[dagnabbitt]

I have run the casting numbers on the 292 (build thread in signature, more pics there) and found that it was made on May 4, 1964. So it probably belongs with the transmission since they were made a few months apart.

Does it make any sense that an engine and trans would be cast but lie around for 3-4 years before being put into a truck? Does my theory that this truck with a weird option, common in 60-66... and which seems to have only ever existed in Oshawa-built trucks... was built with driveline parts from the previous generation, hold water? Was the Oshawa plant the repository or dumping ground for a bunch of J76 driveline parts that did not get used in the previous gen?

Hopefully someone can chime in, it has been fun researching this and I am imagining someone finding this thread in 2038 and getting their own questions answered.

Anyway, the very good news: I have all the various parts that were missing installed, and it works! Thanks, BigBird. Handbrake might be from a big truck, though: it is longer than ones I have seen in my small collection of photos. Wondering if there was a shorter one for light trucks?

Also, I finally took a look and sure enough the backing plates on the rear brakes have no holes where you could attach a parking brake cable. So this is a J76 truck, alright. The mystery of the casting dates continues, though.