PatS....

"And so far the Canadians have been pretty obliging on supplying natural gas to us." US gov't said yesterday that it wouldn't allow imports of oil from the tar sands...second in reserves only to Saudi-Arabi...because it requires too much water to separate it from the sand. I just laughed. Talk about shootin themsleves in the foot! The technolgy for separation is changing and evolving daily.

How about a 50 Plymouth Suburban on Calgary Kijiji for $1500? http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-1950-Plymouth-Suburban-W0QQAdIdZ49829719

Thanks Bob and Tony...great info. Here is the tag from the passenger door jamb. Sure looks like FL7 to me. I'll get a better pic today that isn't cut off on the right. I left this full size for clarity...sorry to dial-ups

Bob, the tag on this one says GVW of 15,000lbs. Cab and chassis weighs about 5500 so that would be a 5 ton? Also, this truck is on its 3rd engine for sure so anyones guess what's in it. There is a number on the pad above the generator but being a rebuilt it may not mean anything. I don't have a pic yet but there is a large bar on the bottom of the axle housing welded on each side with a large turnbuckle in the middle...it's got me confused. Do they all have them and if so what would the purpose be?

Got it all cleaned out today (pics posted at the car site). Can anyone tell me if the welded in seat base on these is structural? I'm sure the stock seat would do some damage to my body so I want to put newer seats in it which would involve removing that base. Also, this truck has vacuum brakes and a two speed rear end, also vacuum. Is there such thing as a manual covering these? Is there any info that the serial number will give me? (90072558) Thanks!!! Pat

Took advantage of the shop air to clear out the plug valleys and the rest of the dirt and dust from the engine compartment. Two-speed vacuum operated rear axle is unusual in a farm truck, but the GVW on this thing is 15,000!! Also has the vacuum brakes. Does anyone know how I would determine the ratios on this thing? Odometer reads 7708.9 Are these dashes welded in? I forgot to look today. Stainless is held on with screws, but at least it's there. I'll replace these with stainless and scout around for replacements later. Productive day...I'll be in rough shape tomorrow...Doc said no work just yet, but it was fun. Next...battery, plugs, wires, cap and rotor, points, coil, oil change and see if it'll fire up. Gas tank has a drain plug and there is still gas in the filter at the carb so I'm hoping the fuel lines are OK and the debris will drain from the tank with whatever gas is in there. The engine in it is a rebuilt from '56, there is a tag for another rebuilt above the dash from '49, so that's 2 rebuilts and the original since new. I just hope the reason it was parked wasn't because they killed this one! They said it was running a couple of years ago...I hope so.

The truck is parked at a buddys Rhino Lining business untill I get a spot cleared at the house. I took advantage of the situation of having a dumpster, compressed air and a big honkin shop vac to clean the inside of the Fargo of whatever didn't look like a Fargo. Didn't find anything interesting at all but it is now clean. Behind the seat and the gass filler tube. Zero rust. The only rust I have found so far is on the lower part of the passenger door. Which prompted me to check the door bottom: Other than the remains of the weatherstripping, it's as solid as the day it was built. It also has a heater...A Model 36 Mopar Deluxe Cleaned up very well. The plywood covering the opening above the transmission was well done and is in good shape. The access panel under the seat is in great shape and rust-free.

Hi...I posted this at the car site because tha's where I visit but I thought you may be interested in my new project, a 1947 Fargo 3 ton. Follow the link below for the complete thread... http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=9257

That's beautiful, Hugh!!!!

Charlie, thanks alot...won't know until I get in to it but thats reasonably close so will be handy. When are you gonna have a disc brake kit ready for this one???

Pete, I haven't hauled out the tape measure or rod yet to check but I really doubt it. This is the pic the seller sent prior to the purchase: Note the filter bowl still full of gas and the rebuild tag peeking out from behind the plug wire loom. There is a similar tag on the dash from a 1949 rebuild. I need my other eyes but I think this one is from '56. Anyone know which filter element this takes?

Dennis, the $500 trucks are my favorite...no guilt attached! I like the unique camper on the Fourd. Good deal! Mine will be even better if it runs!

Ed, that's almost the exact twin to this truck cab except you have two windsheild wipers, I have one. Are yours electric? I have to clean the mouse remains out of mine first before I can climb in to check things out. Not much for the mice to remove in there, just the seat and it's shot big time.

So, today we pulled the rear hinge pin for the deck (it was farmer built tilt deck) and unhooked the limit chains from the front (so it wouldn't get raised too far). We strapped the deck to the truck and drove to the scrap metal yard where they were kind enough to just snatch the deck off with the huge electro-magnet. Slick as a whistle and poof, 1950 pounds gone!!! Discovered that it has a double frame from just under the cab to just ahead of the rear spring shackles. Looks factory as the rivets are exact matches to the rest of the suspension rivets. No visible frame damage, still has its paint on the frame. My nephew was very confused by the lever shocks, he couldn't figure out what they were at all, or the goofy pedal above the gas pedal. I waited to tell him to see if he could figure them out...he couldn't. I know that stuff is so outdated but it's just so unique and rare these days.

Tim, How about a 6-71 screamin Jimmy and a 13 speed along with air brakes? Or 3208 Cat? I guess i could put the cab on the 440 motorhome chassis as well, but this thing is so nice and so unique that I'm gonna leave it as is. Does anyone know if replacement 20 inch 5 bolt wheels are available? Gotta get rid of the split rims, nobody in this city will touch them. How about brake parts or even a manual? Most of it is straight forward except that it has vacuum assist brakes! That surprised me for a farm truck.

Thanks, Randy... It was advertised on the local Kijiji for $500 and I didn't bother haggling, my grin was hard to talk through My plans? No idea at this point. I'm an old trucker and I've always wanted one like this. They are still around but getting rarer and much more expensive. Usually in the $3000+ range which I can't pay. $500 I can come up with. I'm going to be able to get back at the Chrysler soon so that's the priority for now but I'm gonna try to get this running right away. Too big to be pushing! Wouldn't a 40's era wrecker look great?

Drove down to Warner Alberta today with my nephews big gooseneck trailer to pick up my "new" Fargo. Absolutely beautiful day, sunshine, no clouds, no wind, warm...perfect day for this. The ground was nice and dry, we were able to back up right in front of it, drop the ramps and winch it on after cleaning the deck of a couple thousand pounds of scrap metal! The winch whined a bit but yanked it on without a problem. I am extremely happy with this truck. it is in incredibly nice condition. The doors close with just one finger and latch securely with a reassuring click, the engine compartment looks as if it was being driven just yesterday. There is zero rust on the body beyond the usual surface rust in place of paint...solid perfect floor, excellent guages, vacuum two speed rear axle all the stainless intact, hood latches easily with the factory latches...I just found it almost perfect. Nice and clean underneath, no mud no grease buildup at all. The flatdeck is solid steel and I'm sure very heavy, so we are leaving it on the trailer and will drop it off at the scrap yard. Hopefully they can lift it off with the electromagnet. Without the 4 foot overhang it will fit nicely in the driveway. I bet the neighbors can't wait:rolleyes: I am sure that a battery is all it needs to run...and an ignition switch. Exhaust is very solid. Engine is a rebuild from a Calgary dealership, tag still on the engine. Here are a few pics including one of the huge winch and PTO chain driving it. Nephew is taking that in return for fetching it for me. As is, it weighs 5500 lbs. I'm sure the deck is 2000 lb, so losing it will be a good thing, and if scrap prices are up it will help with fuel for the trip. Chain hooked and ready to winch on the gooseneck Winch from the deck Winch from the side...chain drive off a regular farm truck PTO on a farmer built base: Fueling up and heading home... Lots of looks and thumbs up along the highway home. A fun day after a long painful winter

My ex would like that!!!

Thanks Tim, it was an older couples tow vehicle for the travel trailer. Sat in the backyard all year. Only 75,000 miles on it when I got it. The paint peeling bums me out a bit but they all did it. Even has working A/C. Other than the saga with the fuel last year that you helped with, it hasn't missed a beat.

We use them at work for communicating in the yard and pit. I have one in the pick-up. Once away from work, there is zero traffic on it and sometimes if by chance someone uses it it will startle the crap out of me:eek: Can't imagine using it the way they did in the 70's, although if you go to the highway channels it's still very popular...but the English language is rarely used, you have to know Punjabi. If I didn't need it for work it would be gone.

I thought they were wood back then...

One of our provinces (Saskatchewan) is proposing that all vehicles 1995 and older be banned from being imported into the province for resale. They're too hard on gas and emissions. This, of course, from highly paid government officials who couldn't give a rats a$$ about the lower income folks who can't afford newer cars and have to get back and forth to work. Here in Alberta, there is no emissions testing. They closed it up in 1969 when they found that 90+% of vehicles were passing. Kind of a waste of time. Because of our economy, there are very few old cars on the road. Just a billion brand new big dually one ton 4X4 crew cab trucks with one person inside:eek: and a shiney box floor that never gets used.

Try just clicking on "New Posts" at the top of the page. Gives a feeling of the old forum where everything is on one page.

1988 Dodge Ram half ton pick me up. $400 4 years ago, only some fuel system troubles. (Thanks Tim) Most people around here pay $400+ a month in payments so gas prices are still cheap to me. Trouble free in winter and if anyone hits it, I don't care.