Opinions on upgrades

[brewster]

I want your opinion on what I should do.  I'm going to college next year and my truck is great it's a 1975 k20 with a 350 and a sm465 manual, I really like the truck because I only have a 4 mile drive to school and it is only 35 mph on the way there. Since I'm going to college next year im going to be driving a lot at highway speeds for the next 2 or 3 years.  Right now if I go 70 mph it sounds like the truck is gonna explode and it you hit a bump my head hits the roof, it is all factory 3/4 ton suspension and the truck only has 10000 miles so what I am looking at doing is installing new axle gears so my gear ratio is around 3.30 or 3.20, I also want something done about the ride quality.  What should I do that would be low on cost and still get me a good driving experience. Also what brand should I use for weatherstripping?

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[Captkaos]

what size tires are you running and do you have a tach on it.  what gears are in it now?   A 4x4 is going ride rough compared to a 2WD and like a covered wagon compared to a newer truck...  Check your shocks and put some quality ones on there.

I only sell and use Precision weatherstripping...
http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=7&Category_Code=WTHR

[brewster]

My tire size is 265/70 r17
I think my axle ratio is 4.10
I do not have a tach on it
And I will order that weatherstrip soon

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[VileZambonie]

I would swap out that transmission and leave the gears alone.

[brewster]

What transmission would you go with

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[Irish_Alley]

one with OD. either a 700r4 or nv3500 or nv4500

[brewster]

I'm not really familiar with the nv3500 or 4500 but the 700r4 is an automatic with 4 gears so with that overdrive it would lower my rpms and it would keep the medium amount of power I have right now, but it will cost more almost double when I looked (i could be wrong). So by switching axle ratios it will allow my sm465 to have 4 useable gears instead 3 so wouldn't it be the same just it costs less but gives me less torque

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[Irish_Alley]

i wouldnt do gear on my own if it was my first time. and you have to swap both sets and get it right or youll be right back in there. and 1st gear being 6. isnt really usable anyway. OD would get your ratio down to 2.99 and you still would have all usable gears and not just waisting time starting in 1st

[brewster]

Ok thanks for the input I'll discuss that with my mechanic, it sounds like you're pretty knowledgeable about this Irish alley so do you have an suggestions for what I should do to improve my suspension

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[Irish_Alley]

lol not knowledgeable and im still learning. Vile and them would be able to help with the suspension and more on the trans issue

[brewster]

Lol ok well thanks irish alley for all the other help

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[Captkaos]

What suspension help do you need?  It won't ride like a newer car, it will be somewhat rough with straight axles.  Good shocks will help a ride is the suspension stock?

Chris Lucas
73-87chevytrucks.com
squarebody.biz

[brewster]

The suspension is completely stock right now and it ride terrible I just want to fix it but I don't know what to fix it replace

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[Captkaos]

How old are the shocks?  If it is stock, it is hard to make a recommendation on a remedy unless we know the expectations.

Chris Lucas
73-87chevytrucks.com
squarebody.biz

[brewster]

Well I'm pretty sure the shocks are original and about ride quality I don't expect it to ride like a new truck but I don't want my head to hit roof of the truck when I hit a bump going 70 mph

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