2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Birdman6165 · 03-26-2011, 10:44 AM

Greetings all; I need your advice. I have my truck at the shop getting the suspension updated and the mechanic is telling me I will have enough get up and go with an open 2.73 rear end. I know the highway driving will be good, but will I still have some pep off the line?

Truck information:
Pontiac 400 with over 300 hp (mild cam, intake manifold, headers, holley)
TH 400 Transmission (Which I will keep)

blackdiesel · 03-26-2011, 10:54 AM

grandpas truck has 2.73 in it and a LT1 motor and it's a dog off the line, it don't start running good till 60 MPH

Birdman6165 · 03-26-2011, 11:22 AM

What would you recomend based on my set up?

blackdiesel · 03-26-2011, 12:48 PM

3.08 or 3.23 if your going to be doing 65 + driving or 3.42's if under 65.

skip99 · 03-26-2011, 12:54 PM

I just bought a 3.42 posi set for our 51...she wants to burn a little rubber! not a lot of distance driving,

Birdman6165 · 03-26-2011, 01:04 PM

I really appreciate the feedback. Here's my rig.

Average Joe · 03-26-2011, 01:17 PM

Mild Pontiac 400=big torque @ low Rpm. Fantastic truck motor. Those 2.73 ought to be great on the highway. Beautiful truck BTW. Keep us posted how this turns out.

Birdman6165 · 03-26-2011, 02:09 PM

Thanks Joe! The low end torque is what concerned me. I have a crane cam
(105072) in it and was told it would also assist with the low end torque. I just don't want to hit the gas from a stand still and have it respond like a gutless pig.

Birdman6165 · 03-27-2011, 12:03 PM

Thanks for the great advice guys. Since I'm staying with the TH400, I'll look for a rear end with 3.08-3.42.

Trucknut57 · 03-27-2011, 07:26 PM

I have a 72 Camaro rear end in my 57' with an open 2.73, a bone stock 350 cu. in. motor, a quadrajet carb, and a th350 trans. When I stomp on the gas it still spins the tires into 2nd gear.

The best part is when I'm cruising down the highway at 70 mph the engine is only turning around 2600 rpm. So it saves me on the gas bill.

**mr48chev** · 03-27-2011, 09:43 PM

It won't hurt a lick to drive it first and see how it does. And if it does what you want it to do. It's already under the truck, drive it for a couple thousand miles and see how you feel then and decide then.

It's your choice though. the possibility of a few more miles per gallon on road trips to truck events and easy freeway cruising or a bit more poke off the line once in a while and a few mpg less all around. At close to 4 bucks a gallon I'd want to know if I could be happy with the highway gears it has now. Don't let people talk you into something until you have tried what you have now.

blackdiesel · 03-27-2011, 11:34 PM

http://www.wallaceracing.com/gear-speed.php here's a cool little tool to help you figure MPH/RPM

tmoble · 03-28-2011, 12:02 AM

run the 2.73 for awhile. I think you'll be ok with it.

Russell Ashley · 03-28-2011, 09:05 AM

I have a 2:73 in my truck with a three-on-the-tree and 350. Fortunately I have a Muncie transmission with a low first gear so it isn't too bad, and the gas mileage is good. I would think your combo would be OK. I definitely would drive it for a while and see how it works for you.

Birdman6165 · 03-28-2011, 11:34 AM

This is great advice gentlemen! I think I will actually try the high gears since I bought the axle for $100 from another soldier who was deploying. Hearing real experiences from those who have been there and done that helps. I'm a novice and realize I should have done all the mechanical before paint etc. I wish I had thought to look for a site like this earlier.
While I want some get up and go for passing and all around fun, good cruising and gas mileage is big positive. Thanks again!

03-26-2011, 10:44 AM	#1
Birdman6165 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Richland, WA Posts: 13	2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? Greetings all; I need your advice. I have my truck at the shop getting the suspension updated and the mechanic is telling me I will have enough get up and go with an open 2.73 rear end. I know the highway driving will be good, but will I still have some pep off the line? Truck information: Pontiac 400 with over 300 hp (mild cam, intake manifold, headers, holley) TH 400 Transmission (Which I will keep)

03-26-2011, 10:54 AM	#2
blackdiesel Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Omaha, Arkansas Posts: 929	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? grandpas truck has 2.73 in it and a LT1 motor and it's a dog off the line, it don't start running good till 60 MPH __________________ '57 Chevy Pickup '56 GMC LCF Cummins '38 Chrysler Royal '57 2wd change http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=speedway

03-26-2011, 11:22 AM	#3
Birdman6165 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Richland, WA Posts: 13	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? What would you recomend based on my set up?

03-26-2011, 12:48 PM	#4
blackdiesel Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Omaha, Arkansas Posts: 929	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? 3.08 or 3.23 if your going to be doing 65 + driving or 3.42's if under 65. __________________ '57 Chevy Pickup '56 GMC LCF Cummins '38 Chrysler Royal '57 2wd change http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=speedway

03-26-2011, 12:54 PM	#5
skip99 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: mt vernon, oh Posts: 868	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? I just bought a 3.42 posi set for our 51...she wants to burn a little rubber! not a lot of distance driving,

03-26-2011, 01:04 PM	#6
Birdman6165 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Richland, WA Posts: 13	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? I really appreciate the feedback. Here's my rig. Attached Images Last edited by Birdman6165; 03-26-2011 at 01:05 PM.

03-26-2011, 01:17 PM	#7
Average Joe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 1,356	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? Mild Pontiac 400=big torque @ low Rpm. Fantastic truck motor. Those 2.73 ought to be great on the highway. Beautiful truck BTW. Keep us posted how this turns out.

03-26-2011, 02:09 PM	#8
Birdman6165 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Richland, WA Posts: 13	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? Thanks Joe! The low end torque is what concerned me. I have a crane cam (105072) in it and was told it would also assist with the low end torque. I just don't want to hit the gas from a stand still and have it respond like a gutless pig.

03-27-2011, 12:03 PM	#9
Birdman6165 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Richland, WA Posts: 13	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? Thanks for the great advice guys. Since I'm staying with the TH400, I'll look for a rear end with 3.08-3.42.

03-27-2011, 07:26 PM	#10
Trucknut57 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Jennings, OK Posts: 323	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? I have a 72 Camaro rear end in my 57' with an open 2.73, a bone stock 350 cu. in. motor, a quadrajet carb, and a th350 trans. When I stomp on the gas it still spins the tires into 2nd gear. The best part is when I'm cruising down the highway at 70 mph the engine is only turning around 2600 rpm. So it saves me on the gas bill. __________________ Somehow, the idiots survive despite their best efforts to kill themselves. - dcozzi

03-27-2011, 09:43 PM	#11
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,823	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? It won't hurt a lick to drive it first and see how it does. And if it does what you want it to do. It's already under the truck, drive it for a couple thousand miles and see how you feel then and decide then. It's your choice though. the possibility of a few more miles per gallon on road trips to truck events and easy freeway cruising or a bit more poke off the line once in a while and a few mpg less all around. At close to 4 bucks a gallon I'd want to know if I could be happy with the highway gears it has now. Don't let people talk you into something until you have tried what you have now.

03-27-2011, 11:34 PM	#12
blackdiesel Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Omaha, Arkansas Posts: 929	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? http://www.wallaceracing.com/gear-speed.php here's a cool little tool to help you figure MPH/RPM __________________ '57 Chevy Pickup '56 GMC LCF Cummins '38 Chrysler Royal '57 2wd change http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=speedway

03-28-2011, 12:02 AM	#13
tmoble Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale, Az Posts: 1,062	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? run the 2.73 for awhile. I think you'll be ok with it.

03-28-2011, 09:05 AM	#14
Russell Ashley Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lawrenceville, Ga Posts: 2,648	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? I have a 2:73 in my truck with a three-on-the-tree and 350. Fortunately I have a Muncie transmission with a low first gear so it isn't too bad, and the gas mileage is good. I would think your combo would be OK. I definitely would drive it for a while and see how it works for you.

03-28-2011, 11:34 AM	#15
Birdman6165 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Richland, WA Posts: 13	Re: 2.73 Rear end for a 57' Chevy Truck?? This is great advice gentlemen! I think I will actually try the high gears since I bought the axle for $100 from another soldier who was deploying. Hearing real experiences from those who have been there and done that helps. I'm a novice and realize I should have done all the mechanical before paint etc. I wish I had thought to look for a site like this earlier. While I want some get up and go for passing and all around fun, good cruising and gas mileage is big positive. Thanks again!



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