Slick 60's

Pack Rat wrote:Have owner lots of Ford trucks over the years. Last slick side was my first truck and that was in the 70s. Just bought a 66 from a member here. He called the truck Ol country. It is a 240 six with a three speed floor conversion.If you keep the 303 in the floor make sure you have a quality shifter like a Hurst. That Mr. Gasket stuff sort of works but that's about all. It has been sitting for quite some time. Put a fresh battery in it and it fired right up. I drove it on the trailer and got it home. Blew a brake line in the first mile. Big big mistake with a new to you old truck, a fruit jar brake system has to be checked and maintained like your life depends on it...because it does. This includes all lines cylinders ect ect.

Here are the questions.

What gear would have come in this truck. tag is missing. 3.90 to 3.70 was most common in a 6cyl manual truck.

What mileage should i expect?10-20 with 12-17 being about right.

What transmission would be easiest? The 303 3speed top loader it already has. The toploader OD would be the easiest but you will have to move the transmission crossmember and shorten the driveshaft and maybe swap it's yoke. One thing to consider, many equate mileage with a higher rear gear or an overdrive but that is not necessarily true. These trucks were low geared for a reason. That reason is a trade off between mileage and power. That six's mileage may actually suffer from a higher gear if you work the truck or are in hilly country. It also can suffer on the highway as it has to lug more to get to speed. This is especially true with a lower hp engine like a six. The overdrive gives you an option but is it worth the trouble of changing it out? Only you can say.

I have a top loader OD a Warner t10Easiest of your transmissions. a Warner t5 and a 65 mustang top loader. Is this a 4 speed if so I want it. LOL this may be a better performance transmission but it offers no benefit in millage.

I have a new 67 Mustang master cylinder left over from another project.The mustang cylinder should work fine as well as the 67 F-100 cylinder. Remember the primary or front port is closest to the firewall, the secondary or rear is at the front of the cylinder closer to the engine. You will need to use the pedal linkage rod from the fruit jar. Double check the posts here as I may be incorrect.

Now the fruit jar can be used but the system has to be meticulously maintained. The fluid needs to be checked weekly, all questionable lines need to be replaced and the brakes need to be adjusted monthly to prevent wheel cylinder blow out. With the fruit jar you have no Parking Brake, it is an EMERGENCY brake and needs to function as such. A well maintained fruit jar is as good or better than a double cylinder system especially if maintenance is lacking or if the double system is improperly installed. If both systems are properly installed and maintained the double cylinder has the fail safe. Will it replace the single bowl? Ok, this is all for now.

64 litl un wrote:You will need to use the pedal linkage rod from the fruit jar