The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline ring and pinion help needed

Hey guys I am looking for some one who could set up a ring and pinion in my 52 chevy panel half ton . I live in Epping ,New Hampshire. I have called 5 different local shops and none of them do that kind of work. It currently has 4.11 rear gears an only does 35 MPH ... I would like to get 3.55 set up in to it.

Faster gears will help.

Also adjust and tune your engine, 35 mph is very slow even for the stock setup.
Adjust the valves.
Set timing, for a likely good setting try 10 degrees advanced at an idle with vacuum advance disconnected. (Reconnect before driving)

You should easily and comfortably achieve 55 mph stock.

I believe your 4.11 gears should be fine. Something else is not right. Do as Grigg said. Find out why your truck is slow.

What's the highest RPM that the motor turns.

thanks guys ..I forgot to tell you I have a 1958 235 engine in my 52 panel.. it has a 3 speed on the column transmission that I assume is stock.
when I try to go faster than 35 it sounds like it is revving very high and I don't want to damage the engine as I have been told that the old inline engines can't take high rpms.
also where might on find a manual to tell me how to tune my engine like you fellas suggested?

Do you have a 1958 Truck Shop manual, and 1958 Truck Owner's Manual?

https://www.classicparts.com/1958-Shop-Manual-Chevrolet/productinfo/04-016/
https://www.classicparts.com/Owners-Manual-Chevrolet/productinfo/04-128/

Have you checked/set the points?
Do you have a vacuum gauge - to let you do a quick-and-dirty (and close to correct) adjustment of timing and carburetor?

Is you engine a car engine or a truck engine?
Have you set the valve lash/gap?

What is the code stamped into the block, in the ledge to the rear of the distributor?

The OP is now posting his question in the "Engine Forum".

Do you have 15" wheels on your panel?

I have seen this before and it was a slipping clutch, or clutch disc installed backwards

Good morning Wendell.

If you are still considering switching from 4.11 to 3.55 I'd like to pass along a couple of things.

First, I did that exact gear change in my restored '36 Chevy pickup and it was a huge improvement. I can enthusiastically recommend it. Even the stock 207 engine pulls the 3.55 gears easily, even on hills.

Second, installing a ring gear and pinion is very doable by an amateur. I did my own and I'm a geologist, not a mechanic. There are videos on exactly how to do it. The only special tool required is a dial indicator to check the "backlash" (Clearance) between the ring gear and pinion. A buddy's wife is an artist and she gave me a dab of titanium white paint to put on the gear teeth to be able to see the contact pattern.

You can do it!

This was my immediate thought on this also. It's almost the only way a truck can suddenly rev high and not go very fast. Pull up to a telephone pole and put your bumper against it with a blanket in between. Be sure to be at a bumper brace. Put it in second and slowly let clutch out. NO GAS. Should buck a little and motor should die right away.

If you don't want to do that just think about it, does the motor and speed match when starting out in first? You should be able to sense that motor reaches high RPM way faster than truck is moving from dead stop. That is a worn out clutch.

very interesting.. I was wondering about the clutch... ( sstock)

yar , thank you for your encouragement . my other issue is I do not have a place to work on it to that extent.