1962 C10 stock with 283 and 3 on the tree. Looking for some relatively inexpensive transmission/rear end solutions to get me on the freeway without winding out in 3rd gear at 53 mph. 700r is nice long term solution, but can't afford all the work and parts involved. T5 swap or finding an original 3 speed with OD are options, any experience/opinions? thanks
You basically have three options or a combo of them. 1. Overdrive transmission of any sort (or an add on OD like Gear Vendors) 2. Lower numerical gears in the rear end 3. Very large diameter tires The trans swap, well it's fairly involved with a lot of parts and changes but will give the biggest benefit. Gear swap will have some cost in time and labor. If you can find one, a complete axle swap to a later model rear end, with lower gears would likely be cheaper but you will have the labor and welding to swap it correctly. Going to a larger tire will decrease your RPM's. If the circumference is 10% larger, this would decrease your RPM's approx. 10%. Good luck.
Are you sure the speedo is acurate? That size rear tire, you should be able to get into the mid 60's without too much problem. The rear gears are likely 4.10, which was very common for these trucks.
The best thing you can do in one of these trucks is install a t-5... it almost bolts in. Just need the spacer for the longer shaft and to get a new driveline made and youre in business. There's a really helpful thread about it somewhere on the hamb.
Actually, that rear axle is the older type that was last used in 62 trucks. It is a drop out chuck. The standard ratio was around 3.90/3.91 unless with the optional Powerglide 3.38 gear set which is available from Patricks Truck parts. I think it might be $300 to $400! Cheapest way out is to swap in a later K10 4x4 rear end. Better chance of finding a great highway ratio towards the end of the 70s to the last of that style rear in 1987. Earlier 70s had the common 3.07 as an A/T gear; not bad, but I'd go to a lower number...2.76 was somewhat easy to find in a dressy A/T truck or suburban. You want the 4x4 rear because it will have the same 6 lugs, compared to 2wd from 71-87, which were all 5 lugs. Swap is easy with a welder; cut off your old trailing arm brackets and put those on the new rear after taking off the leaf spring perches/spring pads. Next cut off the 62 panhard bar bracket and reweld it to the donor rear.
Personally, I would do the T5 out of an S 10, needs to be '88 back for cable drive speedo. You'll need the 14 spline clutch disc. Driveshaft will have to be shortened and you'll need a later Chevy front yoke with splines that match the T5 tailshaft. The overdrive ratio in the T5 will work fine with the rear gears you have. You probably won't have to downshift from 5th gear very often.
Easy swap would be a car 3spd with o/d. If you go with a newer one (later 60's) your going to have to change the shift arms, shorten driveshaft, lengthen speedo cable, install o/d cable and wire up some relays/switches. But you'll keep the column shifter and wont' have to deal with mounts.
Rear end is 4.10 T5 looks promising I found a Borg Warner 3 speed w/ OD, but needs rebuild, and after reading rebuild sheet, its over my head. Anyone know of a transmission shop in socal that could take that on?
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