What gears?

[HumptyDumpty79]

Im running a 465/205 with 35s and was wonderin what gears would be good to use. I am currently running 3.08 ! It isnt too terribly bad, but i do have to slip the clutch a bit taking off from a dead stop. I do alot of highway driving and occasional wheelin when the weather is nice. I was thinkin 3.42 or 3.73 but would that make much difference?

 

[JohnDeere]

I would go with the 3.73. If you went with 3.42 you wouldn't notice much of a difference and 4.10 would be to much since you are on the highway alot. It will rev about 400 rpms more with 3.73 than with the 3.08s.

 

[HumptyDumpty79]

If i were to do the 3.73s, i would have to change the 12b carrier correct? But i wont have to change the 10b carrier in front right?

 

[muddybuddy]

with a 465, id run 3.73s or 4.10s. 3.42's wont give enough of a difference to justify the change.

if you plan to go bigger later (intentionally or unintentionally like most on here) id go with 4.10s.

what year rig and what motor?

 

[HumptyDumpty79]

Its a 79 with a 350.

 

[muddybuddy]

If i were to do the 3.73s, i would have to change the 12b carrier correct? But i wont have to change the 10b carrier in front right?

might just be cheaper to find a 14b with 3.73's or 4.10's (both very common factory gear options) and swap that in instead of dealing with a new carrier and gears. you can pick one up for $100-$200 depending on condition. but then you deal with a need for 8lug rims, so i guess the cost would be about the same.

 

[HumptyDumpty79]

Well i do it all myself so i wasnt plannin on spendin much money in the first place. But you brought up another question i had. What would be everything i need to switch to 14bff?

 

[muddybuddy]

really all youd need is a 14b from a 3/4ton truck (same spring perch width and shock mounts on the correct sides) and a conversion u-joint for the rear driveshaft and 8lug rims. for the front, you could keep it 6lug, or swap to 8lug hubs and rotors. its all pretty straight forward swap, all the brakelines will be the same.

 

[HumptyDumpty79]

So a 14bff is pretty much a direct swap with no brake modifications? Even with those HUGE drums? Might go that route if its that easy.

 

[muddybuddy]

what size rims are you running? some 14bff have 11" drums and some have 13" drums. with the 13" drums you have to grind the fins a little bit and need to grind down the front 8lug calipers for 15" unless you 2.5" backspacing. if you run 16's or bigger you dont have to do any grinding or anything either up front or in back.

the only think you may need to do brake wise is a bigger master cylinder, but thats on a rig to rig basis, some do, some dont. some also run a different proportioning valve, but most times its not necessary unless your stock one is blown. you could also convert to disc's which is a little more work, but nothing too complicated.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

3.73's

If you have to slip the clutch, why not start in L?

 

[HumptyDumpty79]

Cuz its an immediate shift into 1st as soon as the clutch is out so theres really no point.