taped down with plastic to keep dry till the snow goes away for a few days and can work on it. Thanks for any advice.2.8KViews0likes0CommentsRe: 1976 Dodge Sportsman Help
Thanks for the advice all, was able to do some of these things and get it running. Got fresh fuel it, replaced fuel filter and oil filter, greased the chassis and managed to get it home. Unfortunately the power steering fluid is leaking so will have to look at how to fix that and then figure out how to work the inside lights etc, check plumbing. Thanks again!2.7KViews0likes0CommentsRe: 1976 Dodge Sportsman Help
DrewE wrote: aussiebrewerinco wrote: Thanks Bordercollie, ouch! It appears (or was told) that the engine is a Chrysler 440, does that make any difference? Also, is there no vin check for RV's? I tried to look it up but usual vin check sites say invalid VIN. I'm just wondering if this is all original parts or if something major has been replaced. Thanks! VINs were not standardized in format across manufacturers before 1981. It's probably just the age of the vehicle that's giving you trouble in looking it up online. RVs are vehicles and thus need VINs like any other vehicle. For motorhomes, the VIN is assigned by the chassis maker rather than the maker of the house part of the motorhome (assuming they are not the same company, which is nearly always the case). Thanks Drew, very helpful! Your response is much appreciated.2.7KViews0likes0CommentsRe: 1976 Dodge Sportsman Help
tatest wrote: aussiebrewerinco wrote: Thanks Bordercollie, ouch! It appears (or was told) that the engine is a Chrysler 440, does that make any difference? Also, is there no vin check for RV's? I tried to look it up but usual vin check sites say invalid VIN. I'm just wondering if this is all original parts or if something major has been replaced. Thanks! The VIN was not standardized until 1981. VIN check sites usually assume the standard form used later. The 440 will have the same fuel and ignition system issues as the Chrysler smallblock. From my antique and classic experience, I've learned I can't usually just shut off a car or truck to let it sit 30+ years, and expect it to start and run like it did the day it was last driven. If I'm really lucky, it might run well enough to get it back the shop to start working on it. Often, though, the project starts with a tow. There are a lot of rubber and plastic parts that degrade with age, which would normally be replaced every 5-10 years in continuous use. Just sitting, they've degraded anyway. The late '70s to mid '80s era is one of the worst because the first stages of emission control involved "lean burn" with barely usable fuel-air mixtures managed by mechanical interconnections of fuel and ignition systems, lots of hoses to sense vacuum at various points, and control vacuum servos adjusting settings for different driving conditions. All the connection hoses rot and leak, servos can leak or freeze up. Exhaust gas recirculation valves also frequently lock up or get blocked. Someone who knows the engine needs to get under the hood and check it all out, replace all those little hoses, and maybe some other parts. It is a whole lot messier than engines from the '40s and '50s, or late model engines where every thing is controlled by a computer and the sensors and servos all connected by wire. I'd much rather work on something from 1960 or earlier, than something from 1972-1990. Not familiar with the big Chrysler, but some engines from 1966 into the 80s had air injection into the exhaust manifold, some using a pump and a check/diverter valve (with a vacuum sensor), others using an aspirator valve at the manifold to pull air from the intake side (PulseAir). Chrysler may have used the reed valve system on the 440, which means there is some air plumbing to the exhaust to be checked out. Then there is the problem with the carb gumming up. But that's just part of it, because there are gaskets in the carb that have probably dried out and leak. In the fuel system, there are also a some metal pieces that can corrode when not kept wet with fuel. Fuel pumps and filters can be a problem. For example, right now we are discussing how to deal with carb leaks on a '86 El Camino that belonged to a friend who died three years ago. He had it for 22 years, drove it every week, worked on it every week. It has now been sitting three years. It started and ran well enough to back out of the garage, but gaskets have dried out and it leaks fuel from the carb. To get it ready to sell, his family will most likely replace the carb, because it doesn't cost that much more than a rebuild, and if the rebuild doesn't take care of the problem you are buying again anyway. If the motorhome has been sitting for a really long time, I would also be worried about oil seals. These parts are kept in condition by the oil splashing against them, dried out they can fail quickly. I remember a couple of cars we bought from the junkyard that started OK and ran well enough to drive to the shop, but blew oil seals on the way to the shop. An oil seal is not something you would want to replace as preventive maintenance, as the labor is non-trivial, but something you need to be aware of, so you can watch out for it and stop soon enough to avoid major engine damage. Seal problems also apply to automatic transmissions. Since these are car/truck issues, rather than RV issues, you might try connecting locally with car club, a group of people who restore and drive old cars. The knowledge and skill levels for your vintage will be higher than you can expect to find at most service shops. Most service techs today are too young to have been trained to work on something built before they were born. Thanks Tom for the informative post. It is truly appreciated! I just wish I lived closer to you!!! I do own another vintage car in Australia that was my pops, a 1967 Holden HR Wagon, I really want to get my hands dirty and figure out how these things work. But don't want to put more $ in than it is worth. I will hind your advice and update you all on progress. Can't thank you enough!2.7KViews0likes0CommentsRe: 1976 Dodge Sportsman Help
Oldme wrote: Over the years I have washed many motors with the garden hose and laundry detergent sprinkled on then scrubbed with a paint brush, before rinsing. Either let the wires dry completely or start as soon as possible to prevent condensation in the distributor cap. I never had any problems except maybe 2-3 min of rough idling. If it by chance does not start, take off the cap (do not remove all wires as it is not necessary, and wipe the inside with a dry cloth). A spray over the wiring, not a soaking, is fine. I have been doing that for over 50 years on all types of cars/trucks, etc. Thanks Oldme! It could use a good spray down all over.1.6KViews0likes0CommentsRe: 1976 Dodge Sportsman Help
Thanks Bordercollie, ouch! It appears (or was told) that the engine is a Chrysler 440, does that make any difference? Also, is there no vin check for RV's? I tried to look it up but usual vin check sites say invalid VIN. I'm just wondering if this is all original parts or if something major has been replaced. Thanks!1.1KViews0likes0Comments1976 Dodge Sportsman Help
Hello All, I came across an old post with oldtrucker63 and Lo Lo and I hope they or someone else that can help is still around. Here's the situation, yesterday I bought a 1976 Dodge Sportsman motorhome at auction that has very low miles (6k), upon getting it and trying to drive it home, i'd get up to about 35 mph and it would start puttering. It was described with old gas so I got some new gas and sea foam to put it in it after leaving it on the side of the road an hour from my house. It wouldn't go more than a mile or two without puttering (and popping occasionally) so I pulled it into an outdoor store and asked the manager if I could leave it there overnight. I know nothing about RV's/Motorhomes but always dreamed of owning an older classic camper but now i'm not so sure I made the right decision. I'm on the edge of thinking this thing was a good deal with low miles and a good engine and possibly being worth putting some time and $ into to get it going nicely and clean it up vs. wondering if I made the wrong decision and just bought a problem. I would love to get anybody's advice on the few things I should do to try to get it home. i.e. putting fuel stabalizer etc. in it which I have done. Any big things that I can do myself? possibly replace fuel filter, oil change, etc? Thanks so much!17KViews0likes25Comments
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