Started my first frame off - 72 SWB LS1, 6-spd manual

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by trkfrk

After many hours of research, I have ordered my new rear end gears with posi traction. Now I will be able to use 5th & 6th gear on the freeway.

Congrats on the new gears Mark. I want to add a posi to mine but after my first go around with a gear swap, not too sure I want to tackle it.
I bet your truck will come out of the hole good with the 4:56.

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Congrats on the new gears Mark. I want to add a posi to mine but after my first go around with a gear swap, not too sure I want to tackle it.
I bet your truck will come out of the hole good with the 4:56.

Thanks Mike. It was A/C or gears right now. I decided to go with the gears for now, and hopefully A/C before summer. The chart on the left is my current set up with 3:73. The chart on the right is the 4:56 gears. Right now I have to use a ton of clutch to come out of the hole, and it doesn't pull like it should. so as you can as see by the chart with my current setup 3:73 @ 2000 RPM in 6th gear I had to do 106 MPH, and with the new gearing @ 2000 RPM in 6th gear I will be doing 79 MPH on top end. What I have read and feel while driving these LS motors, they like to run between 2100-2400 RPM.

[trkfrk]

Dropped the rear end today. I figured it will be easier to rebuild it on the bench rather than climbing under the truck a 100 times lol.

[68GMCCustom]

The 4.56 gears look like a great choice. Heck looks like even 4.88's could work well.

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

The 4.56 gears look like a great choice. Heck looks like even 4.88's could work well.

Kurt,

I think so too. I know I'm going to shift more, but I am going to have more usable gears. 4:88's would be fun though..

[Bowtiguy]

Originally Posted by trkfrk

Thanks Mike. It was A/C or gears right now. I decided to go with the gears for now, and hopefully A/C before summer. The chart on the left is my current set up with 3:73. The chart on the right is the 4:56 gears. Right now I have to use a ton of clutch to come out of the hole, and it doesn't pull like it should. so as you can as see by the chart with my current setup 3:73 @ 2000 RPM in 6th gear I had to do 106 MPH, and with the new gearing @ 2000 RPM in 6th gear I will be doing 79 MPH on top end. What I have read and feel while driving these LS motors, they like to run between 2100-2400 RPM.

That's interesting. I had a little different experience and I think its due to the differences in gear ratios in each trans. I'm running a TR6060 out of a 14' Camaro SS ( along with its stock hydraulic clutch) and the ONLY time I use 1st gear is if I'm starting on a hill. I can easily start in 2nd gear with my 4:10 rear gears that Mark Williams axles installed for me when widening my 12 bolt and doing the c-clip delete.

The motor is a VVT LC9 out of a 13' Silverado. The issue I have is bogging at 75mph+ on the highway pulling 6th gear moving this brick down the road. But I'm also comparing it to my old LS7 C6Z that pulled 1800 rpm at 80mph and had 100 extra cubes and 350 extra hp.

Time for heads/cam!

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by Bowtiguy

That's interesting. I had a little different experience and I think its due to the differences in gear ratios in each trans. I'm running a TR6060 out of a 14' Camaro SS ( along with its stock hydraulic clutch) and the ONLY time I use 1st gear is if I'm starting on a hill. I can easily start in 2nd gear with my 4:10 rear gears that Mark Williams axles installed for me when widening my 12 bolt and doing the c-clip delete.

The motor is a VVT LC9 out of a 13' Silverado. The issue I have is bogging at 75mph+ on the highway pulling 6th gear moving this brick down the road. But I'm also comparing it to my old LS7 C6Z that pulled 1800 rpm at 80mph and had 100 extra cubes and 350 extra hp.

Time for heads/cam!

I totally agree with you, on the transmission gear ratios. Not until researching, did I learn which rear end gears to change to. I learned there are 2 different T56's; a close ratio and a wide ratio. I also didn't realize that my wheels and tires outside diameter, made a major difference. My outside tire diameter is 5" taller than the Pontiac TA with the same drive train.

[trkfrk]

Pic

[trkfrk]

Pic 2

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Congrats on the new gears Mark. I want to add a posi to mine but after my first go around with a gear swap, not too sure I want to tackle it.
I bet your truck will come out of the hole good with the 4:56.

Mike you're right, I really wanted the satisfaction of being able to rebuild my rear end myself. After I tore it down and started the assembly process, I realized I wasn't skilled enough for such a large task. So, for less than $300, I had Dan's Driveline here in Las Vegas do the assembly for me, & I'm definitely glad I did.

I just finished My test drive a couple hours ago

[Bennett68C10]

Nice choice on the 4.56 gears! How does that bad boy launch now?

[slowcpe]

Love this truck. Gives me inspiration on mine.

Sorry if I missed it but what size rear tire are you running? I assumed I would go 4.11s in my t56 and never dreamed I would need 4.56s. Guess I need to do some research.

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Nice choice on the 4.56 gears! How does that bad boy launch now?

Thanks Keith.. So much fun to drive now. It feels like I added 200HP, no joke.

Originally Posted by slowcpe

Love this truck. Gives me inspiration on mine.

Sorry if I missed it but what size rear tire are you running? I assumed I would go 4.11s in my t56 and never dreamed I would need 4.56s. Guess I need to do some research.

Thanks Ryan.. I'm running 295/45/20 in the rear which equals 30.45" diameter. Yes, definitely research it, because I also thought going from 3:73 to 4:11s would do the trick. A frend of mine that's big into the Rock crawling turned me onto the site that helped me figure out what I wanted. It takes the guesswork out of the equation, grimmjeeper.com. Make sure you know which T56 you have, wide ratio or close ratio. You're really going to enjoy your T56.

[trkfrk]

Loving my new gears! I have put almost 2,500 miles on the truck already without my interior done yet lol..

We're planing on going to the Brothers show in California July 10th, we can't wait. Hopefully have my interior done by then.

I haven't worked on the truck to much lately, but I have been able to get the garage back into shape. No more Home Depot chipping blue finish lol.

[trkfrk]

A lot of grinding

[trkfrk]

No color, just clear coat, Acrylic Urethane Sealer.

[trkfrk]

Still need to do second coat.

[mcmlxix]

I ssw the truck at Cars and Coffee on Saturday. You were driving out so I didn't get to say Hi.
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.
Hi.
Nice truck.

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

I ssw the truck at Cars and Coffee on Saturday. You were driving out so I didn't get to say Hi.
.
.
.
.
Hi.
Nice truck.

Sorry I missed you.. There were a lot of nice rides there. I plan on going Saturday.

[trkfrk]

Finished up the second coat on the garage floor this morning. I can't wait to get my truck back into the garage.

[HARDCORECASH]

Garage looks great!!! Where did you buy the clear coat from??? If the concrete is fairly new without any paint or stains could you get away with just pressure washing??? Or should you grind the surface no matter what??? My garage floor is only 2 1/2 years old. Thanks for the help.

[mcbassin]

Very nice work on the garage floor!

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by HARDCORECASH

Garage looks great!!! Where did you buy the clear coat from??? If the concrete is fairly new without any paint or stains could you get away with just pressure washing??? Or should you grind the surface no matter what??? My garage floor is only 2 1/2 years old. Thanks for the help.

I purchased all of the material from Concrete and Accesories here in Vegas. They specialize in concerte materials for contractors (industrial strength). I sanded the concrete down to expose the rock and to remove the blue Home Depot finish that was on the floor. The nice thing about grinding the floor was guaranteed removal of any stains/grease marks in the concrete.

[trkfrk]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice work on the garage floor!

Thanks Mike.. One less stress lol. Now it's time to get back to work on the truck

[roushinator]

Nice work!