I am changing out the rear end in my 53 chevy 210. Right now I have a 350/turbo350 with a 82 camaro rear end. Problem is it's just too wide. I have a line on a 4x4 Bravada Rear. It's the perfect width. The question I have; the code is a GT4 which makes it a 3.73 gear ratio, is that a too high gear ratio for highway speeds? I don't want to be wound out at 3500rpm in 3rd gear going down the highway. Thanks for the help guys, I appreciate it.
It's pretty steep for going 75 mph, I'd look into changing the gears in it or finding a different rearend or using an overdrive transmission.
Dirt T: I don't know the gear ratio of what is in the car now. I do know it will run down the highway at 70 mph pretty easy and it's not wound out. Squirrel: Thanks for the heads up. Should I be looking at 3.08 gears or lower more like 2.73 for a highway cruiser?
3.08 would be fine, 2.73 would be even more highway friendly, but you lose acceleration with that mild of a gear. Kind of depends what you're comfortable with, etc.
do search here for links to charts that give common rearend widths. also, search on line for project33.com and click on calculators to help with gear ratio
Just to help you sir with the wording, you have a " low gear ", that is higher " numerically ". You actually want a " higher gear " that is lower " numerically ". If you had a O.D. auto trans or a 5 speed stick, the 3.55:1 is excellent all around cruise and great performance. Your T350 has a 1:1 top gear, and you should be happier with a 3.23:1 or something slightly " higher ". That will be lower numerically, say 3.08:1. The Outside diameter of the rear sneakers will have a small effect on the overall final ratio. Your tire manufacturer should be able to give you a spec- Revolutions per mile. There are many good calculators out there to help fiqure final drive ratio. Best of luck, TR
Should be much easier to find a rear with the right gearing, than to just grab one and start changing gears. Plus cheaper too!
Bravada is basically a dressed up full time AWD version of S-10 Blazer. Just look for a S-10 Blazer with a better (lower numerically) gear ratio for your replacement.
There are still lots of second gen camaro rears around and they are a bolt in. Most have 2.54 or 2.73 gears.
firebird rears were also geared fairly tall to keep the rpms of the Pontiac engines down alittle at highway speed. I would think a 3:23 or maybe even a 3:42 could be a decent highway gear and still give you some performance value.
Greetings! The rear axle from a G-body GM car ('79-84 Monti's, Regals, Olds, ect) is the same width as the S-10 4x4, you'll have to torch off a bunch of brackets and buy some axle saddles to make it work but most of those cars ran the type of gear ratios you are looking for, Good Luck and happy hunting, Mike.
Ok! Here's what I have going on! I bought a 95 Bravada rear axle(3.73) for the 48 GMC truck I'm building. I'm using the 235 six with a 200 4r trans. The problem I had was the axle tubes are 2 5/8" NOT 3" like most rear axles. I found this out after I got the axle and a 3" mounting kit. Heres what I did...I found a place speedymetals.com They will sell you any metal any length that you need. I bought a piece of DOM tubing 2 5/8" ID 3 1/16' wall and 3" od Cut it in half,wrap the axle. The axle I got was a 7.5 with the 2 5/8 tubes be sure of what your buying! Mel
I am currently changing to a 3.08 gear in my s-10 rear under 54 chevy car. check splines because they come in 26 and 28 spline. my new gear/carrier is 28 spline. have not torn down current rear to see if I will need other axles. gear came out of a 2wd rear. Kenny
here's a ton of information.... The first gen camaro is slightly narrower than the second gen (70 - 82). First gen is 60 on the rear and approx. 60 1/2 on the front, which is almost exactly the same as your 50. This measurement is mounting surface to mounting surface (outside hub). The second gen is 61 1/2 on the front and 60 1/2 on the rear, mounting surface to mounting surface. Scroll down near the bottom of the info below and you'll find some clip measurements. Original Vehicles Rear Suspension Width (Flange to Flange) Year Cl***ic Vehicles Width 26-39 Plymouth-Dodge car/pick up 56-58" 40-52 Plymouth-Dodge car 60-62" 26-39 Chrysler/DeSoto Car 60" Most Early Mopar's 56-62" 25-39 Chevy Car 56-58" 26-46 Chevy Truck 56-58" 40-48 Chevy Car 58-60" 49-54 Chevy Car 58-60" 47-54 & 55 1st Series Chevy Truck 60-62" Most Early Buick,Olds, Pontiac 58-61" 28-31 Ford Car/Pickup 57 1/2" 32 & 33-34 Ford Car/Pickup 56 1/2" 35-48 Ford Car 57-60" 35-41 Ford Pickup 56-60" 49-58 Ford Car 57-58" 49-56 Mercury 57-58" 49-51 Mercury 61" 64 Falcon 58" 67 Cougar 60" 55-59 Chevy Pickup 62" Donor Vehicles Front and Rear Suspension Width (Flange to Flange) Year Cl***ic Vehicles Width Front Width Rear 74-79 Ford Mustang II/Pinto & Mercury Capri/Bobcat 55 ½" 55 ½" 71-77 Ford Maverick with 8" axle 56 ½" 75-80 Ford Granada with 8" axle 57 ½" 64-66 Mustang 57" 67-71 Mustang 59" 72-73 Mustang 60" 67-69 , & 60" Camaro 60" 64-67 Chevelle 60" 55-64 Chevy car 60" 65-67 Nova 58" 68-72 Nova 60" 60" 78 & up Monte Carlo, Regal, etc. with 10 bolt axle 58" 58" 68-72 Chevelle with 10 bolt axle 61 ½" 89 Trans AM (Disc brake) 62" 76-80 Camaro/Firebird 61 ½" 60 ½" 68-83 Corvette 58 ½" 59 ½" 84-95 Corvette 59 ½" 60 ½" Early 70's "A" body (Dart/Duster) with V8&3/4 axle 58" "E" Body (Cuda) with V8&3/4 axle 58" Dodge Dart 59" 55 ½" Plymouth Volare & Dodge Aspen 61" 60 ½" 71 Blazer (6 lug) 63 ¾" 75-78 Granada 9" (43" perch to perch) 52 ¼" 75-78 Maverick 9" (43" perch to perch) 56 ¼" 81-87 Olds Cutl*** 58 ½" FRONT SUSPENSION INFORMATION Track Width of Popular Donor Car Clips Manufacture Model Years Track Front/Rear Curb Weight Chevrolet Nova 68-74 59.8-59.6 3,770 Buick Apollo 68-74 59.1-58.8 3760 Pontiac GTO 68-74 59.9-59.6 3880 Chevrolet Corvette 68-83 58.7-59.5 3655 84-95 59.6-60.4 3890 Chevrolet Camaro (Z28) 76-80 61.3-60.5 3820 Pontiac Firebird (TA) 76-80 61.3-60.5 3900 Ford Mustang II 74-79 55.6-55.8 3305 Pinto 74-79 55.6-55.8 3305 Mercury Capri 74-79 55.6-55.8 3305 Bobcat 74-79 55.6-55.8 3305 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 78-86 58.5-58.8 3235 Buick Century 78-86 59.0-58.8 3700 Pontiac Grand Prix 78-86 58.9-59.0 3735 Plymouth Volare 75-79 61.0-60.5 3395 Dodge Aspen 75-79 61.0-60.5 3395 Dodge Dart 76 59.2-55.6 3600
Thanks for all the info guys! Chaddilac sent this over. It's a great calculator for figuring it all out. http://www.richmondgear.com/101032.html
Keep the 3.73 and put a 700R4 in there and you should get the best of both worlds. My '50 has a '75 Camaro rearend in it now and it fit fine. Of course I no sooner finish this than I score a Trans Am posi, so I may swap it again.
In this day and age I wouldn't do anything but as already suggested and put an overdrive trans in your car. It makes the car so much more versital and you can pull it down into straight drive when the occasion arrisses to need higher revs in top gear. Frank
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