Some of you will notice that the rear differential (in the exhaust pictures above in thread introduction AND below) is not OE. Dad didn't like the stock 3.90 with the smaller 235/85R15 tire/rim combination as you can imagine getting to highway speeds of 60 mph would have the 261 screaming like hell. He found a 81 Chevy 2 wheel drive diffy, slid the 6 bolt axles in and ended up with 2200 rpm at 60 mph. Still a tiny bit of a strain but far more comfortable. I don't yet know the gear ratio I have now but am thinking the 31" Coker Classics mounted on 16" rims will bring the rpm down enough to make a top speed of 65 or so more likely. Once I get the gear ratio confirmed, I use the many "calculators" on line to figure out my final rpm at 60 mph.
If someone can tell me why my pic is rolling over to be up-side-down, I'd sure like to hear about it.