Question for the guys running 3.73's with a 6cyl and manual trans

[curvedglass]

I bought my 63 last year for use as a daily driver. It has been awesome albeit with one caveat. The previous owner swapped out the original 3.73's in favor of 3.08's for highway driving. I don't do much highway driving and I average about 16.5-17.5 mpg. My problem comes when I go up steep hills. It is worse from a dead stop. I'm lucky if I can make it to 30-35 mph. On the move I need to build up speed so I don't lose momentum or slow down the traffic behind me. Engine has plenty of power. Even at highway speeds it just seems hard to keep it in the power band. 230 stock with Weber 2bbl replacement and an HEI, 3spd on the tree.

My question is for you guys running the original 3.73 rear. What is top speed on the highway and what rpm's are you seeing?

Back when I bought the weber I asked Tom over at Langdons about adding power and he recommended that I revert back to the original ratio and put in an overdrive trans as opposed to hopping up the motor.

I would like to start with changing out the gears but the trans will have to wait. I want to keep driving the truck daily and don't want the 3.73's to kill me too bad on mileage and wear at higher rpm's.