[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by GeorgeWiseman

In the 70's I totally rebuilt a 1963 Ford pickup, using a 361 ci engine (this is the industrial version of the 360), with a Motorcraft 2150 carb, 4 speed manual transmission and 2:1 differential (obviously from some car because it had ball bearings, not roller bearings like a truck rear end and the rear wheels tracked inside the front wheels) This was my first vehicle, assembled from components at hand (I lived on a ranch).

This configuration accidentally (I didn't know what I was doing then) achieved 32 mpg at 45 mph (27 mpg at 70 mph). This was using stock components, no fuel saving technology. The truck had plenty of power, could go from 50 mph to 80+ mph in a couple of seconds. After I twisted the speedometer cable off three times (The gauge only went to 110 mph) I just drove using a tachometer. I've got lots of stories of my travels in that truck.

Was that the transmission that came with the truck? Do you have any recollection of what that axle came from?