2.73 rear end

[jfnar]

I recently acquired an unfinished project, '81 jimmy that has been converted to 2wd. It has no engine or transmission. I just checked the rear end ratio by jacking up one wheel and spinning it 2 revs and was surprised to find it's less than 3. I checked the net and found that there was a 2.42 and 2.73 available. I believe mine is 2.73. Now I'm trying to get my mind around the best engine/transmission combination to look for. Does anyone out there have info on what was used originally on trucks with this rear ratio? I plan to make a driver, no racing or towing, but I do have some hills to deal with. Should I start looking for a different rear axle? Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks.