I installed new wheel bearings on all 4 corners, disc brakes up front, and finished enough welding on the cab to set out for Salina. We made the trip, all 1500 miles of it without any mechanical failures.
Notes from trip
1- The radiator is not big enough. I am going to replace the radiator. I don't care if it is made for the truck, as long as the lower hose hooks to the passenger side.
2-Fuel injection would be nice for the high altitude parts of the trip. Fuel mileage averaged at around 18.3 mpg. This was was including the parts that were around 7000 ft above sea level.
i started out with a 63, with a 223 and a 3 speed. 3.89 rear gear.
I, after my first wife died, turned this into my sanity project. i did a bunch of stuff to the rhino. i pulled the 223. yes i used ratchet straps as a lifting sling. works really well and I will do it that way from now on.
the engine is now a 300 from a 1980 f100. i like painting in the letters on the valve covers. i used one of those little bottles of scratch fixer since my art stuff was not handy.
I put the 300 in with ratchet straps too.
it still has a 3 speed, but with wide gears and a 2.70 rear.
i put the 300 in. to put a 300 in a 63 truck, you need a few things. this is what i used.
-bolt in x member for an fe motor
-1970s motor mounts
-a piece of heavy channel iron about 3 and a half feet long.
-an electric fan
-something to make duraspark work. i guess you could use a stock box. i built something to do it. use real heat sink grease on the module. that means go to radio shack.
-a computer heat sink
-a 4 pin hei module. i always ask for one from a 78 camaro.
