FargoMarty Posted July 13, 2015 Report Posted July 13, 2015 "Start the thread and follow your own thread. Then its easy to find when you need to come back to add to it. I think when you're going slow its even more important to keep it all together so others can refresh whats going on if needed." Quote from Young Ed in another thread. Hi all. I thought that quote above was good advice, and I've been lurking long enough, so figured I should put up some details of my builds. I'll do separate topics for each truck. I haven't put much up previously re my builds other than a few of pics in other people's threads. I'm based on the East coast of Australia. This one as far as I can tell is a 1953 Fargo, model 3-59AF, which is a 159 inch wheelbase with a 251 straight 6. Found it in a shed 7 hrs drive from home after it had been sitting for 30 years. I really wanted a smaller version but couldn't find one at the time, and this turned up at the right price so I grabbed it. Had a couple of stuck valves, took the head off and sorted them out, cleaned up the head, head back on, new plugs, leads and radiator, electric fuel pump and it runs as sweet as a nut. Haven't even touched the carby yet. I rebuilt the fuel pump and just couldn't get vacuum no matter what I tried, so I put on an electric one, which seems to do the job quite well. Currently rebuilding brakes, which are now fully reconditioned, including the master cylinder. All new lines too. I've doen a couple of little rust repairs and fixed some splits, but overall it was pretty good. It didn't have a seat when I bought it and I couldn't get hold of an original bench seat so used one out of a late model Mitsubishi delivery van. It fitted perfectly with only 4 holes drilled in the original seat base. The seat back pivots forward and the whole seat swings up, so storage behind and below will be available. My plan is to keep it as stock as I can whilst being safe, comfortable and reliable. I was originally going to set it up to be a carrier for an FC Holden sedan I'm building (for those in the US it looks like a little 55 Chev) but decided to keep it simple. I've been very fortunate that a friend who drives a truck for a living has let me keep it in his shed while I get it roadworthy. His advice and help have been invaluable. So too have many of the posts on this forum. Progress is slow, what with it being a 50 minute drive away, and rebuilding my FC and a smaller version of the big truck that I acquired last year. I'll do a separate thread for that build. Note the missing Fargo badges on the side of the bonnet. That leads to the next truck. In the shed where I found it Delivery day After a washdown The new seat Quote
Young Ed Posted July 13, 2015 Report Posted July 13, 2015 I DO like the tilt forward seat! Agreed wonder if there is a US equivalent! Quote
FargoMarty Posted November 22, 2015 Author Report Posted November 22, 2015 It lives... First drive outside in over 30 years. Hope the link works. http://vid1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/Crumpsnr/Fargo%20test%20drive_zpskt4he8hj.mp4 The drive looks fairly sedate but I felt like a milkshake in the cab. Lotta fun though! 2 Quote
FargoMarty Posted November 22, 2015 Author Report Posted November 22, 2015 Sorry, the link takes you to Photobucket so you can watch the video but I can't seem to navigate back to the forum after that and have to open a new page. There must be a better way. Happy to be shown where I went wrong. Thanks, Martyn Quote
HanksB3B Posted November 22, 2015 Report Posted November 22, 2015 Nice Ute mate (is it still called a Ute even though it's a flatbed) and it's a five window ! Nice find those Fargo Badges will show up don't worry, Welcome and Good Luck ! Hank Quote
FargoMarty Posted November 22, 2015 Author Report Posted November 22, 2015 Thans Hank! I love your daily driver. Many thanks to DesotoDav, I now have a set of the hens teeth badges, forgot to mention that. Martyn Quote
Desotodav Posted November 22, 2015 Report Posted November 22, 2015 Congratulations on getting the old truck going again Martyn. What a great feeling knowing that you have breathed life back into something that has been sitting for the past 30 years. Well done my friend! Quote
FargoMarty Posted November 25, 2015 Author Report Posted November 25, 2015 Thanks Davin, Yeah, it was a lot of fun and very satisfying. Still have a lot of work to do to get it registered but knowing i can move it by hopping in and starting it makes the end of the job seem a lot closer! Can't believe I haven't touched the carb and it now starts first time every time, even after siting for so long. Having said that, it looks like I'm gonna learn more about the gearbox than I wanted to know! Quote
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