Greetings to the truckmeisters out there. Hoping to learn about my new truck, a '57, 3600 with a dandy little dump bed that I just learned (thanks to this website, "advanced design", oh my gosh!!!)is not a one ton like I was told when I bought it, but a 3/4 (guess I overloaded it a wee bit). Also learned that it wasn't the 283 he said it was but a 350 truck motor from the mid 70's. After upgrades to the ignition and carb, unraveling the bird's nest he called wiring, sandblasting, painting and working towards general respectability (I probably won't be using valet parking just yet) I'm at the rear end. It's geared so low it's downright abusive. At 50mph that engine is really whirlin'. The drive shaft turns 4 1/2 turns for one of the wheel. I guess this makes it a 4.57 or some such but I'm told they don't make gears for this 10 bolt, 11 inch GM (a very small market). I hauled 4000lbs and took off in 2nd, uphill no prob. Plenty of power and torque. I know I can buy an aftermkt overdrive that bolts on where the carrier bearing is situated for a mere 3k but I was hoping someone might have a more, uh, creative solution. Perhaps there's a rear end out there that might include the bonus of improved braking along with a higher gear ratio. What about two speed axles??? Are they always geared low and lower???
