Too many questions to ask and without the truck in front of you I don't think they could be answered. One big question regarding the rear end is; what springs did they use 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton, my guess is 1/2 ton.
The 4.57 gears were stock but I believe 5.14 were an option in the 3/4-ton. I wonder if his speedometer calibration is matched to the rear end, this would give an indication if the factory did this.
Back in the day, we would put the cheapest engine we could find and not worry about being original when we broke down. This looks like it was cobbled together and not by the factory.
edit note: reread your information, I kept on thinking it was a power glide and not a four speed manual transmission. I can't think of any reason the factory would go through all the trouble to install a power glide engine and put the stock truck four speed behind it.
Last edited by GMONIZ; 06/01/2014 6:08 PM. Reason: clarification
