rear end question

[thebox]

Can't decide if i want to stay with my 6 lug 3.73 rear end or put in the 5 lug 2.73 rear end that i just picked up from the donor truck that i got the front end out of for my disc brake conversion. I am running a 283 with a th350 and this is my daily driver so best milage with still being able to have decent acceleration is my goal. Also were can i get 1 1/4 six lug disks for an 80 if i keep my 6 lug rear end.

[leftcoast66]

Originally Posted by thebox

Can't decide if i want to stay with my 6 lug 3.73 rear end or put in the 5 lug 2.73 rear end that i just picked up from the donor truck that i got the front end out of for my disc brake conversion. I am running a 283 with a th350 and this is my daily driver so best milage with still being able to have decent acceleration is my goal. Also were can i get 1 1/4 six lug disks for an 80 if i keep my 6 lug rear end.

I'd sit down w/ the numbers and crunch them out. That's a huge difference jumping from a 4 series to a 3 series like that. Definitely depends on final gear ratio of the th350. I don't remember what the final gear ratio of it is offhand, but I believe its 1:1 so therefore you'll struggle w/ the 2.73 acceleration wise pretty bad.

[BRASSHEAD]

If you like low end torque for getting out in front of on coming traffic than leave the 3:73 in. I know because I have a 3:00 gear with a big block and it sucks in town. You may also get worse fuel mileage 2:73 in town with stop and go driving.

[thebox]

Thanks for input guys i am think i am going to stick with the rear end i have and find some 6 lug rotors for up front and eventually put in a 700r4 tranny. Now i need to track down some 3" drop springs for the 80 front end. Planning on raising the crossmember 3" and using 3" springs and then bag the rear. I drive it daily and do not want to deal with alignment issues all the time and still keep a comfortable low ride.

[4dranch]

Is the truck your talking about your avatar? if so could you post some pictures of it. looks like a sweet ride.

[502tripower]

Originally Posted by thebox

Thanks for input guys i am think i am going to stick with the rear end i have and find some 6 lug rotors for up front and eventually put in a 700r4 tranny. Now i need to track down some 3" drop springs for the 80 front end. Planning on raising the crossmember 3" and using 3" springs and then bag the rear. I drive it daily and do not want to deal with alignment issues all the time and still keep a comfortable low ride.

If you do go with the 700r or 4L60 trany you are going to want the 3:73's. Also I have new set of front 3" springs from CPP.

[thebox]

hopefully these pics load. I can't wait to get the suspension done, the ride quality isn't the best right now. Has some cancer spots to be taken care of and changing the hood out to a newer one. I will post pics while doing the conversion and rear end.

[protrash64]

I would stay w/ the 373 in the rear. I had a blazer w/ 308 and 350/350 combo and it was a dog. I rebuilt the rear w/ 373's and it was much improved drivability.

[apachedaddy]

you also may want to keep in mind on your rim/tire size. if later you go to a taller rim/tire combo the lower gear wont seem so low. lol

[4dranch]

Thanks for the pictures, really nice truck..

[thebox]

I will most likely stay with the same rim and time size just eventually get more white on those tires.

502tripower i pm'ed you about the springs.

[62ChevyStep]

I went with a 3.73 12 bolt w/ a 700r4, drives great! with the OD right at 2100 RPM at 70MPH.

[Oregoon]

So, I have a '66 Suburban, with the original 17.5 wheels wrapped in 8-17.5 bias-ply retreads. A *****in' mix to be sure, but not the cool wide-white radials on 15-inch steelies I have in mind, and certainly not that streetable here in Oregon, where it pisses rain nine months a year.

They're about 31" tall, and hold 60 psi. And given the fact my original State of California Service Identification says I have a factory-posi rear end, they're gonna be downright sketchy.

When you throw in my stock 292, SM420, and 4:11s, my rig tops out around 60 mph. It'll go faster, but there's a Chevy decal on the speedo admonishing one to not sustain speeds any greater, and for good reason. Obviously, I'll be needing some higher gears if I want to run smaller wheels and tires.

I'm not interested in keeping the posi, since I have a series 4 case, and need a series 3 for anything below 3:73. Also, I'm looking to make this truck a fun cruiser, hopefully one I can drive over 50 mph without spinning my old six up near redline.

Is it easier, cheaper, and/or smarter to seek out a new case, and gears, and atempt to put it all together, or should I look for a direct replacement housing with a better gear ratio, and simply swap in everything from wheel-to-wheel? Does such a thing exist?

Budget and originality are the watch words for this project, so I'm not interested in tranny-swaps or V8s. Nothing against either route. I'm just an inline fan, and my motors only got 32,000 on it, and the tranny's been really well maintained. Also, I may pull a drift-boat from time to time, so keeping my granny-tranny couldn't hurt.

Thanks!

P.S. Anyone looking for a posi and some original wheels?

[Shorty Cox]

I'm sorry, when I saw the title of the thread, I thought it was comments about Sarah Palin!!!!!!!!!