This is a build thread for my 1978 Dodge Sportsman Tioga II Motorhome. I have to admit that the suspension has already been done except for rear shocks. In the last couple of years I have torn the entire suspension apart and replaced all the springs and bushings. Want to know how much it costs to have new rear springs made for an old class 3 motorhome? Don't ask. They were custom made by a spring shop that does work for 18 wheelers. I have pictures somewhere I can post here when I find them. It also has a custom made Class 3 trailer hitch because I didn't want to trust hanging a cheap hitch on a trailer. We had to remove most of the tanks in the back and re-make part of the back frame in order to have the hitch done. Yes, expensive fabrication was involved. Yes, taking an 40 year old grey water tank full of......well what grey water tanks are full of, was also removed. Why throw stupid money at an obsolete motorhome. Why not?
This I want to keep an eye on.
Here are the shocks going on the back. When I am done I will have Bilsteins on all four corners.
Please carry on.
It'll make me feel better about dumping a stupid amount of money into building a camper out of a 28 year old van.
In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :
You could consider it a second home.
SnowDawg there was a leaf spring shop on the near westside of downtown "H" that could do what you're asking.....cuz I had some done myself....but in this current state of blah blah blah......I don't even know iffen their even ALIVE......I'll go to the interwebb and see what is up....late
Here is another view of the shocks. I always get my real car projects mixed up with my model car projects.
Why throw money at an obsolete motorhome. Why not?
I am not qualified to answer that.
And now to rebuild the cooling system...
A brand new Derale fan from Amazon. Mac the Aussie is here to assist.
It looks like a prop from Krull, a Science Fantasy Movie from the 1980s.
Maybe I could use it for attacking demons and protecting The Kingdom.
Meh. I will just use it to cool the radiator....
And next, the aluminum radiator from KKS....
This one has three rows of core in place of the stock Chrysler heavy duty one that only has two.
Snowdoggie said:
Oh yes. James Horner did the theme for Krull and it sounds like every Star Trek movie he ever scored. If you were wondering why the Wrath of Khan was playing in the background. Another fact totally unrelated to old Dodge Motorhomes.
preach said:
Snowdoggie said:
Snowdoggie said:
Another fact totally unrelated to old Dodge Motorhomes.
Is it though...is it?!?!
I like this thread.
I'm just getting started. Maybe after I drop the 440 crate motor in it, I can paint it all up like a Federation Shuttlecraft. Did I show you the rear sway bar that's going on it, and the front spoiler that came from a custom Dodge Van?
Cleaning everything out of the garage right now so I can look for the motorhome parts I stashed away.
In reply to Snowdoggie :
We have the same RV!!! I believed they only made 200 of them and it is very hard to find people that owns one of these. You are the second person, the other one is located in Canada. We are also rebuilding ours, but taking a break during the winter. We also have a page on Facebook under "Small Adventures in a Big World" if you want to see ours rebuild. Looking forward to see yours done!!
Ely
Meanwhile, on my workbench...
a 1/25th scale Offenhauser engine shares space with its sort of successor, a Cosworth Ford DFV.
and a McLaren Formula 1 car waits patiently for it's engine.
The Yenko Stinger is just about done.
The engine in the McLaren is installed. The transaxle is next.
