gearing question

Hi guys,
I finally got a power lock for my front dana 27.
It has 5;38 gears with a few broken teeth witch means that it is a 4 series carrier and I 3:73 gears now.
I am doing this on the cheap and dont want to buy new gears.
But I have found some used 4:10s the price is right but I was hoping to find some 4:56 gears
So my question is do I need the 4:56's or will the 4:10'sbe a good improvment over the 3:73"
I'm running a healthy 350 buick, 3speed manual and Dana 20 t/c with a 9" ford rear end and Dana 27 front. Any experiences or opions would be appreciated.
Thanks Ken

 

you would hardly notice the difference.

JB

 

What size tires are you running? I sure you realize this already, but you will also need to change gears in the rear end if you change the front.

 

Since you have a “healthy Buick 350” I’d think your 3.73’s would be perfect for up to 33” tires, 4.10’s will have you spin’n ‘bout 3K RPMs to do 65 MPH down the highway with 33’s and you probably don’t wanna go much bigger with a Dana 27 front.
That’s my opinion at least.

 

I've got 33 12.5 mud tires on it. It goes way faster than it needs to on the road. I have a second 9" pig with 4:11 gears and posi.
My dad has a 48 cj2a with 5:38s (I think) it barly does 50 mph, we never drive it that fast. I dont commute in my cj-5 just tool around when I'm not wheelin. But I feel 5:38s would be lower than I'd like.
The 4:10s are a deal and would fit the power lock but maybe I would be happier with 4:56s. Tight budget and I'd like to get that power lock in.
Considered welding the spidders but couldent bring myself to do it.

 

It sounds like you've got everything you need to do the 4.10s, so that would be the cheapest. I would think that would be just about right with 33" tires and no overdrive. Sounds like you've got plenty of engine to push it even with higher gears. How do you like it with the 3.73s?

 

Besides, 4.56 gears are not available and to the best of my knowledge never have been available for the 27. Nickmil.

 

I've got 33 x 12.5's and 4.10's. Works very well for me. Even before I got the sm420 in. It's not the ultimate for trail duty but it's pretty good.
If I had to do it over I would go with 4.27 or maybe 4.56 (dane 30 front) at the lowest but now we're splittin hairs.

 

Thanks guys I will go with the 4:10s.
The 3:73s have been all right that buick lugs us around on the trails with out having my foot on the gas. If things start get sticky or steep I just shift up a gear or two and start pushing on the joy pedal and things get interesting fast:twisted: . I did the power saginaw conversion (great) now my wife drives it as much as I. I will be adding a rear tank this winter, that buick is a thirsty mill and range is limited.
Thanks alot I'll get started on those axles. Ken