The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 53 3/4 ton chevy

Just starting restoration on my 53 3/4 ton chevy. I am down to the frame and it is getting powder coated. My question for someone is what is the best solution to rear-end gearing. Would like to install more user freindly highway gears. At this point being new to all this, the only information that I have been able to find is on 1/2 tons. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Mike

If you go to the engine & driveline forum and search, you will find a lot of info. In a nutshell:

There is not a good solution. The best option is to find a rear end from a 64-72 3/4 ton with 4.10 gears. All you have to do then is swap the center section. And finding the right gears is getting tougher, no one is currently cutting any gears. Last ones were around $500 a set.

To replace the differential, the biggest problem is width, the later differentials 3.5" wider, and it's tough to get wheels that fit inside the fenders. You can swap a modern 14 bolt, with 3.73 or 3.42 gears, again, if you can get the right wheels.

I am running 4.10 gears with 7.50R16 tires (30" diameter). 60 mph is about 2600 rpm. I'm considering switching to a 700R4 automatic, which has a .73 ratio overdrive.

check for the t-5 trans swap too, even if you don't find gears the overdrive offers some relief for the low rear gears