Put the Dodge to work, Hauling a GMC

[Batphreak]

Over the weekend I hauled my father-in-law's '72 GMC 4x4 shortbed from mid-MO to eastern IL. My truck is all in stock form. When I hit the hills on I-44 just west of St. Louis (around Pacific) the truck just wasn't happy pulling up those things in Overdrive. I was running about 60-65, until I got into the hills, it was pulling down and shifting itself into 3rd so I clicked OD off and ran 50-55. It pulled like a champ at that speed, but the engine was turning 2200-2300. With a stock truck and 3. 55 gears should I have been able to pull better in OD? I know I wasn't running the thing out of it's specs, ate up a little extra fuel on me, though.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

At 2200-2300 RPM, you were in the power band of that Cummins.



My truck with 3. 73 gears pulls in OD quite well when I am around the 2000-2200 RPM range. That's 70-75 MPH for me.

 

[BigEasy]

That's why everyone is upgrading their transmissions and torque convertors...