Are my gears to high for the setup?

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jstnvndn

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Justin
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1979
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K10
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305
I have a Saginaw 4spd and 35 inch tires. I feel that when I start off in 1st gear that it is lugging and does not "feel" like a 1st gear start...feels more like a 3rd gear start...so I tried to assess my rear end gear ratio and the 1st gear ratio of the manual transmission. Here is what I found:
1. The rear end indicates a 3.08 - I rotated both tires in the back and counted a full revolution of the tires to the driveshaft revolutions. The shaft turns 3 times to 1 revolution of the tires...so I estimate that it is a 3.08 rear end.
2. With the transmission in 1st gear I rotated the engine 1 full turn and counted the turns of the driveshaft, which only turned about a quarter revolution, so I assume it would take another 3 turns of the crank to equal 1 driveshaft rotation...probably indicating that would be a 3.50 gear for 1st.
Given that I have 35 inch tires, with a 3.50 first gear and a 3.08 rear end would that recipe describe my situation? I have to slip the clutch quite a bit to move the truck out in 1st gear.
I think that by changing either the rear diff or changing the transmission ratios would solve the issue and make it more driveable.
 
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Craig Nedrow

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I had a Sag in the Nova, was great but had 28" tall tire, and a 3:43. weighed 3260. What Ricko said.
 

75gmck25

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I have 4.10 gears and 31" tires in my K25, and it's a great combination unless you like to drive over about 70 MPH (about 3100 RPM) on the highway. You could use 4.56 gears and be at about the same RPM.
 

Shorty81

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I have SM465 4 speed, 3:73, 31" tires and for me it's perfect. 2000 rpm at 55.
 

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