MB Black Dog

In the above photos, top to bottom. My first Fargo waiting for a new engine, second is the Black Fargo also a 1950 and I will look at rebuilding her engine and finally the yellow 52 which supposedly has a running engine.

My search for a half decent engine has not yielded anything super yet, the industrial engine I found is seized and has very rusty valves, but I have found two more Fargo 1/2 ton trucks: A hideous yellow 1952 Fargo which has been kept inside and the engine is supposedly good although currently not running and a 1950 "black" Fargo she will be the organ donor, very rough but this engine is not seized so may be usable., also has a floor shift so I assume a 4 speed. This engine # is D32C 8789C if that means anything to anyone?

No problem with room and I have a well equipped farm shop. Can I leave the steering column attached to the cab and remove together? New cab mounts certainly would be a bonus.

Time to remove the engine, I have removed the doors, grill, front fenders and the three floor panels. Which is the preferred way, remove the cab or not? I think taking the cab off will be easier. The only problem I foresee is removing the steering wheel! Then I may as well remove the box which will mean I can clean up the chassis and paint that.

The truck engine has a 3 3/8 bore and the stroke appears to be 3 3/4. assuming I have a piston at BDC. All I can make out on the head is D140 over 1139403, not 100% certain on the 3 and 0. More to follow on the combine engine when I get her home which will be in a few weeks. Cheers

Thanks, she is soaking in diesel right now, surprisingly the cylinder walls rub clean with your finger, the dipstick shows clean oil so I am hoping the bottom end is good. My main concern is the valves and cam shaft. The engine is coming out this winter. Someone had removed the hood in order to take the rad, the hood had not been replaced correctly and the rain and snow had blown inside, the air cleaner was full and water sat round the spark plugs. Two spark plugs disintegrated in my fingers when I went to pull the plug leads off. The body work is really not bad.

First photo shows the tag on the donor engine. Next shows the truck engine, she was parked in the bush for 46 years and rain and snow was allowed on the engine! Then we have the neat Fargo tag on the door pillar.

Thanks for the input. My truck engine is T173 and 25.5 inches long. I will have to do some more cleaning to find any other numbers. The used engine I just looked at is IND followed by 8 digits then C, it came out of a combine, the head is 25.5 inches, at least she has sat inside. I will collect her when we can get a loader to her, the price was good. Then I have a possible transplant or just an organ donor, not sure at this point. I will also need a radiator and carb.

I have a 1950 Fargo 1/2 ton truck how do I correctly ID the engine model? I believe it is a 218 CI Flathead six, the head measures 25.5 inches long. All the pistons and valves are badly rusted / corroded in place as she was parked in the bush for the last 48 years. I may have found a replacement motor and want to be sure she is correct, thanks.