55 Fargo

Leaking wheel cyl on a single MC system is a cause for concern fix it. Install the new shoes too. You have shoes already worn in. Why did you start adjusting the major adjusters? Once worn in and evenly, you need only to adjust the minors as the shoes wear.

I know of a nice T& C sedan locally 4 sale if anyone is interested. New chrome, fresh interior beautiful wood and rebuilt engine.

Yes your bang on. Its all the Loogans, road traffic volume and such that can be an issue hauling trailers with vintage cars and trucks. Think the OP should be fine with his plan. Got a buddy with 56 Coupe Deville and has an old Air Stream. But car has 400 sbc turbo 400 trans out of a motor home. The car is super heavy too. I may be on the over cautious side on trailer pulling with these vehicles in stock form.

Are the shoes new? In this case set the " major adjusters" to factory positions with arrows as in service manual. Then adjust minor adjusters until drums drag slightly. Drive for several 100 miles keep adjusting the minor adjusters for better contact and pedal. This often works but takes time. Even with the " tool" if new shoes are not machine arced to the drums it takes some brake wear to have really good contact resulting in good brakes with a good pedal feel. These are not like more modern self energized bendix type brakes. So many on here dont understand this fact and right away convert to disc brakes thinking Lockheeds are junk and not good.

Looks good. BTW what types of roadways and what speeds and traffic volumes? Slower 2 lane highways and busy mean multilane expressways are a different animal.

Yup along with knowing is the big weight differences. Ive pulled big heavy trailers I know what its like. Pulling a small utility trailer is easy comparatively speaking and so is the lower level of skill as compared to big, heavy and long loads. With respect to the OPs question and intent. He needs to be aware of the limitations of his intended choice in Campers. Where he intends to travel with it, the rules regulations that will.need to be addressed in order to facilitate this idea. Driving these old cars and trucks can be a challenge alone on certain roadways, conditions and terrain, without adding a trailer. This is not 1950, heck its nothing like 1980 on these highways in so many locales. Its not just a simple matter of getting a hitch and trailer and off you cruise into DesiLucyland...

Paul a small utility trailer is not a good sized camper trailer or a big long heavy boat. The smaller lighter teardrop trailers yes more like a big utility trailer.

I dont know how well that 48 T&C would pull a big Airstream at 70 mph plus on the freeway these days. I agree but with today's roadways and traffic there are several considerations and regulations too. Hauling a big long heavy loaded modern day camper would be an experience with a 40s Mopar..

Diff and trans no problem. Is yours a 3.54?

Beautiful set-up. While it's an adventure it would be wise to know all the limitations of doing so. Safety, reliability first.

Well this is a topic that can get pros and cons 4 sure. The car will pull it, but making sure you can stop well is huge. Trailer brakes, CAR BRAKES must be in great shape and disc with a dual MC even better or a prerequisite. Pulling a light trailer on smaller highways sure, high speed Interstates I dunno, when and where traffic is light. California is 1 state where it might have a speed limit of 55 at night for a trailer and tow vehicles of certain weights and length. Your state may or may not be the same. I know a Gent up here who pulled a 16 ft camper across this country with a 32 Chrysler 251 T5 trans and 3.90 gears. But had stock brakes and tall skinny bias ply WW tires. Know what you are getting into beforehand.

Yes thanks to everyone for making this a great and interesting thread. I just had an idea to see who's driving what, and how they enjoy them. Please keep the pics, vids and stories coming.

Frankie, I agree , but once the veil to the next world opens, it just wont matter any more...

Nah dont need overdrive with 3.23 gearing. Sorry would not be good. 3.55 is a minimum i would go on an Overdrive. 3.73s would be great. Im at 2450 rpm at 60 mph 2700 at 70 mph perfect RPM band. Now if my goal was for cruising 70 to 80 mph then yes.

I would post this in the classified section too. It might very well be moved there too.

Yes Groucho and the Marx brothers were great. No politics please Paul as not to offend anyone.

https://youtu.be/aFX3m4BMmjw Here you guys went for about a 1/2 hour highway drive this morning.

All great cars and trucks Guys. Thanks for sharing.....

218 or 230 in it now. How does it perform?

Adam, how do you compare your new disc brakes compared to the old Lockheed drums? Now I already know Lockheed drums when adjusted well and in good working order, are damn good. On my 55 Fargo, the front drums are stock, single wheel cyl, as the rears had dual cyls. I have modern 10 inch bendix drums on the rear. My brakes are good, but could be better, might do the upgrade, as although my front brakes are not old, the drums are just over the oversize limits... 10.63 and 10.82

Sounds good to me

If and when I ever do this conversion, either kit would be okay. I would not need to have the drilling and tapping done, can do it myself...

Olddaddys you need to drill and tap for the bracket? Scarebird you dont, correct?

Oh how come....LOL Bamfordsgarage drives his open Model T when its 30 below in Edmonton. Please post a pic if you can..