Chevy Truck Needs Help

[Ramjo]

I have an 85 K-10 Silverado 4x4 with the 5.0 liter 305 engine. Carburated. 

 

This truck is a road truck. It came with the little engine and a 3.08 gear ratio. I am wanting to put 33 or 35 inch tires and a 2-4" lift kit on it.

 

What i need is someone to tell me what gear ratio I should change over to, and where the heck can I find the gears?

 

I am also interested in any bolt on engine mods that might wake up this little v8 a bit...its no 350 for sure. This is a heavy truck. Long bed and two 15 gallon gas tanks!

 

[URL=http://s45.photobucket.com/user/_JoeBow_/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_0791_zps30d4649f.jpg.html][/URL]

Edited December 17, 2013 by Ramjo

[rugerla1]

Automatic?

[rugerla1]

I have an 85 K-10 Silverado 4x4 with the 5.0 liter 305 engine. Carburated. 

 

This truck is a road truck. It came with the little engine and a 3.08 gear ratio. I am wanting to put 33 or 35 inch tires and a 2-4" lift kit on it.

 

What i need is someone to tell me what gear ratio I should change over to, and where the heck can I find the gears?

 

I am also interested in any bolt on engine mods that might wake up this little v8 a bit...its no 350 for sure. This is a heavy truck. Long bed and two 15 gallon gas tanks!

 

 

You can order the gears through most any place online, 4 Wheel Parts, Summit,Jegs, etc. You will need deeper gears if it's an automatic than if it is manual shift. With an automatic and 33's you'd probably want 4.10 and with 35's probably 4.56 and that's assuming it's an auto with O/D. If it's a manual you could drop each of those suggestions down one selection, numerically speaking. For example 33's you'd use 3.73 and for 35's use 4.10. Having the correct gears with the big tires will be important in making it "wake up" since you don't have a powerhouse motor in there.

Oh, and nice truck by the way, I LOVE the old square bodies. I may even have some stuff laying around you might be able to use, I'll check the garage.

Edited December 17, 2013 by rugerla1

[Ramjo]

Automatic?

yes

[Ramjo]

This is probably one of those projects, where if i was rich, I would pull the 305 and auto tranny for a 350 and manual tranny

[rugerla1]

This is probably one of those projects, where if i was rich, I would pull the 305 and auto tranny for a 350 and manual tranny

Been there done that. Nowadays, I have to decide if it's worth all the trouble...and money ha ha.

[rugerla1]

Oh, and I'm just speaking from experience, but if you go 35's go with a 6" unless it will not be going offroad/ditches/etc. I know a lot of people put 35's on with 4" lift (I have too) but unless you don't care about front fenders bending, you may bind up. 4" with 33's is perfect setup if you go that route.

[Ramjo]

Well this truck is totally stock...it still has the belt powered radiator fan and the air cleaner bowl and all that under the hood.

[gomer pyle]

http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/

they seem to have good products at a reasonable price. i would think 4.56 with a master install kit. do you plan to install or hire it done? i wouldn't put anymore money into that motor, save the money for a 350

[Ramjo]

Oh, and I'm just speaking from experience, but if you go 35's go with a 6" unless it will not be going offroad/ditches/etc. I know a lot of people put 35's on with 4" lift (I have too) but unless you don't care about front fenders bending, you may bind up. 4" with 33's is perfect setup if you go that route.

As far as this goes, a long bed won't be practical for much off roading around here.

[rugerla1]

http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/

they seem to have good products at a reasonable price. i would think 4.56 with a master install kit. do you plan to install or hire it done? i wouldn't put anymore money into that motor, save the money for a 350

I agree.

[Ramjo]

I'll be honest, Im leaning more toward the 33's...they cost less.

[RED333]

My $0.02, keep it stock, keep it clean.

You will put a bunch of money into a almost 30 year old truck, for what?

You will not get a lot of pep out of the 305. When you go with bigger wheels and tires you put a LOT

of strain on the running gear, and brakes, putting in a set of gears and you will take out U joints.

Keep it clean, I like the way it looks.

[56FordGuy]

Oh, and I'm just speaking from experience, but if you go 35's go with a 6" unless it will not be going offroad/ditches/etc. I know a lot of people put 35's on with 4" lift (I have too) but unless you don't care about front fenders bending, you may bind up. 

 

Not if you cut the fenders back enough.  :rock:

 

For gears, check out Randy's Ring and Pinion. They're based in Franklin TN, and I've found them to be very competitive. 

[bersaguy]

Have you given any consideration to the fact that when you change the rear differential ratio you will also have to change the front also or transfer case will not match up gear ratio's. Been there and done that and learned the hard way on an old Blazer I had. I also had to go to manual lock out hubs from the full times like is on your truck. My Blazer was 83 K 5 model with 350 CID.  Don't know if they made any changes between 83 and 85 that might alter what I had to do to mine. Might want to ask the folks were your looking at getting your rear gears.................jmho

[Ramjo]

Have you given any consideration to the fact that when you change the rear differential ratio you will also have to change the front also or transfer case will not match up gear ratio's. Been there and done that and learned the hard way on an old Blazer I had. I also had to go to manual lock out hubs from the full times like is on your truck. My Blazer was 83 K 5 model with 350 CID.  Don't know if they made any changes between 83 and 85 that might alter what I had to do to mine. Might want to ask the folks were your looking at getting your rear gears.................jmho

This is why I always research the crap out of this stuff, and always always always post it on here. Yall know everything lol.

[Trekbike]

I'm with Red, I'd keep it stock since it appears to be in great shape for the age. Edited December 17, 2013 by Trekbike

[TripleDigitRide]

After the gear change and larger tires, what are your plans with the truck? On-road? Off-road?

[rugerla1]

Not if you cut the fenders back enough.  :rock:
 
For gears, check out Randy's Ring and Pinion. They're based in Franklin TN, and I've found them to be very competitive.

Lmao! If his truck didn't look so good I would've said the same thing. And +1 on Randys!

[Ramjo]

My $0.02, keep it stock, keep it clean.

You will put a bunch of money into a almost 30 year old truck, for what?

You will not get a lot of pep out of the 305. When you go with bigger wheels and tires you put a LOT

of strain on the running gear, and brakes, putting in a set of gears and you will take out U joints.

Keep it clean, I like the way it looks.

Well my problem with keeping it totally stock, is that it really struggles right now pulling out and all with that high gear ratio. All that gearing is good for is the highway driving and so the cruise control will work best, but I dont plan on doing alot of highway driving. All my driving is across town. ALOT of stop and go traffic. I need something that will pull out with less engine effort...and pull some 33s too.

[Ramjo]

Oh, and I already have a truck that I keep original...paint and all!!!!

[URL=http://s45.photobucket.com/user/_JoeBow_/media/Mobile%20Uploads/downsized_0506001355a.jpg.html][/URL]

[AU_88]

Unless you're really planning on taking that truck off-road leave it alone. It looks really clean and you will just lose your money... For what you would spend on the upgrades you could go find a well maintained, but bruised and dented old jeep or Land Rover that someone has already modified to go off-road.

[RED333]

Ramlo, ya got some good looking rides, why not get some else to run across town in.

[Ramjo]

I've got a jeep. I just want a jacked up truck. I've never had a jacked up truck and the girls round here love it lol so....

 

And btw, that blue paint job is a $700 barn job that has cracks and runs...nothing special up close.

Edited December 17, 2013 by Ramjo

[RED333]

I've got a jeep. I just want a jacked up truck. I've never had a jacked up truck and the girls round here love it lol so....

Now we know the "rest" of the story. :rofl: