1976 Dodge Midas Motorhome
From Least to Beast

Turning a Dying Motorhome into a Fun Toy:

1976 Dodge 360ci Small-Block V8:

The old Dodge 360 small-block was on it's last leg and was being nursed for quite some time. It finally burned a hole through a piston on the way back from the desert. I was able to drive it home, even though it died in the middle of the main intersection in Ramona, CA. After turning it over quite a few times, it backfired and filled the cab with a thick black smoke that could have competed with a Civil War cannon.

When I was done, I had turned the motor into a Summit-Racing showcase. I didn't start out to do all that with the motor, but it turned out that many of the parts I needed, like new heads, were cheaper to replace using racing parts verses stock Dodge parts. And, they were better. It was a fun-running, great sounding toy when I was done.

 

Restoring the Midas Motorhome

 

Well There it is, In All It's Glory

 

Not Much to Look At

 

Hoses and Wires and Plugs - Oh My!

 

What Years of Abuse Can Do (Not Me - Bought it Used)

 

What Years of Abuse Can Do

 

Just Some More "Before" Shots

 

Just Some More "Before" Shots

 

Just Some More "Before" Shots

 

Oil Everywhere

 

Most of This Was Pumped up After the Piston Blew

 

Could Sautee an Egg in That Oil

 

Removing the Water Pump

 

Love the Smell of Rust in the Morning

 

Rust Everywhere

 

Engine is Out & On the Way to the Shop

 

I Re-lined the Inside of the Engine Cover

 

Did Some Touch-Up Painting

 

Same for the Other Side

 

Two Ignition Modules for Redundant Redundancy

 

Look Ma, a Pencil Holder

 

Back From the Shop

 

Ain't She Purty

 

Sliding it In

 

Valve Covers are Off Because We Needed the Clearance

 

Installing the Distributor

 

Installing the Water-Pump With Stainless Steel Bolts
To Eliminate Some of the Rust Issues

 

Installing the Water-Pump

 

Intake Manifold In Place

 

Intake Manifold Installed

 

Starting to Look Better

 

Painted the Main Pulley Orange, Before I Painted it Red

 

Orignial Valve Covers Keeping Everything Clean

 

Closing in on The End

 

Looking Better

 

New Fuel Pump

 

Flywheel Pulley's Still Orange

 

Now it's Red and the New Summit Racing
Aluminum Valve Covers Have Been Installed

 

More Hoses & Vents to Install

 

Aligning the Headers

 

Headers Installed

 

All New Pulleys & Goodies

 

I'm Such a Big Fan

 

Ready for the Radiator

 

Radiator Installed - Ready for the Grill

 

A Carburetor & Air Cleaner is About All That's Left

Restoring the Interior:

The old Motorhome was now running great, but the in interior was old and worn-out. I had previously beefed-up the suspension with double rear shocks and the frame had been triangulated to add rigidity for towing my big 20-foot enclosed trailer. So there was still lots of life worth salvaging.

When I was done, I had redone all the carpet and much of the interior. Some of the cusions were redone and I rearranged the seats to make more interior room at the sacrifice of a dining table and the bed it turned into. It could still sleep two adults an two child-units, so that wasn't a problem. It was more than enough for the the two of us.

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior

 

Restoring the Interior


Other Projects:

Buckheart Ranch Rail Road Cars
1928 Chevrolet Truck
1966 Yamaha YDS 250 Restoration
1972 Grumman Canoe
1975 Yamaha TX650 Restoration
1978 Corvette
1984 Honda CR 500 Restoration
1997 ATK 600
1998 Honda CR 500 Upgrades
1998 Fun Mover Motorhome Mods
2002 Yamaha Grizzly Mods
2006 Buell Ulysses Mods
2007 Harley Ultra Mods
San Diego Ibotics - Stingray Autonomous Submarine
Painting the House

 

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