2.75 gear experiences?

[hwyhogg]

Hi all,
I'm a new member with a 1956 Ford Panel truck I'm working on....HOWEVER, I do have a common link with you guys on this site. About 5 yrs. ago, I go a great deal on a rebuilt (bearings,seals, etc.) 9" that was supposedly out of ~'67 with 28 spline axles and a 2.75 rear, (does that sound right/possible in a '67?). It was a direct bolt-in for my original '56 rearend. When I bought the truck, it had a tired 428with a c6 and the original 3.92 rear. After driving from California to Tampa, Fl. at 60 mph and A LOT of rpms , I knew I wanted a hwy gear. Now I'm getting ready to fire up the 460 with ~500 hp and wonder if the 2.75 will be okay around town. My plan is to go on road trips and maybe tow a small pop up a couple times a year. Do any of you have a Big Block with this gear and how do you like it? I'm asking because I know a guy that will swap me even for a 3.25 posi; which I know would let that 460 have more fun around town with the imports . He needs to swap sooner than I'll have mine on the road. Sorry for the long 1st post, and thanks for having me?
James

[gregamorton]

I ran a 460 with 2.75s once and I could roast the tires and could pull what ever I wanted. If I was going to be high way driving more than any thing I would go with 2.47s or 2.50s. Those gears will put you around 2000rpm at 70mph without a overdrive.

[gregamorton]

Also all trucks up intill 72 had 3.25s as the highest gear option. The 73-79 had 2.75s and lower. The gears I use are out of ford and mercury cars and I swap the whole pumpkin and use a bastered ujoint or swap the yoke from the truck. Hope this helps.

[hwyhogg]

Thanks for the reply, yes that helps. Since I will mostly be doing hwy driving, I will probably pass on the 3.25 for now and see how the 2.75s are. Glad to hear about the tire roasting Thinking maybe I'll get some steeper gears in a posi for the part of the year I won't be taking trips. I hear if you change out the whole chunk, it's easy enough and you don't have to set the gears up each time...is this true?
thanks again,
James

[gregamorton]

as long as it was setup right the first time. Also need to make sure the gears are the 28 spline chunk.

[big block]

i got a high comp 69-429 with a c6 in my 65 f-100 and had 325 open gears ok and went with a 350 with a trac loc still ok on highway i drive 34 miles to work all hwy and now i am at about 2600 at 60 used to be 2300 2400 at 60 . lots of tire burning power in both i love beating up mustangs / imports / ect... in my old farm truck wes

[SteveC]

my 70 ltd has 2.75 gears i had that thing at over 120 mph and still gaining speed. with just a 351w. wont lauch off the line like 4.10s though

[nolan in blaine]

Anyone know which 73-79 trucks had 2:75's? Im assuming 1/2 tons. I would prolly go that route over an overdrive for now? The junk yards around here want almost $300 for em?

[Brokenarrow]

I've been running 2.75s behind warmed over FEs for 30 years. I wouldn't run them with a smallblock but with the bigblock torque they handle them with ease. (I've seen over 100mph in second gear in my '68 )

[survivorman]

U can get 2.50's from Currie for $100 used, but 2.73's are junk yard material in any 70's big car. Just get the whole rear-end it came with 11 inchy brakes on the big cars which is a double bonus.

Also to help out a bit try a 2200 rpm stall convertor to get you moving faster. It doesn't die on the hwy and really helps out in town, and any higher like a 2600+ will be to loose. I wish we had a 2600 rpm lock-up option like the new trucks.