1952 Dodge Fargo Pick Up Truck Project With Ford V8

For sale is a 1952 Fargo F-3-B fitted with a 292 Ford Y-block v8 engine. Please note this is a running but unfinished project. Read on to find out what is required to have it finished.

The Fargo was the right hand drive version of the Dodge equivalent, produced for the overseas market. You don’t see too many of these around and it would really stand out from the crowd at a show.

This particular one came from South Africa and because of this, there is next to no corrosion whatsoever. The bodywork is in excellent condition considering its age and the fact that it was probably a “working” vehicle since the 50s!

At some stage in its life, someone fitted a 292 Ford Y-Block. I have spent time in the summer getting it running sweet with no expense spared. It starts on the key and runs very well with no knocks or rattles. It revs up beautifully and I reckon it will be quite a smooth and powerful motor.

Mounted to this is a 3 speed Ford gearbox with a stick shift. I assume this setup is the same as Ford thunderbird etc. I can’t comment on its condition as I have never driven it, however it selects gears fine. The prop has been shortened and is mounted to the dodge rear axle.

The owner before me stripped all the suspension and had it powder coated, aswell as the front wings, running boards, bumper, tail gate etc. I have lists of all the other work that he did aswell which includes stuff regarding brakes and axles. Lots of money spent.

Here is a rough list of the work that I have completed:

- New Yuasa battery
- New red top facet fuel pump
- New filter king glass bowl fuel regulator
- New fuel lines
- Fuel tank professionally repaired, de-rusted and sealed with flow liner.
- New fuel sender unit
- New 4 barrel Holley 1850 carb with adapter plate to suit y-block
- New chrome air filter
- New electronic distributor from the U. S.
- New HT leads and plug caps
- New coil
- New spark plugs
- New radiator cap
- New thermostat
- New radiator hoses
- New fan switch
- New 12” electric cooling fan
- Registered and has V5 logbook.

I also removed the truck bed and all corroded areas were cut out and re-welded. This has unusually been fitted with a steel floor at some stage in its life which also required some repairs.

Whilst the bed was off, the chassis was cleaned and painted with POR15 rust proof paint. And the underneath of the bed has been painted with this also.

I tried to find a British equivalent of “dodge pontchartrain green” and in the end I settled with “Ford Canterbury green” which is fairly close. I have started painting it using a very high quality self levelling coach enamel paint made by craft master. I have applied this with a brush as it is designed to be used, however it can be thinned down and used in a spray gun if you prefer. There is enough undercoat, top coat and additives included in this sale to finish the project!

Some people may consider brush painting as a bodge, but if you take your time with the prep, you can get a lovey finish. It’s not mint or perfectly smooth by any means, but it goes on lovely and is perfect for a useable truck. Anyone can do it with a bit of practice and it saves the hassle of spraying.

I’ve told you all the pros, now hear are the cons:

- The front wheels are 15” and the rear are 16”. The stud patterns are different also. It’s possible the drums on the front are incorrect. Replace or maybe use wheel adapters to get 4 matching wheels?

- The steering is stiff and clunky. A possible steering box issue? Or perhaps when the steering/ suspension was powder coated it wasn’t greased when reassembled and has seized slightly?

- There is a wiring loom present, but it isn’t great and is mostly disconnected. It would be best to buy a universal “easy loom” and start from scratch. A clean looking alternator is present but is not wired in.

- Clutch and brake master cylinders are leaking, and clutch slave cylinder is leaking. I have removed them to measure the bore sizes. Brand new cylinders are available online and are fairly cheap.

- There’s a small coolant leak from the top of the radiator where the top hose joins it.

- Paint needs finishing

That’s most of it, viewing is strongly advised so you can get the whole picture. If you want to continue with my progress you will end up with a presentable yet usable truck that looks mint when you stand back a few metres but is not concourse. Or if you want to strip it down and start a full restoration this one would fit the bill also.

Will fit on a normal sized recovery truck. I am very open to offers as I could do with it gone fairly quick!

Any queries please get in touch