Just looked at an 88 Intl 1854 crewcab, at $2200. Lots of potential with it for a tow rig/camper conversion.

There are only two problems with it.

Rear (single speed) is geared such that it maxes out at 65. How bad (read expensive) is it to swap gears (or even a salvage axle) to get where it'll push 75? He had another next to it, but 2 door and it ran up to 80mph.

Other bad thing is no A/C. Is there a cheap/possible way to a/c a truck like that? Anybody ever stick an RV unit on the roof? :)

rear end gears are easy to change if you buy the complete drop out third member. they're sort of like a huge ford 9". you should add a brownie aux. trans it will give you direct 1:1 or an overdrive. it will be fairly cheap and give you the best of both worlds as far as gearing. you can find brownies for around 500.

hook up a household window style ac unit running on a power inverter

This question comes up time and time again on the skoolie board. I have 4.56 gears and I top out at 60 mph with 42 inch tall tires. The guys with 4.11's and MT643's (lockup converter) or manuals are able to get up to 75, but the fuel mileage is atrocious at those speeds. At 60 mph I can get 8 mpg all day long without regard for load or driving conditions with the exception being that damn North Dakota wind. It's like driving into a herd of turbochargers.

The general concensus is that you will never recoup the cost of the gear swap in mileage alone unless you're REALLY lucky and score a third or complete axle on the cheap. What it really comes down to is what the time saved by going 75 versus 60 is worth to you. For me it really isn't worth it. Besides, I need all the gearing I can get with that gutless 6.6 Ford turbodiesel. Does it have air brakes or hydraulic? What style wheels does it have? What axle does it have? That kind of information can go a long ways towards finding a junkyard gem from someone.