Good rear gears

[84GMCSierra]

Good Afternoon members. Just got my truck back with the "new" Vortec 350. I want to do some long distance driving with it but was told it's geared too low. It's an 84 C2500 with the TH400. I don't know what are in it now, but want to change them out in the next few months. I'm just doing in town driving now. What's a good setup? I don't do any pulling or heavy hauling.

 

[legopnuematic]

Figure out what ratio it is now and what your tire size is. That information would give us something to work off of.

 

[75gmck25]

Stock tires on a C2500 are probably about 30-31” (245/75R16?), and you don’t have overdrive. Figure out your current rear end ratio and then run one of the many online calculators to figure out what ratio seems to work best for you.

My K25 has 4.10 gears and about 30.5” tires, and it runs about 2800 rpm at 60 mph. The noise level is not great at that speed, but it will run for hours on the highway with no issues. It just depends on what you are looking for.

 

[CountKrunk]

I don't see any reason why you can't drive it as long as you want. My c20 has an sbc with a turbo 400 heavy duty trans w/ 4.10 gears and ive driven it on a 8 hour road trip. I was maxing out around 60-65 mph but yeah, driving just fine.

 

[bucket]

Good Afternoon members. Just got my truck back with the "new" Vortec 350. I want to do some long distance driving with it but was told it's geared too low. It's an 84 C2500 with the TH400. I don't know what are in it now, but want to change them out in the next few months. I'm just doing in town driving now. What's a good setup? I don't do any pulling or heavy hauling.

Who told you it was geared too low?

If you like how it drives right now, that's all that matters.

 

[Ricko1966]

Good Afternoon members. Just got my truck back with the "new" Vortec 350. I want to do some long distance driving with it but was told it's geared too low. It's an 84 C2500 with the TH400. I don't know what are in it now, but want to change them out in the next few months. I'm just doing in town driving now. What's a good setup? I don't do any pulling or heavy hauling.

People drove these trucks everyday,cross country,just like they came from the factory,sure someone may have ordered it or installed some tall gears in it. As @legopnuematic said find out what ratio you have and your tire size. Or get us rpm at 60mph and your tire size.

 

[legopnuematic]

4.56 was the lowest ratio available for an 84 2500 series, even with a 30.5" tire that is about 3500rpm at 65mph. 4.10s with the same size tire is about 3150rpm at 65mph.

So worst case scenario it is not really that bad. Compared to new vehicles with 5,6,8,10 speeds yes it might seem like its screaming, but as far as old trucks are concerned its fine.