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 > Fixing up a 1979 Dodge Sportsman

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bgriffey

Wallins, KY

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Posted: 11/02/09 06:08pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I traded a 14 year old chain saw for this RV. It has been parked for 3 years and the roof started linking God knows when. I put a little gas in the tank and poured a little in the carb on Sunday the 1st. It started right up and ran pretty darn good. Today I drove it home with out any problems.







mtcamperdude

MT

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Posted: 11/02/09 06:12pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I had the same exact thing but it was a 78. we had a lot of great memories in it. I pulled my boat and even launched it in the lake with it. happy camping!


2003 Chevy 2500HD D/A, 4x4, CC, SB
2004 Laredo 29GR
1995 Lund 1950 Tyee Magnum
Reese 16K Select Series Dual Pivot w/ Slider


bgriffey

Wallins, KY

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Posted: 11/02/09 06:18pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Thanks mtcamperdude, I have a lot of water damage that needs to be fixed and the leaking roof of course needs repaired. I know nothing about RV's, I'm just getting to old to sleep in a tent. I wanted this so I could pull my ATV to a nice spot so I can camp and ride in comfort.

mtcamperdude

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Posted: 11/02/09 07:10pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I got lucky and an older guy had just restored it and put a new engine and transmission in, and it got totalled in a hail storm. My buddy owns a wrecking yard and bought it at an auction so I basically got a brand new drivetrain and interior for $1,200. The only damage was to the aluminum siding on the drivers side. Keep an eye out for the "donut" in the exhaust flange. mine leaked no matter what I seemed to do to it. If you were idling at a stop light it got a little smelly inside but it was fine when you were on the road.

bgriffey

Wallins, KY

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Posted: 11/02/09 07:54pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Thanks I'll keep a check on it.

* This post was edited 11/17/09 07:33pm by bgriffey *

tonyandkaren

pennsylvania

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Posted: 11/02/09 09:31pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

In case you haven't seen it yet - http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/14219250.cfm

Spectramac

Monroe, WA

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Posted: 11/03/09 08:08am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I hope you can fix it with less trouble than I'm having. The fiberglass around the front may have spared you a lot of work in the overhead area at least.


Malcolm


bgriffey

Wallins, KY

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Posted: 11/05/09 05:26pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

OK, I tore into the loft today to see what damage was done by the roof and roof vent leaking.


It don't look like it's going to be hard to fix. If I can figure out how to go about it without taking off the outside covering. This thing is built better then most mobile homes. 2x4's, 2x3's and 1/2" plywood between the frame and the exterior sheeting. It looks like I may have to remove the exterior sheeting to replace a small bad section.

John H

Kansas City Mo.

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Posted: 11/05/09 09:29pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Make sure you wear some sort of breathing protection. My neighbor decided to replace his soffet on a section of his house...ended up with a respiratory infection. 2 weeks later and just starting to feel better.


John H



bgriffey

Wallins, KY

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Posted: 11/06/09 06:32pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Thanks John H, funny you left that mesg., I just finished tearing out a bad cabnet section and found some mold. When I seen it I quit for the night because I didn't have a mask on. I'll start again tomorrow with a mask.

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