Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,035 Posts1,055,445 Members48,422 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 57 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 57 | Sorry for this question - I know it has been answered a thousand ways - trying to get the right rear end for my 54 3100.
Am running stock 235 w/ t 5 trans. Am trying to get 5 lug rear end ( to match the front) for crusing round town.Best milage etc. what ratio ? Curently have a later model '68 I think chev 10 bolt w/ 6 lug.It is 62 inches wide which is wider than I want.Also it's leaking etc.
Thanx
Try prayer as the first response rather than a last resort ...
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 348 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 348 | what is your first gear ratio in the trans and what is your tire size and wheel offset | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Also, what size bolt pattern do you have on the front? 5x4.5 (Ford, Chrysler, AMC), 5x4.75 (most GM Passenger), and 5x5 ('71-'98 1/2 ton GM, '89-'96 Caprice/Impala, Astro van), are the 3 most common.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 57 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 57 | John,
I do not know the ratio of 1st gear. The trans is a S 10/ Camero hybrid.Tire size is 225/60R-15 =25.5 " tall. As far as wheel offset,I can't remember - my truck is at the shop [new rims are w/ it]-not on it. I do know that 62 inches is too wide. My guess at this point is 59 to 60" width. I am running 275/70 on the rear I think they are sbout 11" wide
My rims are multi drilled for both Chev 4x4.75 as well as 5x4.5
Jack
Try prayer as the first response rather than a last resort ...
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,317 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,317 | If I remember correctly most Camaro T5's ran a 2.95 1st gear with a .63 OD. With a 26" tall rear tire this would calculate out to somewhere between a 3.42 on the short end and a 3.73+ at the upper end. A lot depends on what speed you want to cruise. I've found that with the .72 OD/28" tire/3.42 R&P that my optimum cruise speed is slighly over 70 mph. With the 235 pulling the best between 1600-2400 rpms you might want to crunch some numbers to have your normal cruise speed at about 2000-2200 rpms. Although the 3.42 works fine with the .72 I don't get max vacuum until I get into the 2200 range which is above the normal speed limit. I like this bottom calculator: http://csgnetwork.com/multirpmcalc.htmlAs for diffs....I'm running a 62" wide 88 Camaro (3rd Gen) 3.42 5 on 4-3/4 in my 54 3100 with 15X8" rims/255/70/15's with 4" of backspacing with no fender/bed rub (with rear sway bars). The 3.73 Camaros aren't as plentiful but you might find they would work out okay. Dave | | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 57 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 57 | Dave,
Thanks for your input. I have done a bunch of calculations w/ .63 & .73 being my final OD gearing. Not sure what I have. Also I listed my tire height wrong. It is 28". So I will continue to look for the correct rear end for my app. Looks like depending on my 5th gear a 3.42 3.73 3.90 & 4.10 are some of my choices. Thanks again.
Jack
Try prayer as the first response rather than a last resort ...
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 | 62 inches sounds about right on for the width. I am running 275/60R15s on my 59 1/2 ton. Fits like a glove. I guess it all depends on the wheels you are running and the offset. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats | | Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 | Pick a bolt pattern, and we can point you in a direction of available rears. However an S-10 4x4 8.5" is available in the 3.42, 3.73, or 4.10 in a nice width for the AD, and comes with a 4 3/4" pattern
The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 57 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 57 | Thanx for your response. I am trying to find out my trans gear ratio so I can figure out the right rear end/trans combo.
I have heard some discussions re/optimum crusing [55 - 70 mph] rpms. Also I want to get some idea of what rpm's some of you are running so I can work out what I need to do.
Gota get her out of the shop so I can take her to my favorite surf spot and get some sand between her toes.
Jack
Last edited by osidejack; 08/20/2009 5:25 AM.
Try prayer as the first response rather than a last resort ...
| | |
|
|
