Welcome Wayne. I'm not sure what the original gearing was on a 63' 1/2 ton 4x4 but it certainly is not 2:54. That would be very, very high. It is most likely 4:56. Jack up the rear with the the trsnsfer case in N and one wheel on the ground and turn the rear wheel over twice and counting the # of turns on the driveshaft. Transmission is N also naturally. Divide x 2 and that will give you the ratio. Do a search on gear ratios and there will be a lot of info.
