Reading your paragraph has an easy answer. I am a fire buff. For 11 years I owned a
city fire truck. It was a 55 Peter Pirsch open cab pumper. It is powered by a 779 cid
Waukesha wet sleeve 6 driving a 1,000 gpm Hale pump. Ross cam and lever steering.
Spicer 5 speed tranny. It got 4 mpg at $1.50/gal. If I owned your Ford, I'd be proud.
Like my Pirsch, it would be equipped as it was in service. Ours was front line for 20 years
and best reserve for 15 more here in Waukesha Wisc.
Post some pictures.