SBC what RPM range is ok for highway use?

What is an acceptable RPM range for a SBC at highway speed?

I have a 383 SBC with 700R4 tranny, 4.56 posi, and 28" tall tires...here is what I am looking at with that setup.

RPM:2500
Tire Diameter: 28"
Axle Ratio 4.56
Transmission Ratio: .7
MPH = 65.27

This is going to be in a 55 chev truck.

2500RPM seems like it would not shorten the life of t he motor and be doable on 2hour trips to the coast.

just realized to...when it drops out of OD 65mph becomes 3700 RPM

what do you think?

 

Safe for cross country...Frank Kunkel

 

Sounds good,,it should work fine.
In overdrive,,I would prefer a little bit less rpm at highway speeds,,,around 2200,,but it won't hurt a thing.
The 4.56 gear should really haul when it is needed.

Tommy

 

2500 aint bad at all

 

yeah i figure it will be a blast to drive around town...should be a stump puller and still be drivable on the highway. The motor should make most of its torque/hp under 5k rpm.

i imagine i will be spending time working on getting it to hook up vs hop really bad.

 

yea that sounds about right. my work truck runs a little closer to 2200 rpms and thats with 4.11 in the back.

 

I got a 3:55 rear gear in my '56 chevy truck and a crate motor 350/350 trans...it does 70 mph all day long at 2800 rpm's. Doesn't get great gas mileage, but who cares?

 

Depends on how fast you want to get where your going.... Just kiddin'

With that stump puller gear, your mileage will suffer somewhat, but it all depends on how far you plan to travel.
Longer trips = mo $$$......But its just money.

 

yeah i am not too concerned with gas mileage...I also have a Ford 8.8 with 3.73 gears that I will put in if I decide the 10bolt 4.56 is too much.

avg trips will be 2 hour trips to the coast/LA. longest trip it would see could be Vegas from Bako or to the Bay area...

 

Back in the days before Overdrive transmissions, we used to figure a 40% rule for highway driving a "real" Hot Rod. In other words 2400 at 60mph 2800 at 70 etc. Still gave strong acceleration and was livable on the road.

I used to drive a 331" small block from So Cal to Northern Cal and Vegas regularly at 2800-3000 rpm, and other than using a bit of gas, no big deal. Put a ton of miles on it

 

I run around 2600 rpm at 70 mph on the highway and seems to be just fine. She has plenty left when I gas on her. 355/th350 does nice.

 

Like everyone has said, shouldn't be a problem as long as you are willing to sacrafice mileage.

 

Sounds like the passing gear will be in the meat of the power range. Not the best for MPG, but ought to be fun!

 

A lot of guys,me included, used to run 4-1/2's and gave no thought to buzzing down the hiway at 3500 rpm for hours.Not only SBC's but BBC's and B block Mopars.

 

I drove my 283 with a 2 speed powergluide from nor cal to so cal all the way at probably 3500 rpms. Didnt seem to hurt her at all.
It actually was good my my tranny to run it for awhile like that.

 

Does not sound to bad at all

 

I think the 4.56 gears will be way overkill, unless you are running some really wide rubber.
I also have a 383/700R4 and my gears are only 3.25.
Granted, my 3.25 are actually overkill in the opposite direction - 3.50 would be more ideal, but even with the 3.25 gears I can easily spin both rears off the line, so how much more bottom end grunt is really needed?
And it is really nice to hit the Interstate at 1900 rpm.
4.11 would still be more than good.

 

Good combo with a killer first gear. Make shure the camshaft is happy at highway rpm. Drag race cams and overdrives dont get along.

 

Thats a final drive ratio of 3.19 which is very close to the 3.08 millions of SBC came from the factory with it will do more than that easily alll day long

 

the 28" tall wheels i have right now will not hook up at all... 235x70x15

I am still debating on running steel wheels with cheater slicks in the back or running my rocket wheels with some meaty tires in the back.

I ended up with the 4.56 10bolt because it was a hell of a deal and has after market axles...ideally i would like something a little less dramatic but i am going to run it and see how I like it before I make any changes.

 

I drove a 61 Vette with 283 from central Texas to Meade Kansas running a 4:11 and four speed. Tacked around 3800-3900 all the way. Temp was around 95 in summertime. No problems at all except for getting 8MPG.

 

My '92 Explorer w/V6 Auto in overdrive is 2500 @ 65 mph. It has almost 187,000 miles.