1947 Fargo 3 ton almost home

[PatS....]

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

[randroid]

PatS,

That's beautiful! What a project! With everything appearing to be in good order, what are your immediate plans for it? Paint is obviously on the menu and I'm sure you'll cast an eye on the brake system, but, damn!

I am curious of the value of a vehicle of that sort in your neck of the woods but I don't know how to diplomatically ask the question so I shan't.

Again, congratulations!

-Randy

[PatS....]

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?

[BobT-47P15]

Nice find, Pat. Are you gonna put a wooden bed on it eventually? Could

haul all the beauty queens in a parade with that.

[knuckleharley]

Seems to me that your nephew is making out like a bandit if he gets that winch for going to get it for you.

Yeah,it would make a nice wrecker. Too bad you are so far away because I know where there is a military wrecker body and boom on a 38 Ford 2 ton truck. I have a soft spot in my head for wreckers,and was going to go get this myself,but the farmer sprayed this whole area with weed killer before I could go get it,and it just ate the body and grille.

I think if you make a wrecker out of it that you are going to regret letting that winch go. The old hand crank booms work,but they sure ain't no fun to use. Trust me on that one. I bought a old wrecker with one just to move crap around my yard with,and picking up one car with it was enough for me to put it up for sale and buy a 61 Ford F-500 with a 20 ton gear driven winch.

[Allan Faust]

Pat, love the truck... can't wait to get one of my own, however, I have a bead on a 48 hudson nearby at the moment (owner is tired of draggin it around every time he needs the space here or there....

Besides that, on another topic, are you in the city limits of Calgary? I just read an article that stated that the city put in a law to get rid of unlicensable vehicles within city limits... ie be drivable and have a plate on it, or its gone type of law.... just wondering if you heard about it.

Allan

[Don Coatney]

Pat;

Looks like a diamond in the rough. Great find, great price.

[oldmopar]

Nice truck ,too bad you could not keep the winch. Do you know what engine is in it. I have a 46 1 ton (wd21) which has the 230 but I would think that has a larger engine

Ed

[Young Ed]

Pat you gotta love these $500 trucks!

[Dennis Hemingway]

Pat you gotta love these $500 trucks!

You sure do! Even if it is a $500. Furd truck!

Dennis

[falconvan]

Wow, what a hunk of steel! I'll bet the scrap price from the bed paid for the truck. I love the front end, very classy looking.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Pat...give me a yell when you get that back stripped off and engine compartment ready for a late model Dodge Cummins diesel with all the bell and whisltes to transfer over..got a nice 463HP 440 that would sit well between the inner fenders complete with 727 automatic...lol

[PatS....]

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.

[PatS....]

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.

[PatS....]

Pat you gotta love these $500 trucks!

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.

[PatS....]

Pat you gotta love these $500 trucks!

You sure do! Even if it is a $500. Furd truck!

Dennis

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!

[Olddaddy]

Pat, a buddy of mine has three or four of those large Dodge/Fargo trucks for parts if you need anything. He's located in North Dakota, email me off forum if you want his number.

[Young Ed]

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.

Yup its the same cab. Mine are vacuum wipers. The electrics have 2 holes per side

[knuckleharley]

Tim,

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....

Pat,I have these wheels on my 61 Ford F-500 wrecker,and sold a 54 Chevy wrecker to a friend a couple of years ago that had a couple of them on the back. I suspect they all had the same bolt patter,so look for 1-1/2 to 3 ton wreckers and flatbeds in junkyards from the 50's to the 60's.

I could probably get a couple of them for you from the Chevy I sold (he only wanted the boom),but I live so far away that the shipping would kill you.

[blueskies]

Pat- Does your new truck have the coveted monster flathead six under the hood? Pete

[PatS....]

Pat- Does your new truck have the coveted monster flathead six under the hood? Pete

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?

[PatS....]

Pat, a buddy of mine has three or four of those large Dodge/Fargo trucks for parts if you need anything. He's located in North Dakota, email me off forum if you want his number.

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???

[PatS....]

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.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Did not the honking big 6 (370 something and the 413 have twin intake from the factory? That has to be some power....

[PatS....]

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.