this may sound like a newb question, but what gears should i run?

[Steve GMC]

heres my deal, befor i had my axles regeared to 4.88s i did numerous "tires size calculators" i recently found a tire chart that says i should be running 5.38s... so now im a little confused... i have 4.88s in the axles now and am thinking about just running it and seeing how it works...specs on the rig are 1983 k30, 8" lift on 42" TSLs... i have a stroked big block thats pushing 550 ftlbs at 4000rpm... i think the only thing that might save me is the amount of torque i am producing... i dont know what would you do


thanks for the help
Steve

 

[thatK30guy]

this may sound like a newb question, but what gears should i run?

Matching.

Kidding. Got pics of this K30 to show us?

As for ratio, whats your intended use for the truck? Highway use, go with higher gears. Rock, lower. Mult-purpose use, stick with what you got.

 

[Steve GMC]

the truck is going to be mulitpurpose, me and my fridns do alot of trails but i still do mud holes and need tire spin

the truck i have been working on for about a year and a half, body off restromod, i also have a set of 5" stacks that will be on (note pic was taken b4 fenders were trimmed)

sidenote i am 16 and this is the 2nd truck ive built

 

[stockk5]

i think you should run it steve.... if u honestly feel like u need more somehow change the tcase.

 

[thatK30guy]

Nice, very nice. I like the stance. Its how trucks around here are built.

What tranny do you plan to use? If its overdrive, go with the lower gears. If its a 465 or 400, stick with the 4.88's you have. This will still allow you to drive the truck on interstate speeds without the motor screaming too loudly.

If you're still dead set on lower gears, I wouldn't go lower than 5.13 to keep the motor running smoothly.

 

[FOR MUD]

I say run the 4.88s. But start looking at a doubler, that way you'll get the best of both worlds. I ran 4.88s with a set of 44" tires (I also have a doubler)for a couple of years. The only down side is not enough engine braking on the down hills. I replaced them with 5.86s this weekend, I'll see how that works out. Really if you look at it, the cost is pretty much the same between a set of gears (With bearings and shims) and a doubler.

 

[spoolnaround]

Nice, very nice. I like the stance. Its how trucks around here are built.

What tranny do you plan to use? If its overdrive, go with the lower gears. If its a 465 or 400, stick with the 4.88's you have. This will still allow you to drive the truck on interstate speeds without the motor screaming too loudly.

If you're still dead set on lower gears, I wouldn't go lower than 5.13 to keep the motor running smoothly.

Dont the overdrive transmissions have a lower first gear? Other than that I think this is good advise.

 

[Steve GMC]

for now ill be running a 465, but in the future i would love to do an nv4500 and atlas

thanks for the opinions