Solving the Driveability issues on 78 Dodge

[Rodney]

I have noticed several post on the ill driving on some Clippers. Mine is no exception, in the past several years I've rebuild the front end to the extent of replacing upper and lower ball joints, installing a front sway bar and installing new tires. When I had an alignment I requested to the Tech to put as much caster in the front wheels as possible. The home was still not driving well so this time around I discovered that the steering gear worm gear was not adjusted correctly and the valve body adjustment {on top of the gear box} was also not adjusted correctly. After following the procedure as described in my service manual to adjust the box the Clipper is much, much better driving down the road.
The next thing I am to do is install a set of shocks on all 4 corners. I chose to install the Bilstein shock, the main reason was they are rated for the 9000 lb coach.
image here
The front shocks that were on the coach was a coil over type and compared to the Bilstein were not long enough and obviously no where near the size of the new ones.
after installing the left side shock and having the home setting on level ground the left side is sitting much better. I am going to have to wait for a few days to finish the project Darn it!

[John Eversoll]

Hi Rod, I have a question, I rebuilt the front end with No problem..

But"  have replaced the coils twice since rebuilding the front end..

Now I am concerned on replacing them again..."They aint Cheep>"

What do you think........ John....Here in Chiloquin,Or"

[Rodney]

Unless you have an obvious collapsed or broken spring I would leave them alone. The springs on my coach as far as I know are OEM, at this time I see no reason to replace them.
When my Clipper is sitting static there are a couple inches between the top of the tire and the fender.
She is sitting level with only 10 lbs of air in the rear bags.
I was able to install all of the shocks to find the rear were totally worn out.
I took the rig for a 10 mile test drive and to my great pleasure she drives and tracks as good as I would have ever expected. The shocks made a huge difference and took care of an awful bang when hitting a large bump, my guess is the front shocks, since being to short were bottoming in the full extension causing a severe stop to the suspension.
I am ready to take that trip south in a few day, first having surgery on my right shoulder tomorrow morning in Bend then a little recover and hit the road for a few days. I had the home at the drag strip for the weekend to have a place to hang out in between rounds, it was great to enjoy all of the interior work I've done.

[John Eversoll]

Hi Rod,

Well", the coil is broken......sigh......

Drag strip?? Where?  I be here in Chiloquin....

I am oh so wanting to try my Chevy on the track...

Havent done that  since 1975 at OCIR Orange Counnty International race way...

Any way,The rig--  I am going to replace the fridge with an

electric fridge from home depot..  Bigger than the one that came with the rig.
And we always go to the full hook up sites..
I will be fun tearing out the walls and the kitchen counter

If you ever get to Chiloquin Look me up.. John

[Rodney]

http://www.madrasdragstrip.com/
will do should be on the road in a few weeks if all goes well

[Rodney]

I had an appointment with an alignment shop yesterday in Bend, The Tech new his stuff. He first took the rig for a test drive then checked the alignment on his machine. He said everything looked great, except for the steering gear. After discussing what I had already done to the box as far as adjustment he said that is what he would have tried first. With that being done he said the steering box  gears were warn out beyond the point of adjustment. I have the box removed from the rig thinking I would be able to use a new box I already had from one of my B body projects. The reason I thought the box from the GTX would fit was some misinformation I read on another forum stating the b-body boxes would interchange. Wrong they look physically the same until you try and install the pitman arm. The sector shaft is just a .100 or so larger on the Van compared to the b-body. Well I though it was to good to be true that I had the box to finally finish the issue with the Clipper. I am getting very close tho, the new Bristien shocks were a great start next week I should have a rebuilt box installed and on the road again. The trip to bend and back was another good test drive, the driver seat relocation is absolutely great, while going straight down the road the coach is a smooth as ever as soon as I ease into a left turn it tries to turn more due to the gear box, That was the Techs biggest clue the gears in the box were warn out.

[Rodney]

New steering box installed
After a few calls on Saturday I found a rebuild gear box at the NAPA store in Bend for 135.00 exchange.
All I needed to do was remove the return line housing from the old box and install on the rebuilt one after using a razor blade to remove the thick paint that was sprayed on the thing. While I was cleaning the build up of paint from the housing are I scraped the paint from the mounting surface are which is in contact with the mounting flange on the frame. Before the box was dropped back in the coach I cleaned and inspected the mounting brackets for any cracks, rust or any damage that may need to be addressed. It all looked good so I reversed the disassemble steps.
A few good tools are needed including a quality pitman arm removing tool.
first center the sector shaft.
installed the 1/2 of the steering coupler to the shaft of the box
Drop the steering gear in from the top
while the box was loose installed the pitman arm, lock washer and nut and tightened
aligned the box to the frame and installed the 1/2 in. bolts then evenly tightened
Align and install the steering column which I removed and pulled away from the box, I left the wires hooked up but you need to remove the trans. shift indicator cable.
install the fluid lines.
at this point I set the battery in the box and after filling the pump with fluid I started and worked out the air from the system by having the front wheels off the ground and turning the wheel gently right to left a few times shut the engine off let it sit check and all fluid and repeat until all of the air is worked from the system.
The reason behind not completely buttoning up the project is "if" there were any leaks or if the rebuilt box were faulty for any reason it would be easier to remove.
Everything was good so after finishing installing the rest of the part I took the Clipper for a short test drive. "Success" it works perfectly and drives as good as it ever has.
I wanted to share this experience to all that may be having issues holding the 9000 lb rig safely on the road. It's not any fun to have to work at keeping the coach between the lines.

[John Eversoll]

Hi Bro, Sounds like you are doing the same thing as I will be doing....

But" I am styill concerned about the breakage of the coils!!!

Two in a row....  same side.. and at 177.00 that is not cheep.... But these rigs are not cheep"

Take care and if you are ever close to Chiloquin look me up!!    John

[Rodney]

Yes breaking the front spring twice is  3000 lbs on the front wheels is what my coach weighed when I ran it across the scales last week. I guess its possible to get a bad one. We need to keep a look out for a 1 ton van parts rig. I am kicking myself now for letting the parts rig I had go to the scrap yard, but I was getting nasty letters from the county for having to many parts rigs on my property.

I changed carburetor on the 440 Monday due to a flat spot just off idle, the Edelbrock I had on the engine was given to me so I don't know a lot about it other that when I got it it was filthy. I cleaned it up and checked the settings before I bolted it on and worked ok until last week when I noticed the issue. I had bought a complete 440 engine several years ago and it had a pretty good looking Rochester Q-jet, I figured why not kit this 750 and give it a try, the kit was 35.00 $ and l little time had it bolted on the Edelbrock 440 intake with no problem. I did need to install the linkage adapter from the other carb. for the kick down and throttle to align up. I am very pleased with how the Q-jet is working out, started right up and 1 1/2 turns out on the air/fuel was perfect. I do notice a little loss in power {maybe} at lower speed but it's really hard to tell. What I do notice is a very smooth running engine through out the power range to WOT. I am looking forward to getting it on the road for a long test drive south.
  Another issue I was noticing up front was an annoying noise coming from the left front wheel. I checked it a few weeks ago thinking it was a rock stuck in the caliper rotor area but didn't see anything so I put it back together. After talking with my machinist I pulled the front rotor off the rig and we set it up in his brake lathe, WOW the caliper over .040 out of true to the hub which bolts to the rotor. I though that strange since the rotor was new. The machinist said Wrong, when the rotor bolts to the hub like the 1 ton Dodge they need to be trued up. After taking off more than .040 thousandth it is now running true. I took the other side off and will have it trued up as well as new wheel bearing which I should have done when I did the brakes. All should be good finally after packing the new wheel bearings and putting the brakes back together. Well maybe

[John Eversoll]

Hi Rod, I know when I get ready to put the rig back on the road I am going to replace the entire brake

system...."Don't want to be at the side of the road fiddling with that stuff...

I got a call from Vince, "the guy that is going to put the desile in the Clipper.. Sounds interesting!!!

I am at this point a little gun shy about getting new springs....The last pair was hard for me to put out but did it anyway and when the left front broke again!!!  They would not take it back for refund..

The company "which has been in business for 43 yrs"  Said it was a not the fault of the product is was a most likely a prob with the rig it's self.........  Grumble!!!!!!!!!:(

I see that Crater lake has 1 and ahalf ft of new snow so, lets get together when the weather is Good and we can have a bbq and swap stories......John

[Rodney]

Hi John,
I wish I hadn't got rid of my parts rig it had good springs. Ira's wrecking yard may still have it, give them a call.
I'm  almost ready to head to Silver Lake just a few more things to take care of.
I think I have a set of chains for the Clipper if I can find them I may see if they fit but to worried about the weather.  I need to get a window lift gear I had ordered from Jerry's RV I may just get in on the way south and install it when I get to SLake. just need a drill or some machine bolts and or rivets.
Yesterday I cleaned and lit the stove and oven. it appears that neither the once or stove has ever been used. every thing worked and the oven got to 550 deg. I've never cooked in a propane stove wondering about any after taste of the gas? I was a thinking of Pizza! Only one way to find out I guess..
Getting the bedding and linens cleaned and ready the fridge works need propane but would like to run it dry so I can fix the full gauge which the propane guys p[ut in upside down when the "FIXED IT" new valve and seals,Arg. I didn't notice it until after I had the tank bolted back in..
Down to the little stuff.

[John Eversoll]

Hi Rod, yes, I know what you mean...  After I bought the rig I ended up going to Camping World..  The manager informed me that the rigs Propane tank was not up to code and I needed to have a presure refeif valve installed..  " Ok" Did that and never had a problem.  Till the fridge took a dump.

Will take care of that Problem after the snow melts.

Have a great time with your brother  at silver lake.

John E.

[bulldog 1995]

given the problems you've been having with broken springs, I think you might be putting in too light of a spring. I had a similar problem on a van I had. i called up Eaton Spring in Mich. and gave him the weight on each axle got a new set of springs from them and that was the last set i had to buy. just a thought.










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[John Eversoll]

Hey thanks Bulldog, think I will give it a try when I get to that end of things.

I am going to try and tackle the interior first...

Love the tips!!!!!   John

[Rodney]

for a company in Oregon we use http://www.benzspring.com/