55 Chevrolet Rear End Gears

Just picked up a 55 Nomad. Turbo 350 trans that shifts fine. Don't want to change it to a 700R4. Big highway RPM's, don't know what's in the rear end, but I would like to go 2.73 or 3.08.

Didn't see those ring & pinion's just checking Jegs or Summit quickly. This car has a stock 55 rear end.

Anyone changed to those gears.........?

 

3.08 was used in the 60s, see if you can find some....they're kind of in demand. 55-64 chev car centers interchange.

 

you might check with Patrick's Antique Cars (you'll have to call them). I believe that they make a ring and pinion set to change a 47-53 to a 3.55. Someone else will chime in with the specifics... It might depend on open/closed driveshaft though...

 

You can buy a new one here

http://www.cl***icchevy.com/product.asp?pf_id=21-125&dept_id=1858

 

The patricks gears are for a truck rear, not the 55-64 car. The new gears sure are expensive...I was trying to point him at what he might find used...

 

I think a 3.36 ratio was available in the sixties also. No idea what size tires you have but you may want to look into taller tires for a little more help.

 

Might be a little outside of what you are looking for, but here's a source for upgrade parts: http://www.bruneauperformance.ca/ Dunno whether he carries used ge****ts or not, but worth an e-mail, I suppose.

 

Original 1955-56 rear ends were all 4 series carriers so you will not be able to bolt a set of 3.08 gears on them. Any 58-64 Chevrolet rear with 3.08's will bolt right into your '55. By the way, they never made a 2.73 55-64 rear end.

-Matt

 

Thank you to everyone for their information on gears for my Nomad.....

 

u need gears for an 8.2 dropout chevy....55-64. Try Randy's Ring and Pinion

 

The 3.36:1 gears are Cheap. The last set I bought as a replacement I paid maybe $30-$35 for it as a complete center section.
Pull the drums, axles, drive shaft.
Unbolt. and reverse the order. Fill with oil. Cheap go. I had the 3:36s in the Impala for years. Runs 70-75 just fine with the 348 and a t-350. About 15 MPG. Happy as a pig in poop.

Nice ride BTW

 

don't waste your money on new,3.08 rears are easy to find used,and they are cheap,100.00-150.00 for whole pumkin,swap it out and go

 

I run .308 gears in our 55 2 door sedan. Its has the same SBC/350 combo as your Nomad, I think you will like the .308's.

 

where are these at?

 

I took a set of 3.08 out of a 1960 4 door sedan. It was a V8 powerglide car. They worked great in my 56 wagn with a TH350 transmission.

I recently pulled a set out of a 1962 4 door sedan with the same powertrain and they were 3.36.....hard telling what you will find, but as a rule v8 cars with auto ******'s from 1959 to 64 SHOULD have 3.08's...