I went with a set of 4:11 gears in my 53 3/4 ton, not sure if that swaps back to the '42 or not. This was a bolt-in deal, lots of sweat but it all bolted up and now I can cruise at 'near' highway speed, ok not interstate speed but without a line of cars with horns blaring. Found the gears with a wanted ad here on the Stovebolt site, from a late 60s 3/4, 4:11s are a huge improvement over the 4:56s.
Best of luck.
Jim
