55 Fargo

Nice chart, based on 55 mph, with my present diff gears and 27 inch tires, 55 mph is around 2200 rpm, nice and easy on engine at at that speed...

Hey all, I have a 4spd trans in the 55 fargo, behind a 251 engine. Even with 3.23 gears, 1st gear is still pretty "bull low". I am looking to acquire a trans from around a 1952 Dodge 1 ton 4 speed. Would the 1 ton 4 speed, have different gear ratios than a 1/2 ton, or would it be 1 in the same, employing suspension and rear diff gears to accomodate the heavier 1 ton trucks? Does anyone know if there were different type 4 spd synchro trans, for the late 40s and 50s Dodge trucks?....thanx

Just got off the phone with 1 large engine rebuilder, machinist has been there since 1970, they are still building engines, and even have a mopar 251 going on now. At 1 time, before 1990, they would keep 15-20 rebuilt Mopar L head 6s on the floor at all times. They were rebuilding up 20 engines daily in there prime. The other plant Prairie Reman, operated until early 90s, they were the "Chrysler Method' builders, and their house staple was the L head 6 too. he also told me about 12 years ago, that sadly they threw out many mopar flathead parts, including a 55 gal drum, full of water tubes, they did not think they would be of any demand, and many other parts were sold for wholesale or scrap. This plant was founded, and is still owned by distant relatives of my Mother, infact my mother's 2 brothers use to haul cores to this place on a regular basis.....

You just give her James, glad you can keep pace with modern traffic, that 3.55 diff, will make a big difference too, for rpm. Right on Adam, you see a lot of the Furd and Chebby crowds, have to use modern engines, those stovebolt 6s and flathead V8s, can't handle the abuse our old mopar 6s can.....LOL Hey listen, it was the Mopar L head 6, that was used in all kinds of industrial,agriculture,marine applications, anybody ever wonder why. Not that many years ago, in Winnipeg, there were 2 huge engine reman places, there staple house items were Chrysler flatheadf 6s, my 2 Uncles hauled in many a core to these places..

Yes Todd, these were of course to be at the extreme end of tolerance, and Chrysler wanted to make sure the product was up to the call of duty. I often wonder if combines, swathers, compressors, and other such heavy-duty equipment was operated at 3000+ rpm, don't think so, but do not know for sure. i have been told by a couple of older farm guys these machines were operated in the 2500 rpm range, possibly closer to the max torque curve. These machines also did not cruise down a smooth road getting an air exchange through the rad like cars and trucks. I would venture to guess these engines can handle much more, than their counterparts of the day,namely the stovebolt 6, and flathead V8.

Pekka, could not agree more, if the engine and all components are in fine form, hey "fill your boots". nobody was driving these old beast at 70 mph at sustained speeds, back in 1948, for a number of reasons i suppose, highway type and quality for 1 reason. I never tell people what to do, but everyone should verify their speedos too, with a reliable GPS, a lot of these old speedos are on the generous side too....happy motoring

You must have drums machined way out. If brake shoe clearance it the issue, then proper and correct adjustment, and arcing or some time for shoes to "wear in" would be the remedy. Your shoes would not even clear in my drums with the adjusters turned way in. But my front drums are only 10.030

Hey Merle, those crazy freeways, gotta be a blast with the truck, at least you could keep up with traffic. I prefer to stick to the slower quieter roads, I feel comfortable at 55 -60 mph, but things need some work for anything faster... Hmmm, 2071, gonna be any DinoSqueezins left.... I have driven bigger trucks built late 60s early 70s, and those felt best under 60 mph, whats the hurry with everyone anyway.....LOL

Not sure if your in Canada, or just have a canuck built car. Lots of ares in Canada you can get away with 55 mph or up here 90kmh, but if your around the bigger cities like Toronto, not so much fun perhaps on the 400,401 or QEW doing 90 kmh. Your car probably has a 218 with 3.90 rear gears, so 55 would be wise if your steering and front end are so-so. Good shocks,springs, radial tires can make a nice ride improvement...have fun motoring

Hi Mike, yes these trucks are not meant for high speeds, just thrown in a V8, with stock steering,suspension and brakes, do not think 75 +mph will feel that comfortable. I find 55 mph and probably 60 mph no problems, the 3.23 rear end helps a lot too, lowering rpm...

Robert, the temp gaugue you have plumbed on heater hose line, is it as accurate as the other? Do they give similar or identical temp readings?

Have you verifed your speedo with a reliable "GPS"? I would venture to guess, either vehicle you have can handle sustained speeds at 60 mph, especially with an engine in good condition, but you want to make sure you can steer and stop, in the blink of an eye. The Guys in parts of Canada and The USA, have huge vlumes of traffic on high speed freeways, and some in very hilly terrain. Add summer temps of 90 and over, and things can get heated up quickly too

Coolant flows from back of the head, through heater core, then exits and gets pumped back into water jacket through water pump, some have internal by-pass, some do not, it really is irrelevant. The only way water does not flow out the back off the head, is if a valve stops it, even if there is no heatercore, and is plumbed right back to the water pump, things will circulate and fairly quickly too... The by-pass, just allows this process, while t/stat is closed, until the engine temp rises, you already are aware of this, but some may not be.

Here is a ?, I have an aftermarket mechanical temp gauge in the 55 Fargo, but now have an electric sender for the stock gauge. Could I plumb this into the heter hose outlet, just before the heat control valve. The reason for this, I could keep both gauges, the factory gauge is the C-H type, and the aftermarket gives me numbers in degrees

I would have no trouble cruising at 60 mph, but need to address front end, need outer tie rod ends, alignment etc. At 45-50 mph, things are just gettin going, because of my 3.23 diff gearing. If i had 4.11 gears, would be driving no faster than 50 mph, it would be windin up quick, love the 3.23 gears...

Hey all, posted this on the car side with a few topics 5 speed trans, and driving old Mopars at higher speeds. 1 thing I have discovered is this. On my truck, tonight going down the highway, speeds from 30-45 mph, in 4th gear, with 3.23 rear gears, not much throttle response, after 50 mph lots of throttle response. At 60 mph, could go a lot faster, how fast I do not know, but would say 80 mph would not be impossible. Even with front end and steering work, that it needs, new tires, I do not think these type of trucks would be all that much fun barreling down the road at speeds over 65-70 mph. I see these units as 60 mph creatures, with stock suspension and steering, regardless what has been done gearing wise to enhance speed and lower rpm. Tim I did this 20 mile drive tonight in the dark, it was fun, outside temp, about 18, love drivin this old girl better than my 47 especially at night, 12 volt lights are still better in my books too.....

1 thing I have discovered is this. On my truck, tonight going down the highway, speeds from 30-45 mph, in 4th gear, with 3.23 rear gears, not much throttle response, after 50 mph lots of throttle response. At 60 mph, could go a lot faster, how fast I do not know, but would say 80 mph would not be impossible. Even with front end and steering work, that it needs, new tires, I do not think these type of trucks would be all that much fun barreling down the road at speeds over 65-70 mph. I see these units as 60 mph creatures, with stock suspension and steering, regardless what has been done gearing wise to enhance speed and lower rpm. Tim I did this 20 mile drive tonight in the dark, it was fun, outside temp, about 18, love drivin this old girl better than my 47 especially at night, 12 volt lights are still better in my books too.....

1 thing I have discovered is this. On my truck, tonight going down the highway, speeds from 30-45 mph, in 4th gear, with 3.23 rear gears, not much throttle response, after 50 mph lots of throttle response. At 60 mph, could go a lot faster, how fast I do not know, but would say 80 mph would not be impossible. Even with front end and steering work, that it needs, new tires, I do not think these type of trucks would be all that much fun barreling down the road at speeds over 65-70 mph. I see these units as 60 mph creatures, with stock suspension and steering, regardless what has been done gearing wise to enhance speed and lower rpm. Tim I did this 20 mile drive tonight in the dark, it was fun, outside temp, about 18, love drivin this old girl better than my 47 especially at night, 12 volt lights are still better in my books too.....

Absolutely, on a hot summers days, when engine temps get high, you could actually run heater blower motor to help dissipate engine coolant heat, if you can stand it.The heater coolant circuit is in no way independent from the main cooling system, how else would this coolant get hot, as you explain.

Being from the north, thought this was Logan and Arlington, in Winnipeg, which is atough corner in the ghettos of Winnipeg today..

Looks like a 38/39 Chev, 40 was a style change again...

Did some research, looks like the Mazda truck trans for the years 84-89, are different than what they made for the Ford rangers. The trnas case inlcudeds the bellhousing, so ain't gonna work, back to the drawing board. My current trans, can work for now, but it is rough and needs to be either rebuilt or replaced. I have 3.23 gears in the rear, so higher speeds, are not so bad....thanx all

Hi Tim, yes it is a 4 cyl, not sure possibly 84-88, but have not verified, friend tht has it never had it registered, and it was dumped off on him by a relative. You are aware I have 3.23 gears in my current diff, being the Mopar 8 1/4 diff. I was hoping that even a 20% reduction in OD, would trnasfer less rpm to this engine at 60+ Mph. As far as the shifter is concerned, should be okay, but 1 never knows till measurements are taken, I would have more room than Roberts car, I like the seat all the back for my 6ft3, length anyways. I will post more, once I get more info on this. I suppose it could be said, having the 3.23 gears in my present rear axle, I could live with a 1-1 final drive ratio, but this trans is rough, evn some teeth sheared off 1st and 3rd gears, it really needs rebuilding or replacing..

Hey, does anyone have an idea or some knowledge of the 5 speed trans that Mazda used in their B2000 pickup trucks in the late 80s. I have been offered a trans for free, but cannot get to it yet, the truck is buried in snow, will pull very soon. I have not seen it, and the owner does not have any idea if this trans is a seperate unit from the bell housing. I am going to try and make this work with my 1955 fargo truck, if possible, but will need to know something about these transmissions before I start...Thanx, and I have done some searching, but have not uncovered anything yet

Here is what I fabricated, basically forging what other's on this forum have done, it was quite simple actually. This is on my 1955 Fargo pickup, 251 engine, a remanufactured GM 1 wire alt from a local auto electric shop.