Geekay

Thanks. This I have not done so will do. Constellation is a great aircraft. Only seen one on the ground though. When I was in the states years ago I visited the Howard Hughes Spruce Goose...that was amazing. Massive. Not many comforts inside though.

Thanks 4mula. Will do. I have changed the oil twice already. First time was a bit dirty but currently it looks okay. I had removed the sump and cleaned it and the oil pick up thoroughly. MMO..never seen it in Oz and bought mine from USA. How long has it been around? Garry

Cylinder compression. Making steady progress towards getting the Fargo to roadworthy in regards to mechanicals. Peter came over and we did the first compression test, which, at first glance, were probably quite good. Considering the van sat outside at a farm for 34 years. Starting from the front of the motor the results were: 115, 115, 115, 98, 102, 100. There is some tappet noise, but perhaps this is "normal". I haven't driven it very far yet, just about half a mile at a time, and otherwise just idling, and hardly smokes at all now once warmed up. So the engine has not really had a decent work out yet. I did get some Marvellous Mystery Oil and applied this to the fuel. I see this can be applied to the engine oil too but not sure about the wisdom of this? Comments? I wasn't intending to do any work on the motor internals until I can give it a decent run. Then do another compression test and see what the result is. What do you think?

Thanks Ed. Yeah, he said it had a removable bulb, not a sealed beam.

My Brother-in-law Pete (the Ford guy who found me my Fargo Suburban) has a mate who has a Fargo tray truck and needs a headlight lens. Now Pete is a neo "Luddite" i.e. he does not own a computer or have an email. His mobile phone is so old it does not have a camera...yet he runs his Metal Fabrication business (mainly deals with farmers, so I guess it does not matter). He likes to find parts the old fashioned way by walking for miles around swap meets. So, he has given me a drawing of the other lens. See attached. "Your mission, should you choose to accept it"..................is identify this headlight i.e. what model/s, so I can see if I can find one on line to but for him. He reckons it is a 1940's Fargo tray truck. The glass lens has a pattern on it (see sketch). He reckons it is 275 mm in diameter, with a chrome ring around it. All that is left on the headlight is the metal cone housing, and the bracket where it bolts onto the fender (see sketch). Also attached is a photo of a Fargo truck that sounds like the one Pete described to me.

Clip fitted...fiddly bloody thing. Carby restored with new bits from Mikes, and carby back on. Fargo running beautifully again (I am a glass half full guy). Went for a drive around the court and no fuel leaks anywhere. Thanks from Down Under.

Just amazing

Thanks guys from Oz. I bought a carby kit from Mikes Carby Parts in US which has an array of replacement parts and arrived in 2 weeks. Great service. This should get the Fargo running smoothly again.

Does anyone have a pic of how the wire clip on the float pivot fits on to secure the float. It is a bent horse shoe shape.

Having read quite a few recommendations I have bought some Marvel mystery Oil. Could not find it in Oz so bought it on line from US. When a went to use it I discovered the bottle has no instructions on how to use it. Just says " Add to gas and oil". No where on the bottle does it say what dilution e.g one bottle of 16 fl oz to 10 gallons or similar. Surely I do not pout it neat down each cylinder? I assumed a bottle goes into a full tank but how many gallons in a "usual" full tank? And Oil? Why would you add it to oil? Is that US for Diesel? The bottle has written on the front "Vea Atras Para Espanol". Why is there Spanish on the bottle? Is that where it is now made or are there a lot of Spanish only speaking Americans that use it?

My aussie 1953 Fargo van with 251 motor has a crank handle etc. It is handy when just needing to rotate cam shaft etc. Never actually tried to start the Fargo by hand though.

Thanks everyone. At least now I have some ideas on how to approach it. I have another "spare" door which has a similar dent as well, so between the 2 of them, I should be able to get one that is reasonable.

Thanks for those videos 48D. They will be helpful when I start to do some work on the chassis.

I wouldn't be laughing, it is a great looking truck. One day I hope to be be driving down the road too. At least you have the knowledge to find and fix the problem.

Thanks, as always, you are my best source of advice. So do "panel beaters" have door skins of the correct thickness for dodge doors?

Hi all panel beaters out there around the world. My Fargo's passenger door has the common dent caused probably by reversing with the door open, resulting in the door being "opened" too far and putting a massive crease inwards. How is this fixed (assuming it is possible)? There is not enough room inside the door to swing a dolly or hammer. I assume it needs to be pushed out from the inside, by either some form of expanding small car jack or perhaps even inflating something e.g. football. Presumably professional panel beaters, assuming they still exist, have a way of dealing with this as it must be a common damage. Probably whatever method will involve heating the door skin too? Maybe drill a small hole in the skin, slip in puller (maybe a slide hammer) and pull it out, then fill hole? Or, is it possible to buy door skins? Any suggestions welcome.

Is it advisable to use a modern manufactured "coolant" in my 1953 Dodge 6 cooling system? Or, just use 'tap" water or distilled water? Our town tap water here is highly treated and has fluoride in it..does that matter?

Does my aussie Fargo Suburban Van count?

Thanks for the question Weasel as I too will be interested in the answers. I have just removed the glass and mechanism from my Fargo too. Once it is cleaned up it will have to go back in. The Fargo only has a smallish square access hole in the inside door panel though, too small for the glass, which has to be rotated and lifted up out the top.

I hear you. After getting the brakes refurbished I had my first experience of driving my Fargo Suburban 1953 up the driveway (50 yards), up the court (200 yards) and back, several times. Brakes stopped the truck (gradually), but shoes still to be bedded in. Doing a U turn was interesting.....need a football ground. Aircon...just wind down windows when it is hot as fortunately no humidity here, but in winter when it get's to zero celsius or 32 d F, and no heater....that will be a challenge. Just layers of clothes including thermal underwear.

Thanks for all the great pics JB. Love the Match Motors and Van ...looks like they are setting it up for a advertisement photo as the background is "fake". However, just for an Aussie...what is the "hamb"?

On my 53 Fargo suburban the window mechanism inside the door frame is slightly rusted and not working, The glass is not "attached" to the frame inside either i.e. the glass can be slid up and down by hand. Have sprayed the mechanism with WD40 yesterday and now need to probably pull it apart to get it working properly. Would like a diagram and preferably steps of "how to" before I start undoing bolts and stuff something or am unable to put it back together. Can the glass be removed from the door? Checked the Technical Resources and did lots of word searches however no joy. Can any one help?

Another milestone day last week when I put the wheels back on and DROVE it up the driveway and up our court, turned around, and back again, using all gear sincluding reverse. The fuel pump diaphragm seems to be on its last legs, but after dismantling the fuel pump, cleaning up and drying the diaphragm, installing a new gasket in the bowl (provided to me by forum member and fellow Aussie Davin) it pumped juice, started and runs beautifully. I have since repeated the drive a few times and wife has taken a video (just need to be edited). Blue smoke from exhaust seems to be decreasing and it is running more and more smoothly. First gear is somewhat hard to "find" ...is that usual? Anyway, I am a happy chappy. Have begun to go over electrics and surprisingly everything is working: headlights, tail light, interior light, instrument back light, amp meter. The generator also is "generating"..just not sure yet how well (i.e. with motor going I disconnected battery and motor kept running). The horn...well, what a piece of complicated "system" the steering wheel horn "button" and bits are. Have had to solder up the brass ring under the button and the spring/carbon brushes and still not quite right yet. The actual horn works though..meep, meep.

Geez, has it really been nearly 12 months? Anyway, I am back on the job after having the brakes completely rebuilt, including new lines, and new bonded brake pads, all by Darren at Wodonga Brake and Clutch, who came to my house to bleed the lines and adjust the brakes. I can see why an "expert" is useful when doing the adjustments. Hooray!! Now I can put the wheels on and take it for it first powered drive for 35 years....or so I thought... Well, for some reason the fuel is not pumping again from the tank after having refurbished the fuel pump 6 months ago (or more). The engine will run if I have a temporary fuel container for above the carby, so at least that is a positive. After hoping that it was just an air leak in the line it seems the fuel pump is now not "pumping" so have taken it off (again) . Manually operating the lever I do not hear that lovely sucking sound so have opened it up inspect the diaphragm etc. It looks okay but how do you tell? So I will try to get a replacement diaphragm. I know man will be saying just get an electric one, but I want to get this "sucker" working original.

Hi tctrkca1. I also want a replacement diaphragm for the fuel pump on my 53 Fargo. Did you find one to buy? If so where? I am in Australia.