I do like the point that a poorly driven stick might get worse gas mileage than an automatic.
However, I do want to be able to do most any work my truck requires. A 6 with a manual transmission seems like the simplest system. That would be worth a lot to me, and still, that setup seems like the best mpg in the stock setup. So I think a medium to large I6 with a stick is still my goal.
During mileage testing, my truck attains better mileage numbers with a T10 4 speed, but in daily service the 350 with the slipping converter was probably more efficient because it didn’t rely on driver input. The 4 speed manual is so much fun it inspires less efficient driver behavior.
If you want to learn everything about vintage trucks, a 3 speed standard can easily be rebuilt at home by a novice with a service manual. It’s very empowering being able to fix everything yourself.
