Cold Starts May Be Resolved

[55 Fargo]

Hi all, without sounding like a broken record here goes.

This morning, garage temp 26 degrees, turned heat right off, it was about 7 above outside overnight, so 26 in a detached garage, not bad. I find if you put 2 warm vehicles in the garage at night, it can be 0 or colder outside, it still stays around the 30 mark overnight, the heat from the cars keeps it warm for a while.

Went to start the 47, it fired right up, was started yesterday, the only slight problem I see is this, the fast idle does not engage immediately, it takes about a minute, not sure why.

The engine, even in this cooler garage, turns over 10 times better than before, I did clean all the contacts, but replacing the solenoid seems to have made a big difference, the old ones contacts may not have been very good, the old one was from a 12 volt system I think,should that make a difference.

Yesterday after starting the car a number of times, I put the charger on the battery, it was showing just about full charge, so the charging system appears to be working, everytime before I put the charger on the battery, it would appear run down, not sure what has changed, any of you ever experience this before.

On my carb, I put the accelerator pump to the intermediate position, it was on the summer position, we are below a 1000 feet above sea level here so that should be good...................... Fred

[Rodney Bullock]

6 volt parts for a 6 volt system, I think that was your problem from the start. way to go! When I first started working on my car I used a 12 vlt relay , the car would not start at all.

[55 Fargo]

Thanx Rodney, I agree 6 volt parts for a 6 volt system, I hope my problems are resolved, still need to static time engine, to be sure.

Funny thing, I tried using a distributor from a 55 flattie, I could not get the engine to start, it even ahd brand new point rotor and cap, still would not start. I don't think the diz cares about the voltage, so not sure why it would not work. I was having a lot of trouble with the coil wire, I ended up putting an old one back on, the roberts wire would not carry current, even though i played with it quite a bit. I will never buy there wires again, bought em this summer, the outsides are already cracking...................Fred

[Young Ed]

Fred hate to tell you but 55 flatheads were still 6v. Switch happened in 56.

[55 Fargo]

Not in this one, so not sure if it was some conversion once upon a time or not. This is from a 1955 Fargo with a 251 engine, I own this engine, runs good too, going to be my hi-perf 6 engine project someday.

Ed this could have been converted eons ago, I have the starter and genny here at home, they are both 12 volt.

[Young Ed]

Maybe Canada was ahead of the US. Mopar switched in 56 here. My 55 dodge hemi car was 6v.

[bob westphal]

Interesting that the temp sending unit part number is listed as the same for

'55/'56 and changes for '57.

[55 Fargo]

1957 could have very well been a change to an electrical temp gauge. It may have been mechaincal prior to this I don't know...........Fred

[55 Fargo]

Ed, I doubt we superceded the USA on the change, this 1955 Fargo may have been altered over the years, or maybe it was a 1956 model, who knows, I bought it from a hillbilly guy way out in the sticks. I bought only the frame and drivetrain, still have it at my uncles, not sure if I should try and get a body to through back onto this frame or not. Would a Dodge body also go on this Fargo frame, should be one in the same...........Fred

[Young Ed]

I would think a dodge is the same. Should be able to get at least 54-56 bodies on that frame. Possibly other years in both directions too

[55 Fargo]

Ed, what are my chances do you of getting a cab, fornt clip, box, for my frame in the upper midwestern USA. I am seriously thinking of putting a truck together.

This particular truck, the 55 Fargo was running and on the road till about 3 to 4 years ago. the hillbilly owner had my uncle pull the body off and drop in onto an S10 frame with drivetrain. But they drove the truck to my uncles place to do this swap. I subsequently bought the frame and drivetrain, minus the body.

The 55 fargo was then taken to another bodyshop, like way out in boondock land, it was there the bodyshop caught on fire and destroyed the truck and shop of course.

If I can locate a body, I could do a nice body-off resto, which would be nice.....................Fred

[Young Ed]

I mainly follow 39-47 trucks so I don't know how often they come for sale but I would imagine you could find one. Find a nice North Dakota one. Should be pretty solid that way. Plus the nice thing with trucks is you can mix and match more. Like that box fits many many years. The fenders were used 53 into the 80s.

[55 Fargo]

Yes a westernvehicle, North Dakota Truck or Montana are often very solid, same as Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, very solid metal on old vehicles. I actually have an opprtunity to buy another 48 Chrysler Coupe in Grand Forks ND, it is a very solid car with loads of good parts for mine, but not sure I need another vehicle on my property right now............Fred