Hi all.
Just got interested in saving my old 76 Dodge van.
It was tricked out way back when and I have some work to do with it.
Grew up in the wrecking business, restored classic fiberglass boats, which I will be dragging around with my Van too.

Very cool, aboard

Welcome !!!!...we love pics !

Welcome welcome

Thanks guys.
I need to get more pictures taken as she was in pretty bad shape.
The good exwife let one of those costco tents beat the hell out of it so more damage now
Uh Oh...
Just looked to see how to upload pictures..
I don't use places like that to store my photos.
I run a Vbulletin board that is completey different than this one. www.classicboatclub.com and you just upload images...
I will go look again to see if I missed something..

I just sent to photobucket....Wow, not impressed at all.

Anyone know of other ways to do the photo storage?
I also went and created an avatar like it said, no more or less than 80x80, copied the link and got, wrong format..
Hard learning things when you get older than dirt, but hey, I am trying...Just like to complain as its part of old age so they tell me :-)
[img]http://[/img]

Ok, that didn't work.......Oh well, will try later.

Lets try this.

You have to save it. Get it out of the weeds and get to work.

Already did some to her.
Carb off and rebuilt, new belts, new hoses, new front drive shaft yoke, new U joints and removed all the windows for a reseal.
Good start.
Now having brake issues with her. Replaced he master cylinder but right front caliper wants to hang up, Once in a while.
That, Once in a while is always at a very bad time.

Next is new calipers, pads (even though they are still looking new from last brake job, same with new rotors), have my rotors ground, new bearings, races, seals and then bleed the system out for fresh fluid.
Should be on that during this coming week.

Hi Helmar, Welcome to the site!

That's a really fine looking Dodge you've got. I'm glad you've decided to rescue her.

The picture of the interior in your signature looks awesome! Totally classic. Whenever you have a chance, would you please post some more pictures of your interior? I absolutely love well done vintage interiors, and yours looks like it's a great one.

Is that ghost tribal striping on the sides?

You may find that it's cheaper in the long run to simply replace your rotors; new ones are only about $50 and in addition to providing you with uniform braking conditions, they'll come with the cones already pressed in. For that matter, it's pretty amazing how inexpensive brake parts actually are; I replaced everything (aside from the master cylinder & booster) front to back on mine, including the front and rear rigid and flex lines, and it was less than $200. The peace of mind is well worth it. The most expensive parts were the front flex lines and the rotors.

When you go to pick up calipers, please inspect them before you install them. I found major issues with damaged ways on rebuilds; the milled surface where the calipers slide on the adapters were frequently severely hosed. If there are any gouges or eaten out spots on the ways, get a different caliper.



When damaged, they could snag, causing accelerated wear or even pulling if they jam up badly. Believe it or not, I went through 5 or 6 at O'Rielly's before I found a 2nd good one! Some calipers were actually in hazardous condition, worse than the one above, and I pointed it out to the sales clerks rather vigorously! When they rebuild these, they basically just repaint them and slam in new rubber parts without doing any milling, so if there's any mechanical damage, it goes right along to the next sucker, er, I mean customer....

It looks like you have very same tube grille I do; mine was off of a mid 70's Dodge just like yours. I modified the daylights out of it to get it to fit inside the decorative trim on my 81 Dodge. Just this last week I finally welded stands on my radiator core supports to hold it; I'd be interested to see just how yours mount if you'd be willing to take pictures sometime.

I see you've got something else in place which I'd actually seriously considered doing - your venturi vent is mounted backwards. Does it seem to work OK like that to you? It would seem to me to be more aerodynamic overall, but the instructions and the US patent all show them pointed the other way to maximize the venturi effect.