HoJoPo
Gear Grinder
I have a 1963 Willys Truck, a former ranch truck from the Dillon, MT area. The previous owner removed the L6-230 engine after the truck was brought to Nevada, and replaced it with a Chevy Vortec 4.3, keeping the original T-90 3 speed and transfer case.
It's a pretty good swap, just needs to have a few fitment issues ironed out... runs great after a new electric fuel pump and fresh fuel (it had been sitting in the desert for 3+ years, with only 12 miles on the rebuilt 4.3 engine.) There's a progressive four barrel Holley carb that seems to run OK. I need to replace the oversized Ford radiator he used, as it blocks the cab heater air intake.
I was considering a Saturn Overdrive conversion, but after test driving the truck and finding it to be quite quick, I checked the axle ratios. Both the rear Dana 53 (the cover looks like a 53, fill plug below axle center line) and front Dana 25 have 4.27 gears according to the tags, and it definitely drives like it has that high of a ratio (not like 4.88 or 5.38). I haven't found any information on this gearing, though it does make sense for a Montana truck of that era, and appears to be the factory installed ratio.
I have the original Montana green title, signed over for sale in 1975! It hasn't been on road since then, though it was used on the ranch until the mid 90s.
I'm going to have to do a complete rewire (previous owner wasn't a very good electrician...), dimple the firewall on the passenger side to clear the valve cover, fix the alternator wiring (it doesn't charge, parts are on the way, GM 5 wire CS-130 alternator) and the tail lights. Oh, and add some tail pipes to the mufflers, and fix the exhaust hangers....
Other than that, and some fresh tires (it has Dunlop bias-ply 7.50-16 tires from the 70s on it)... it will be street ready. I'll either go with the STA reproduction 7.50 16 tires, or some Goodyear Duratracs in 235/85R16. I will have to buy one wheel as the spare is a 15 inch rim / tire.
Only trim missing so far are the 4 wheel drive logos for the hood. Only rust throughs are in the driver's floor pan, pretty good since the rancher liked to drive it up and down the river on his ranch.
It was originally white, but the previous owner sprayed it with 1 1/2 coats (some parts one coat, some parts two coats) of canary yellow paint. I will repaint the truck international yellow as it is the correct yellow for a 1963 Willys.
The front has a "Willys" script chrome bumper, in decent (minimal surface rust) shape. The rear has a Luverne diamondplate bumper with flip over hitch... no tags, but it does look like a Luverne.
It's a pretty good swap, just needs to have a few fitment issues ironed out... runs great after a new electric fuel pump and fresh fuel (it had been sitting in the desert for 3+ years, with only 12 miles on the rebuilt 4.3 engine.) There's a progressive four barrel Holley carb that seems to run OK. I need to replace the oversized Ford radiator he used, as it blocks the cab heater air intake.
I was considering a Saturn Overdrive conversion, but after test driving the truck and finding it to be quite quick, I checked the axle ratios. Both the rear Dana 53 (the cover looks like a 53, fill plug below axle center line) and front Dana 25 have 4.27 gears according to the tags, and it definitely drives like it has that high of a ratio (not like 4.88 or 5.38). I haven't found any information on this gearing, though it does make sense for a Montana truck of that era, and appears to be the factory installed ratio.
I have the original Montana green title, signed over for sale in 1975! It hasn't been on road since then, though it was used on the ranch until the mid 90s.
I'm going to have to do a complete rewire (previous owner wasn't a very good electrician...), dimple the firewall on the passenger side to clear the valve cover, fix the alternator wiring (it doesn't charge, parts are on the way, GM 5 wire CS-130 alternator) and the tail lights. Oh, and add some tail pipes to the mufflers, and fix the exhaust hangers....
Other than that, and some fresh tires (it has Dunlop bias-ply 7.50-16 tires from the 70s on it)... it will be street ready. I'll either go with the STA reproduction 7.50 16 tires, or some Goodyear Duratracs in 235/85R16. I will have to buy one wheel as the spare is a 15 inch rim / tire.
Only trim missing so far are the 4 wheel drive logos for the hood. Only rust throughs are in the driver's floor pan, pretty good since the rancher liked to drive it up and down the river on his ranch.
It was originally white, but the previous owner sprayed it with 1 1/2 coats (some parts one coat, some parts two coats) of canary yellow paint. I will repaint the truck international yellow as it is the correct yellow for a 1963 Willys.
The front has a "Willys" script chrome bumper, in decent (minimal surface rust) shape. The rear has a Luverne diamondplate bumper with flip over hitch... no tags, but it does look like a Luverne.
