Oldcycler, if you like shiftin'... Adelmans with sell you a low mileage aluminum Detroit Diesel 353 with an SM465 already hooked up and all the electrics out of a DUKW for about $1800. Great deal for a tractor or yard truck.
I talked with them about it for my 53 1-ton diesel project, but I think I'd need torque splitter on the front end and a gear splitter on the back end like a Gear Vendors or a US Gear in order to keep the Detroit in is power band (way too narrow) at highway speeds. Or maybe a Spicer Auxiliary Trans.
Moll, I think you are right, stick with what you got, no reason to go fussin' with a factory 4x4. However, with the mounts out of a manual trans chip truck, you could drop a Cummins 4bta in place.
