Wednesday, September 21, 2011

I have a 1962 pickup truck and it is geared low so it only goes 55 mph. How can I get it geared up.?

Too slow for highway. how much to change gear problem?I have a 1962 pickup truck and it is geared low so it only goes 55 mph. How can I get it geared up.?
you,ll have to change the rear differential in it to get more speed out of it,other wise it will run like this,the lower the number like a 3:23 gear ratio will help it out on speed on the highway ,first off though you,ll need to know what it has in it good luck hope this helps.I have a 1962 pickup truck and it is geared low so it only goes 55 mph. How can I get it geared up.?
your welcome.

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Change the rear end and speed worm and gears in transmission to match. Use one out of a 60's car that had the same rear end.

Change transmissions to a passenger car model.
The rear differential will have to be changed with a chunk that has taller gears.
If it is truly geared low you will have to change the transmission or the differential. It may have a governor on it, allowing it go up to a certain speed.
While changing out the differential by replacing the ring gear and pinion with ones of a ';higher'; ratio would do what you ask, you would loose the low end pulling power of the truck.



A different solution might be to install an overdrive transmission - which bolts up behind the current one. It would also mean a shorter drive shaft.



Gear Vendor's makes such a unit - they probably will have something which fits.



Yet a different solution is to swap in a modern transmission behind your old engine - one that has more gears - including single or double overdrive. This is easier than it sounds, especially if you have one of the standard engines which has a common bell housing pattern for years and years. While you are at it, if you have a manual, you could swap out for an automatic. Going the other way is harder - as you don't have the interior bits to operate a clutch.



If you don't mind the loss of low end power, the ring/pinion change is the least expensive. Just make sure you find someone who actually knows how to check the mesh of the gears. If they mesh correctly, the differential will last 200,000 miles. If they are set up wrong - it could be toast in 500.
You'll want to go to a numerically lower gear set in the rear end. Say you have 3.11 gears in the rear differential. Going to say a 2.73 ratio would just about take care of it.



Of course you'll need to alter your speedo to make it accurate. I assume this is a 2wd truck? If it's 4wd then you'd need to change out gears in the front end and rear end. Remember that the fronts may be reverse toothed gears. You didn't mention anything about the tire size or the transmission size. Depending on the engine, original or updated, and tranny type you could do this. Let's say it's an automatic 3 speed. An updated unit like a turbo 350 or turbo 400. Well, with some modifications, you could stick a 700R4 transmission which would give you an overdrive gear for the highway while maintaining the other gear ratios you have.



What about the tires, are they stock or are they something smaller (circumferance) Taller tires are going to have the same effect as changing the gears. Example, I have an 80 Ford Bronco with 38.5'; tires on it. The gears were 3.50 in a Ford 9'; rear end. Those were awful. I changed the gear sets front and rear to the 4.11's and they were great. Speed was even accurate. The thing is though that when I did that, I had 37'; tires. When I put the 38.5'; tires on it, it changed the whole picture. Power loss due to gear ratio alteration via tires. That's a lot of info but you'll sort it out. write me if you have more questions.
Installing larger tires will give you more speed @ the same RPM's as when you were doing 55 MPH. How much more speed will be determined by the circumference of the rear tires. There are some web sites that will show the increase if I can find them for you I'll post them.

Good luck



http://www.intercotire.com/site63.php This site will give you an idea of the change tires can make.

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