I want this early FARGO I found in town...

Right on! The seats alone are worth $150 to the super stock guys that put them into an A-body like a Dart.

These vans are simple I'm discovering, that restoring them is really not that bad. And there's no interior to worry about either, unlike a car.

Corey: Congrats. Keys alone are worth $. I think it was Ran (Yahoo) who said that the aftermarket door cylinders are a little bigger and re-keying the existing cylinders can be bad news. I guess finding 4 original cylinders keyed alike can be a pain.

I saw your posts on Vannin.com regarding getting your Ford home. Any luck with that? I was thinking some ratchet straps and come-alongs would get the sucker up on the trailer for you.

Hope the dude doesn't have second thoughts before Monday.

- Larry

[i]

great deal!

Thanx Larry... what's your handle on vannin? Who's from Chicago??? I'm completely blank! I know I can find enough timing on the ford to get it up onto the trailer, and my 85 G20 Class III hitch install is almost done. So I may only face the challenge of finding room for both vans to sit and hibernate! We have two spots out back, but they're not both free right now. The Fargo will move in on Monday, then I have a week to make space for the other! I have faith the deal will close on Monday.

Sorry, didn't mean to mislead you Corey. I'm not registered over there, just a 'Guest'. Looks like a little too much drama for me at this time, but it's cool to see everyone working together and giving sound advice. Somewhat concerned though that Chicago isn't represented.

BTW - MHO is if it has a doghouse cover, it's probably a van.

I don't know what your experience with trailering is, but it's always good to refresh yourself. There's a thread I participated in (too much) at the Yahoo group. Look up some info on the internet as well. ie don't drive in overdrive, keep the tires fully inflated, trailer jack and spare, grease the bearings/hubs, grab the bottom of the steering wheel while backing up, etc. You might want to install a 5 pin connector (extra pin for back-up lights and trailer brake lock-out). Any questions, give me a shout.

- Larry

So what's the deal sasktrini? Did you get the A100?

It's funny how I know you from that other board...and now we're both here.

Fargo is the Canadian edition

sorry guys, realized I was a page behind on posting.

enbro, we'll probably meet up on a mopar forum yet again! I now own a Chev, Ford and Mopar... that's a lot of forums! Ford Six help, Slant Six help, Econoline help, A-100 help, Chevy help, van help, then there's plain old fun!

I haven't yet towed the Fargo home. Hopefully on Saturday... gotta get my car out of the parking spot... finished dealing with the mechanical gremlins, just gotta button er up, and maybe tomorrow bring the Fargo in!

Yeah, poolbutler... I'm very lucky to get a Fargo-branded A-100... much rarer than Dodges, as Dodges were also produced here as in the States, so Fargo production was much lower than the Dodge! $50 for this rare van is a laugh! But I guess I'll find out for sure who's laughing when I get it home...

Come on man, the headlight rings are worth $50 just about!

Man, I cannot believe that dude let it go for $50. I'm sure a scrapper would have towed it out of there for a few hundred. Looks like your faith served you well. I hope both your babies make it home safe and sound. I was thinking maybe a couple air matresses could float that puppy right up onto a trailer (lol).

Good luck in your endevors and welcome to the Dodge/Fargo family.

Air mattresses!!! Never thought of that!!!

The guy is a musician, and we were able to relate on that (free CD included in the purchase... I'm good, eh?) The engine had problems, but I think I'm going to go out there today and try to start it, just enough to drive it onto a trailer... not even sure that a tow truck driver would pick this up as it currently sits. Van probably wont move through that mud though.

He doesn't want to see it crushed either, so... I'm lucky I guess! Great way to get into Mopar!

I would make a palet out of 2x4s and plywood to roll your jack on, then put ome strips of plywood underneath the tires. Bring waders if you can, its gonna get messy.

I'm hoping the land owner will help me pull it out with a cement truck or front-end loader... we'll see how it goes. Wood is definitely a great idea!

Did you figure out the year of this thing? Poor old lonely Fargo, sitting in the muck...it needs a good home. Just think of all the kids that bounced around in that thing, having the time of their lives away at camp! I think you should name it the HAW VAN or Hee Haw Van or something like that!

I did figure out the last owner had a band named "Hundred Acre Woods", matching his last name "Woods", so it's not too creepy anymore... just the spiders that were living in there!

Forgot my camera, but the '68 Fargo A-100 Sportsvan looked pretty cool on the flat-deck truck! Are the door handles the wrong way? They crank up to open, but I would think they go across the door seam...


There were some big spiders under there, but hopefully they all relocated. Is this a nine-inch axle? I noticed there is no belly pan... but otherwise this van is very complete!


Pretty crusty back here.


Emptied the van out... the rear floor section looks pretty bad.


The back door on the drivers side is hanging on one hinge... the lower is gone. Makes it hard to close. There's also a couple oddly-placed pop-out windows, and I think I'd like more. I did find another A-100 in one of the salvage yards, so I'll have to save my pennies.


Check out the rear heater!


Got some Mopar tips from Reed on Vannin.com... Looking closer at the engine, the starter has been removed. I couldn't see the dizzy or spark plug wires, so I figure either it's not there, or it's on the passenger side of the block. It has a Holley 1bbl carb and a massive rad! It'll be a while before I get to do a "first run" .

The goodies that were inside... four bus seats... (oh yeah, I was sanding the Tremclad paint on my car, too.)


two buckets...


two 16" truck tires, but one has a bad bead. But check out these tall axle stands!


AND Two new 13" winter / mud tires, two new 13" All-seasons and two 14" X 6 3/4" slotted mags (tires are wrecked)!


$50 for the van (and contents, plus a free CD of the guy's band which is really good BTW), $120 for a ride on a flat deck tow truck! Saving an early from it's nasty swampy burial ground... PRICELESS!

I haven't discussed naming with the Fargo yet, but I can see it with glossy black paint featuring a bold white stripe between the main contour lines wrapping around the back doors... kinda retro, yet tough. Kinda liking the white bumpers and grille along with it. Don't know about the interior, but I'm thinking a little red to accent the black and white... Might have to wait until after the engine fires to really understand the van's personality. So, there it is!!!

Wow...you did amazing man! That van looks to be in much much better condition than we thought! And all that stuff to boot, cool.

The door handles latch horizontal, then open upwards to unlatch. At first they seem odd then you get used to it.

The rear end is a Mopar 8 3/4", the standard heavy duty Mopar rear. Probably has a high gear like 4:10 or 3:91 or something like that. Could even be a suregrip? (posi)

If I ever make it back up to get my parts van, I can help you with some parts like a door hinge, maybe a floor pan section, belly pan, starter, etc.

That pair of green front buckets looks like a pair of old Ford van seats maybe, unless they're from a school bus too?

Anyway, you did good Mopar brother!

All I can say is "WOW". Good job Corey.

I am gonna repeat everyone else by saying "looks to be in better shape than we thought". Good job dude! Gives me goose bumps just thinking another early has been saved!!! You make us proud man. I think a little round of applause is in order!!!


and maybe a high kick!!!

great save, thats an 8 3/4 axle you have there the door handles are correct and it looks like you have factory buckets in the van, not the ones you took out . id name her "swamp thing". awesome deal!!!

That's hilarious Hemi! Even though I'm a Niners fan, I never held that against the Cowboy Cheerleaders, so thanx!

"Swamp Thing"... it speaks to me! I'll have to discuss it with the van! Thanks for the advice on the configuration (doors, seats, axle)!

I was going to start calling my parts van "Swamp Beast".