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  1. davet571
    davet571 is offline Drives An Automatic
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    General Info
    hot rod Fargo
    1949
    Fargo
    B1B truck
    Blue
     

    This truck was an old AAA/AMA service truck. Had a beacon on it and everything.

    I decided it was time for different approach than what I had seen others do with these trucks. Using an s10 or a dakota chassis made no sense to me, as the truck already has a frame. How about we just add the components we want instead?

    The Cool Stuff!

    Engine is a 10:1 BB mopar. 400 inches. 300 to 350 real world horsepower.

    Trans is a Mopar 727
    rear end is a 67 Mopar B body 8 3/4

    Motor details.

    The 400 BB mopar is widely known as a low compression dog. Smog motors at their finest. This one measured at 7.5:1 when I tore it down.
    I got this engine for free from my Father about 16 years ago. He loved 440's and this came to him in a very rough 66 charger he was parting out for a 4 speed conversion. The 70's 400 block was obviously not original and came with mismatched head castings, etc.. Gave it to me so I'd take it away from his garage.
    I Tried to give it away 2 times. Then I built it up for a 77 shorty B100 van. The van got a pic in the readers rides in mopar action.

    So how do you get some performance out of a 7.5:1 smog 400 without spending a ton of cash? This was pre cheap stroker days, so I figured I needed to figure out a cheap way to do it.
    Little but some machining could be paid for, but not much, and not a bunch of racy parts could be bought either.

    I decided that instead of getting taller pistons, I'd make the cylinders shorter. The pistons measured .100 in the hole. I had a machine shop cut .085 off of each deck. Scratch hone, and a set of new rings and bearings.

    Then I used a set of 66 516 casting heads. These are closed chambered, vs the 70's open chamber heads. They were off of a parts motor from another, charger so they were free. I did a port match, and blend of the runners/bowls, then had a standard valve job done at head shop.

    So now with the cylinders only .015" below deck, and the heads switched from 90 cc down to 78, with a std .039(measured assembled) head gskt the compression went from 7.5 to 10:1. Compression leads to a decent cam. Got a 220 @ 50 Racer Brown. Milled a 70 383 4bbl intake to fit.
    Browsed through a parts catalog, till I found a factory pushrod that would work with the length I needed. Buick V6 of some kind.

    stock mopar Rockers/shafts, some yellow paint to piss off the purists and away we go.

    It made that old van a lot of fun to drive. Best et of 15.3 and a mph in the 85 range. Aerodynamic like a garden shed, and heavy too. 5000 pounds on the scale, with me.

    Then I built up another car. Sold the van, but kept the motor. Sold the motor a short time later too, but bought it back after a year, when I bought this. That was 5 years ago.

    I recently pulled the rockers off and made sure the lifters all turned freely in thier bores. They still do. Primed the oil pump with fresh oil and filter, and now it waits to go in the Fargo. It's gonna be sweet.

    Rear suspension is a TC! 4 link with. Using dodge van 11" brake drum set up.

    Front suspension is Aluminum cop car from a 2004 Crown victoria. All alum, with slotted and cross drilled rotors. Front suspension is 5" forward from stock

    Front wheels are 17" cop car painted with 235/55/17 p zero tires.

    Rear tires are 29 x 11 on 15X 10 steel wheel.

    Using Weld flush mount stems.

    Body is "Textured Antique" which sounds better than runs and orange peel.

    I've used heavy truck fenders to accomplish my altered wheel base on the front.

    I have narrowed up the lip on the front fenders, and widened out the rear fenders so the truck has a blended look that none of these had from the factory. Still doesn't look customised though. Just hopped up.

    Rear is mini tubbed 4" to allow for tire clearance.

    The front wrap around bumper isn't factory either. I don't even know what it's off of. It gives it a pyramid of chrome effect. The factory bumpers were painted.

    I've added modern Autometer/etc. gauges into a blank panel on the left, and have added a retro cassette player in where the gauges were. The speaker grilles are factory but usually there is only one. The second is in where the factory speedo would go.

    Speedo is electrical, no cable, and

    None yet, but engine has been proven to push a 5000 pound rig to a low 15, in the 1/4.

    This should weigh in at about 3500 pounds

    With the weight difference this should run in the high 13's.

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    Comments: 7 / Views: 2720
  1. April 17th, 2012 10:40 AM #2
    BangShiftChad
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    This thing is cool! I have never seen one before. I want one.
    "A cross thread is better than a lock washer." Earl Lanning...My Grandpa
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  2. April 17th, 2012 10:50 PM #3
    davet571
    davet571 is offline
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    Thanks man!

    Ya, I like it. I took a lot of time modifying fenders(front and rear) to give it a blended look front to rear. If you search images of 48 through 53 dodge/fargo trucks, you can see they are kinda wonky looking. I think I've corrected it somewhat.

    It's something that has bugged me about this body style....lol

    Hey, not to sound like an idiot, but how do I upload an avatar?
    Last edited by davet571; April 17th, 2012 at 10:59 PM.
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  3. April 18th, 2012 05:48 AM #4
    milner351
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    Wood headliner - LOVE IT!
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  4. April 18th, 2012 07:28 PM #5
    davet571
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    Thanks!
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  5. May 16th, 2012 12:44 PM #6
    rob_stang2000
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    are thoes dirt track tires?
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  6. May 22nd, 2012 11:53 AM #7
    davet571
    davet571 is offline
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    yes they are...lol. I've since put some BFG 295/50/15 on.

    I never thought 295/50/15 would look small, but they do after having those on.
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  7. August 7th, 2012 10:01 PM #8
    davet571
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    Hey guys. I've since driven it to the coast and back (2500 km) Fun times.
    Here is a video overview of the basic build.
    Cheers!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tgi_MUUKU4&feature=plcp
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