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I realize they don't have much power and I'm not gonna be passing a lot of ppl , but changing the gears in the rear end have to help somehow . Has anyone with a stock set up changed the rear end gears and not the tranny and had more highway success ? If the 77 and up had 4.10's would it be smart to buy a parts truck and take the rear end and the front disc brakes , or can I order 4.10 or 3.73 gears for what I have now ?

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My first Luv

My 72 had the 4.56 gears when I got it and it would barely go 45 before it sounded like it was going to blow. This was with 14" wheels, small block and turbo 350. I tracked down a 3.42 rear carrier out of an 81 pup and then added 235.75.15 tires and it was way better. I could cruise on the freeway but still not happy with the RPMs. The gears set helped a little as did the tall tires. I then swapped to a Ford 9 inch with 3.00 gears and I think it is perfect now. It will still spin the tires at will and cruise at 70. My current tires are 245.60.15.

When these trucks were made the national speed limit was 55 so they are happy at that speed. I have a stock 78 now too and it is what it is. For around town it is fun to drive but long freeway trips are no fun. A VW bus is faster than a stock Luv in my opinion.

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Three Amigos

You're not going to be able to order gears for your rear end anywhere.

A parts truck is always good to have. Front discs are great. Swap the rear end and you'll be cruising a lot happier.

Cruising at 3000-3500 rpms isn't awful once you get used to it.

Oldestisuzuist
although you may have given me the answer ( & don't get me wrong THANKS ) But it really doesn't answer my question about > "how to identify them by markings or what have they ".

Sometimes the tools (id-markings) are more valuable then the answer....as were still under assumption its the stock rear end in a 39 yr old truck.

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Previously owned 2 Luvs) 75 & 77 Fleet-side
3rd 77 Step fixing up aka The Yellow Submarine to Luv Ms (Sun)Shine=)
98 GMC Gas Guzzler~>The reason 4 my ~>3rdLuvNext2a66MALIBU =)
66 Chevelle The Oldest of all the vehicles I owned

No way that I know of. Get into those manuals you are selling and see what it says.

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

There are no markings. You can open it up and count the gears. You can jack one wheel up and turn it 1 full revolution and count the number of revolutions the yoke turns. You can get a tach and a gps speedometer and do a calculation going down the road. I can't think of any other way to identify.

Go back & read the entire reply that I took the quote from, it will give you some idea of what trucks had what rear end gears. It also states that there are no identifier tags & that no new gears are available, even gives you the R&P count for each available ratio. When you find a donor then you'll either have to spin a tire & count driveshaft revs or pull the 3rd member & count R&P teeth to confirm the ratio. Don't bother with 4wd trucks, they all had 4.10 gears.

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'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

Also remember: If you jack up one wheel only, the yoke turns will be half speed. Example:---one turn of the wheel causes yoke to turn 2 1/4 turns. Times 2 = a 4:56 ratio. What differentials do.

What rpm figures are you looking at around 60 mph? I've been wondering my rear end ratios and I have a 79 2wd.

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Yellow 74 LUV. Factory a/c
Blue 79 LUV. Factory a/c almost there
Silver 78 LUV. California emissions donor car now gone
White 79 LUV. Factory a/c

My trucks run perfect 60% of the time all the time
Tucson, AZ

4.10 manual
3.73 auto
Either tranny is 1:1 in high gear.
Use something like this http://www.bgsoflex.com/rpmmph.html to calculate rpms or mph.

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'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

I guess need to slow down when i'm thru skimming post.... Thanks ...Oldestisuzuist

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Previously owned 2 Luvs) 75 & 77 Fleet-side
3rd 77 Step fixing up aka The Yellow Submarine to Luv Ms (Sun)Shine=)
98 GMC Gas Guzzler~>The reason 4 my ~>3rdLuvNext2a66MALIBU =)
66 Chevelle The Oldest of all the vehicles I owned

I just recent bought a 1977 2wd auto for a parts truck. It has the stock rear end in it , does anyone know what gears it has in it ???

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My first Luv

4.10

I want to put it in my 74 2wd 4 speed. Should go right in correct or does the auto/man matter ?

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My first Luv

Should go right in.

Hell yeah thank you 4.10 has to be better than 4.56 lol

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My first Luv