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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Jun 2022 Posts: 25 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2022 Posts: 25 | Saw that these kits and you supposedly can get a little more speed out of these gears. Anyone done this and if so what's your thoughts on it? Plus how hard was it to swap?
Last edited by Peggy M; 06/25/2024 8:38 PM.
Ross Taylor
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,392 Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT | | Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,392 | Ross, More folks will be along soon to add their helpful info. In the meantime, check out this Tech Tip to get you going. 
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100Follow this story in the DITY Gallery"My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine"1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,400 ODSS Lawman | | ODSS Lawman Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,400 | Ross
In order to best answer your question, what are you considering installing these gears in? Having installed a few of these gears in my day I can say a 216 or 228 with these gears in hilly areas is not ideal. Its hard to believe 10 years have past since I wrote that Tech Tip, but the gears still zoom my truck along just great!
SWEET Sergeant At Arms: Old Dominion Stovebolt Society BUNS?!?!?!Where we're going, we don't need no buns.....1950 GMC 450 1951 Chevy 1/2-TonThe GreenMachineIn the Stovebolt Gallery | | | | | Joined: Mar 2023 Posts: 120 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2023 Posts: 120 | I’m currently in the middle of this very task on my 46 half ton. So far so good. I’ve just reached the reassembly phase of it.
1946 Chevy 1/2 ton "patina" pickup with a 1953 235 engine, otherwise all stock and unmolested!
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2022 Posts: 25 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2022 Posts: 25 | It's a 54 Chevy truck with 235 motor.
Ross Taylor
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,208 Moderator, Electrical Bay | | Moderator, Electrical Bay Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,208 | Hi Ross,
Not to butt in but a 235 and 3.55 rear gears generally is a good combination. I have 3.07 gears and mine works. As Sweet said hills can make me drop back to 4th, but usually I don't have to. 3.07/3.08 is the leanest edge of things I'd suggest, however. I'll explain a bit more...
If you had bought a 1960 Chevy El Camino with a 235 and a three speed with overdrive, you'd have gotten a 3.70 rear end. That's how they came from the factory. Overdrive would reduce the rear end gear by 30%, bringing it down to 2.59. It would have had smaller tires/wheels but with 3.55 you'll still be better off than that El Camino in overdrive. A big old station wagon would have given you the same rear end ratio. My final drive ratio in the pickup with a fifth gear of .86 and a rear of 3.07 is 2.64, so I'm right where the El Camino would have been...a little better, really. On the other hand if you had bought that El Camino with a 3 speed without overdrive, your rear end would have been...3.55. So in any case it will work for you. Good luck!
~ Jon
1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,955 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,955 | If your truck rear axle is a 54 it will have a 390 rear .Imformation I have heard is the 54 has a different carrier and requires a older carrier for the gears.My 54 has a older rear axle and is a Canadian model which has more alterations to make it work .Mine is still in the works | | |
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