LUVTruck.com

Just wondering what the stock rearend will hold up to and are there any options for changing gear ratio without changing the whole rearend?

_________________
Limes? What limes?

I can't speak to the HP question, but I know several V8 guys around here have run a stock rear for quite a while without blowing it up. It depends a lot on how well the truck hooks. You put some traction aids on it, run slicks, etc and it won't last long.

The ratio question, you have quite a few options. You can pull the third member and switch it out pretty easy. Just pulling from the different ratios LUVs came from you can find 3.42, 3.73, 4.10, and 4.56. The third member from an Isuzu Impulse will also fit and has 3.90 gears. If you find one from a Turbo RWD Impulse it will also have a limited slip in it, though that might not be such a good idea behind a V8.

the thing that really kills a rear end is a stout tire chiping shift kit especially when mixed with good traction (slicks). 250 hp w/ a stock trans... no problem!!!!.

_________________
1978 LUV Truck 2WD
450 "Small Block" Chevy
3.70 Ford 9
28x10 Goodyears

Thanks, I will be running a mild built 4.3L with a TH350 trans with a shift kit. No slicks, I will be running standard street tires and I wanted to keep my stock rear because if I swap to a Chevy 10 bolt or twelve bolt then I would have five lug in the rear and six lug in the front. Thanks for the gear ratio info too.

_________________
Limes? What limes?

you should be fine with that combo and the stock rear