all my years i have not seen my self a set of 4.56 factory . yes i know there out there but i have never seen a set . if i had to guess 4.10 as most common and or this late in production possible 3.73 .
not bad prices for east coast rust belt . . . i got 2 dana 60 front housings all good threads and main caps . some knuckle stuff and brakes . package deal someone can have it all . . hell i prob got 12 dozen sets of core calipers .
Agreed that 4.10’s are the most common and are usually the standard ratio for 350’s, 6.2’s & 454’s if no ratio is specified and for the 292’s a 4.56 is standard with the other two ratios being optional in the K-30’s.
Also, cab chassis 6.2’s often use a 4.56 as the standard gear.
And of course the CUCV stuff was all 4.56’s but I think you’re talk’n about civilian trucks.
From all that I’ve personally put my hands on over the years the 4.10’s are the leader in C-20/30’s & K-20/30’s but 4.56’s are a close second with 3.73’s coming in last as least common.
Just a list of some K-20’s & K-30’s ratios that I’ve delt with or have passed through my hands - none of these were CUCV’s.
1966 K-20 Burb 292 420/221 4.56
1971 K-20 350 465/205 4.56
1973 K-20 350 350/205 4.10
1975 K-20 350 350/203 4.10
1978 K-20 292 465/205 4.56
1978 K-30 C/C 292 465/205 4.56 Tow Truck DRW
1978 K-30 C/C 350 465/205 4.56 Fire Support Truck DRW
1979 K-30 292 400/203 4.56
Crew Cab SRW
1980 K-25 400 400/205 4.10
1981 K-30 C/C 350 400/205 4.56 Crew Cab Fire Support Truck DRW
1981 K-30 C/C 350 465/205 4.56 Tow Truck DRW
1982 K-30 C/C 350 465/205 4.56 Farm Truck Flatbed DRW
1983 K-3500 454 465/205 4.56
Crew Cab DRW
1983 K-30 C/C 454 400/205 3.73 Fire Support Truck DRW
1985 K-30 454 400/205 4.56
1988 K-30 350 465/205 3.73
Crew Cab SRW
1991 K30 350 4L80E/205 4.10
Crew Cab SRW
1991 K-30 6.2 4L80E/205 4.56
Crew Cab DRW
Just pointing out to always check the ratios on a set of axles that are for sale on our civilian spec’d squares - 4.10’s a safe bet but 4.56’s are fairly common too ( especially on Cab Chassis trucks ) and from my experience the 3.73’s are the least common on K-30’s.
Like ya said 3.73’s does seem to be a little more common towards the later models from things I’ve read and listings that are posted.