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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,037 Posts1,055,467 Members48,424 | | 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!
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| | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 84 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2008 Posts: 84 | Everyhing in my truck is stock. My question is can the 1 gear be modified to eliminate granny low? Im trying to make my truck a daily driver. Are you supposed to take off on 1st gear? what type of rear end can i used to hit higher speeds in the freeway(65-70)? | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | The compound low (granny gear) was for pulling heavy loads. It would enable you to start rolling without burning up your clutch. Simply start in 2nd gear and shift the same as a three speed. If your truck is heavier than a half ton I'm not aware of any way to drive over 50 to 55 and keep the original drive train other than have a custom set of gears made which would require much deeper pockets than mine.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,254 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,254 | If you get your truck rolling faster I suggest you upgrade your brakes to stop faster, too.
Look into the gear sets at Patrick's in Arizona and a disc brake upgrade from Performance Online Products.
Dennis
-there is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer-
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 164 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 164 | Hi CenCal53,
There is an outfit in Hayward California not far from you called Pete's Gear Shop. He stocks and installs the 3:55/1 rearend ring and pinion gears from Patricks in Arizona. He is going to do mine when I am ready to get it over to him. He was very helpful on the phone and if you want to remove the rearend (I am recovering from recent back surgery, so no go for me) but he will change out the ring and pinion in the carrier if you drop it off to him and you can save money on the labor. He was quite helpful. 510-537-9446. | | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 84 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2008 Posts: 84 | I appreciate all the help. Is there a direct bolt on rear end that i can used with the stock torque tube? My truck is a 53 chevy 3100 half ton | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,961 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,961 | Torque tubes only came in 4.11. A later 3.90 open shaft third member will bolt in, but you will need to modify your suspension, get an open drive shaft and find a companion flange setup for your transmission. Its hardly worth the effort unless you are having other problems with your torque tube. Just forget about 1st gear in your 4 speed. The slow reverse, you're kind of stuck with. If you have a 216, you're going to have a tough time maintaining freeway speeds and a more difficult time stopping it if you get in a panic situation. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
1954 Chevrolet 1/2 ton trucks and 1954 GMC short-bed 1/2 ton trucks came with 3.90:1 torque-tube rear ends.
If you convert to the 54 torque-tube, keep your old 53 assembly. If you ever want to install the 3.55 conversion, you will need the 53 or earlier ring-gear carrier for use in the 54 rear end (or, simply convert the 53 rear end to 3.55).
Even with the 3.55 conversion, the 1st gear in the SM420 transmission will not get much use.
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