How about some suggestions on getting 60 years of caked on grease off. I got some off but a lot of it is really tough to get off. What should I use?

As for the tranny, at this time I have the engine out and the tranmission seems to be loose from the drive shaft. I'm a beginner so I don't know too much about some of the things you mentioned above. I'm just trying to get a better visual. I'll be heading back into the garage a little later to work on it again.

Let me ask, I received a 4 speed transmission out of a 51 panel truck. Would that be able to work with this drive shaft? or should I just stick with the original 3 speed it came with?

1942 BK 1/2 Ton Pickup
1954 3800 1 Ton Pickup