Bought a old beast!

[dvorocks]

I just bought an old 1978 Dodge Xplorer 272. I bought it with the intentions of mounting the body on my 1990 Ford van 4x4 cab and chasis. Now that I got it home I realized the wheelbase is the same but to get it to fit I would have to extend the frame. Not sure that's the way I want to go.
The more I look at this thing the more I appreciate the design. 37 years old and I couldn't find a leak!! The inside needs a little TLC but still in great shape. I'm now thinking of getting her running nice. I'm just not sure the Dodge 440 will ever get a decent mpg. I really would like to mount the body on something . kinda make it into a flatbed slide on camper... Looking for suggestions

 

[Pntyrmvr]

Put a 1995 5.9 L Dodge Magnum motor in it with a 518 overdrive transmission. Mileage will improve.


"Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money."

 

[Martinjmpr]

I've always thought those old class B motorhomes were kind of cool. Small enough to drive like a "regular vehicle" but with all the comforts of an RV.
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As a plus, the metal bodies of vans are generally much better built than the fiberglass-over-aluminum or wood frame that you see on most class A and C RVs. Old Class A's, C's and travel trailers are often nightmares of rotted floors and leaky windows.

 

[kraven]

That's a really cool old vehicle.

I like your original plan. Extend the frame and roll with it.

Also, you might consider a conversion to 4wd for the Dodge. Everything is really well done on these, as far as the conversion. It'd be a shame to undo that just for 4wd. The big worry would be in making it top heavy and tippy around turns if it's lifted much. Other than that, it looks like a great setup to be able to drive into the middle of nowhere so you can stop, drop, and open up shop. 4wd would make it superlative.

However, if you're balking at extending the frame on the Ford, you might not be into doing a conversion.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Anyone else remember the old Pathfinder 4wd conversion vans they used to sell back in the 70's? Could do a similar-type conversion and get 4wd.

 

[calicamper]

We put a built super bee 440 in dads old 78 long bed std cab pickup. I recall with the Alaskan camper we typically saw 6-7mpg! However it towed the heavy 18ft I/O 351 ski boat like it was nothing.

I think the best part though was the 440 growling howl when you passed people doing 70mph with said Alaskan camper and boat. People would nearly pull off the shoulder to let us go by. Man than truck was fun. The 440 went on to be a local HS kids drag engine in a (not kidding here) 56 camero!!! The shame. I say...

 

[dvorocks]

I need to figure out how to upload pics on here to show how cool this thing is made. If I'm going to go through all this work I definitely want 4x and diesel. Now I just gotta figure out the best way to go about it.. My chasis seems like the easiest way to go. I would have to lengthen my chasis about 30 inches. My dad says it's a piece of cake.. I'm not so confident!!