As much as I hate spending money, I'd recommend M-series Rebuild's unit. Even though it isn't a drop in and is expensive. The others don't do anything to address the stress they add to the frame where the box mounts. Cracking has been often reported. Personally, exercise is cheaper. I run stock stee...

When it's warm, don't pull the choke out all the way. Close it quickly while cranking. All you want to do is pull a short slug of fuel to make up for no accelerator pump. If you flood it, choke in, throttle to the floor and crank. It will clear and start with a pleasant cloud of black smoke and soun...

Then you need to work on your starting procedure. Switch on Throttle pulled out a few notches Choke pulled out Step on starter and push choke in while cranking. Start every time hot or cold. (The accelerator pump is vacuum operated. Pumping the pedal does nothing when the engine isn't running. You n...

Carburetor. That is the only place it can "lose" prime.

Headlights are for driving.
Parking lights are for parking.
It's only modern era where they both are on at the same time. (1970's)

Parking lights ONLY come on when the headlight switch is on and the instrument light switch is all the way down. The headlights do NOT come on in this position. The headlights only come on if the instrument lever is off or instrument positions. Parking lights do not come on in service brake.

It can be removed insitu with some minor difficulty. You will need to know the secret curse word of the day while doing the job. It cannot be correctly installed on the vehicle. You will not be able to accurately set the backlash. If all you are doing is removing one and putting a blanking plate on,...

My 53 has the U channel. But who could tell if it is original to the truck.

There needs to be a gasket under the intake extension tube to the intake elbow and one on the upper side of the flange to seal the fording shroud. (If you have the fording kit.)

Medium thickness paper gasket. Mine was Garlok but you can't get the material anymore.

I just drive mine. I years ago abandoned any thoughts of restoration.

I made an oil system pressure charger for new engine startup. An old refrigerant container. Filled with the oil charge and pressurized with air. Connect to the oil gallery and fill the engine by running the oil through all the passages and let it drain to the pan. Then crank it up.

And I always thought removing the steering wheel was the hard part! You could try offset box wrenches.
(I had the powertrain out when I did mine.)

Well, another year has passed with constant driving, moderate maintenance and no restoration. I like this hobby! 2024 will probably end up being the year of the drivetrain replacement. Everything is built and ready for installation from radiator to rear axle assembly. Just gotta do it! Y'all have a ...

I love to be the one to say this. There are good pictures in the manuals. They may not be in the section you would think, but they will be there. (Nearly every weird detail is in them, you just have to spend time and go through them.)