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Can I buy a new rear end gear that is of a higher ratio to my old truck will go around 65 MPH without it running so hard ??? 54' pickup original

you may want to see if a 54 sedan rear end will work from a car donor. I think they will. I also know a 55 rear end will bolt into the housing on a 52 so you should be able to do it without spending a lot for some new gears. Some more guys will most likely chip in here that has the experience but I'm sure there is a swap available. Do a search in this forum and see what you come up with or check some earlier post from a week or two ago. I know its been discussed at great lengths.

What size truck do you have?

A 3/4 or 1 ton have interchangable differential parts from 1946-1972.

In the late fifties, sixties, and seventies, they made lower ratio (taller) gears in the 3/4 tons. You can get 3.73:1 and 4.10:1 off of those trucks that were originally equipped with automatics.

Usually.

If you're a half ton, check with the various vendors and Patrick's to see if the 3.55:1 gears are still available.

I would go with a gearing swap over an axle swap because the brakes that came with your truck are going to be better than the ones on a car axle.

Are you staying stock or are you willing to modify the rear end?

I would like to keep the rear end housing the same but put new gears in. This truck is a 1/2 ton 3100 short bed....

Patrick's has the 3.55's and what used to be Chevy Duty was offering some in the 3.30 range, a 3.38 I think. Something I find amazing is that a fellow with a farm equipment repair shop near me has a 57 with an overdrive and a 3.08 rear end. This is a final drive of 2.16!! We did some repair to it and when I drove it back to his place the route had some rolling hills and I was amazed that it didn't lug down even 1mph going up the hills. The 235 in it is fresh and runs very well but I'm still surprised that it pulled so effortlessly without bucking or pinging.

I need to add one more thing--this would make a strickly driving vehicle, towing or loading would be out.

John I have a 52 1/2 ton and i put the 3.55:1 in my stock rearend and it will do 65mph easy on the highway and i got it from patricks.

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Ryan

Thanks Ryan, I will check out patricks...I'm new and never heard of Patricks but we'll find them..

Thanks!!

John just go to patricksantiquecars.com or call this number for a free catalog.
Telephone
(520) 836-1117 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday/MST)

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Ryan

You can usually find one cheaper in a salvage yard.

If you can find a torque tube style 3rd member in a salvage yard with 3.55:1 gearing, let me know where. Otherwise, you'l not only need the complete rear end, but also a transmission and a custom fit driveshaft. Plus, you'll have to do a little modification to your spring mounts and probably the shock mounts. I don't think you'll save much doing that, although you will have a lot more choices for transmissions and rear end ratios.