Hey whats up everyone, gotta say I love this forum, I get so many ideas from here. I have a 1960 C10 as many of you know by know. I need to put a higher gear ratio ring and pinion set in my rear end, but don't know how to go about it. What ratio set is ideal? I would like to go faster than 60MPH, you know like highway speeds maybe?
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1960 Rear End
- Thread starter MikeRS17
- Start date
dvalentine
Charter Member
Hi Mike. A lot of the ratio selection has to do with what trans you have. I think it's safe to say that a 3:30 is a good middle ground. 3:08 for freeway crusing at a reasonable MPG. Remember that your low end will not have the punch it used to have. An overdrive trans and 3:30ish rear ratio will yield the best of both worlds.
DV
DV
Hey Mike,
DV's right about the ratios. The 3.08 is great on the freeway but unless you've got a granny low, you'll be dissppointed if you still try to use it as a truck (heavy loads or pulling trailers). Even though the granny will get you away from the curb, your torque just about dissappears in 4th gear. This is a mistake I have made myself.
Chevy made 3.38 rear ends on the 60-62 trucks. Their axle code MB and ME according to the Chevy Assembly manual. Not sure what the difference is between MB and ME axles. The book says for 60-61 MB and ME axles went in all C10's. However, in 62, the MB is listed as the shortbed rear axle and the ME is listed as the long bed rear axle. I've got no idea why.
Switching from a 3.90 (which was the other ratio available for the 60) might not be as simple as replacing the ring and pinion, you might have to replace the carrier as well. I know this is the case with the 3.08, but you should double check to make sure if you want to keep your axle housing and just replace the gears.
Hope the info helps.
DV's right about the ratios. The 3.08 is great on the freeway but unless you've got a granny low, you'll be dissppointed if you still try to use it as a truck (heavy loads or pulling trailers). Even though the granny will get you away from the curb, your torque just about dissappears in 4th gear. This is a mistake I have made myself.
Chevy made 3.38 rear ends on the 60-62 trucks. Their axle code MB and ME according to the Chevy Assembly manual. Not sure what the difference is between MB and ME axles. The book says for 60-61 MB and ME axles went in all C10's. However, in 62, the MB is listed as the shortbed rear axle and the ME is listed as the long bed rear axle. I've got no idea why.
Switching from a 3.90 (which was the other ratio available for the 60) might not be as simple as replacing the ring and pinion, you might have to replace the carrier as well. I know this is the case with the 3.08, but you should double check to make sure if you want to keep your axle housing and just replace the gears.
Hope the info helps.
dvalentine
Charter Member
My money's on the 3:33 ratio.
DV
DV