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| | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 42 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 42 | Guys,
MY '53 gmc 1/2 ton has a 350 v8 in it with a turbo 400 tranny and I THINK it has 3.73 gears. At 55mph it is running about 3000 rpms. I know an overdrive tranny is the best way to go but would a cheaper way to get the rpm's be to go to a 3.42 ratio or even lower in the rear end? I only plan on pulling a lighweight 14ft. aluminum boat behind it. I drive like an old lady and don't need a lot of power. Does anyone think this would be acceptable or should I bite the bullet and get a 700r4? I hear in the mid-80's they aren't electronic. I'm thinking that it would cost a couple of thousand to get one installed. ANy ideas? What I'd really like to know is what would YOU do?
Thanks,
Jason | | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | What rear end is in it now? It has to be different from the original because the 400 uses an open drive shaft. If it has a later center section in the original houseing it probably has 3.90 gears. You can get an after market set of 3.38 gears & put them in that rear end or get a later model rear end from a Blazer.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 431 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 431 | i'm going the 700 route with a 3.90. and if you do a 700, don't go earlier than a late '88, but preferably a '90. they were still working out the bugs, and the beefier components of the '90s and other tweeks were the solutions
it's not much, but you could simply go with taller tires | | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 42 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 42 | Sorry,
It is a late model rear end. It is likely from a '76 chevy but it was in there before I got the truck so I'm not sure. The front crossmember is from the '76, as is the motor.
The steering column and seat is from around and '89 to a '91 model. The axle width matches the front. I kind of don't want a blazer rear end because it won't match the front wheel width.
Thanks for the replies,
Jason | | |
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