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Old 07-02-2021, 09:32 PM   #1
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1980 Dodge MB4

Good evening all! Me and my wonderful wife just bought a 1980 Dodge MB4 class C motorhome for me to travel to Alabama for an extended stay helping with my dad. The problem is: the front end needs a total rebuild. There isn't a mechanic shop around me that can figure out what chassis this thing is on and I can't find anyone on the net that is laying claim to a model MB4 ( and the VIN is to short for a lookup!) Does anyone know if the MB4 would be the same as the D400? or am I way off? I would post a picture with this, but it is at a shop down town at least until Tuesday.

I will add that the unit has the Sportsman package. But it also has Midas on the unit and title. The GVWR is 10,500. Not that it should matter much, the engine is a 440.

Any help at this point would be very well received! Thank you!
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Old 07-03-2021, 08:44 AM   #2
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1980 , I thought that was the first year of the 17 digit serial numbers ; I will have to check that out .
Also 440 in 1980 , I'd ordered a 440 in my 1979 truck and couldn't get one , I was informed there were no longer in production, biggest engine was the 360. .
Midas , would be the Coach builder ; Sportsman was Dodge's label indicating the high end interior trim package.
Chrysler corp . was in DEEP financial trouble back in the late 70s early 80s and had massively overproduced Class A motor home chassis , and was fined heavily for re-serial numbering one and two year old chassis and selling them as current year production . I hadn't heard of that being done on the cutaway chassis , but if you do have a 440 , you might have a late 78 early 79 chassis and the chassis wasn't delivered to Midas and built on till 80.

The " D " designation was for two wheel drive pick up trucks .

Your chassis would be B 300 and there can be some differences in the front end parts relating to axle weight rating.
Did you find any tags indicating ; front and rear axle weight ratings , as well as the GVWR?
I'll do some searching for info on the old serial numbers and post my findings .
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Old 07-03-2021, 09:18 AM   #3
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Ok some clarification , 1980 was the first year , with the year designated with a letter not a number " A " used in 1980 in the 13 digit serial number , 1981 saw the change to the 17 digit serial number.

Further info at.

http://www.classicwinnebagos.com/Pag...oder.html#1778

EDIT: OK this is the best I've found so far.

http://www.dodgetalk.com/threads/197...-system.45062/
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Old 07-03-2021, 09:32 AM   #4
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These folks might be able to give you some help Alretta Truck Parts, Inc. - Brake Parts Specialist to the World! . They got me brake parts for my 197? Dodge M400 chassis. Good luck.
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Old 07-03-2021, 01:18 PM   #5
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Thanks for the information on running the VIN, http://www.classicwinnebagos.com/Pag...oder.html#1778 done the trick! I was able to talk with an old guy this morning at a local parts store that knew what I was looking for and pointed me to Rock Auto for buying the parts.
One of the problems that I was running into was with the model (MB400), most people that I was talking with had no idea what it is because it doesn't come up on their computers. The second was the year, turns out that the frame is a 1979 and just didn't get built until 1980.
Thanks again. I'll get some pictures of the old beast posted when I have a chance!
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Old 07-03-2021, 04:47 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RayHall View Post
The second was the year, turns out that the frame is a 1979 and just didn't get built until 1980.
Must have been an early 79 chassis , when I ordered my truck with the 440 in Nov. 78 the factory order got kicked back as no engine availability .
Truck was a great unit with 360. 4 BBL , 440. 4BBL would have made it awesome .

Good luck with parts supply , and Safe Travels .
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