HOW CAN I MAKE IT GO FASTER?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Avery brown

Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2021
Posts
31
Reaction score
17
Location
Oakley Idaho
First Name
Avery
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
My truck is a 74 it is a 3/4 ton it has a flatbed on it and it is the sm465 4 speed manual with a target master 350. The top speed on it is 58 as of right now and i want to make it go at least 65+ I wanna know every possible way to make it go faster. And yes i want to have 265/75/16 tires. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
 

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,451
Reaction score
4,554
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, c30 C&C, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350
Bigger tires
Regear
overdrive unit
transmission swap

Those are your options. A regear is what I would choose if I were you.
 

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,076
Reaction score
3,049
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
Should be able to do 65 easily right now. What RPM at you turning at when you are "topped out" at 58 mph?

You sure your engine is running right? (proper tune up, good compression, cam lobes not wiped out)?
 

AyWoSch Motors

The Parts Guy
Joined
Nov 6, 2020
Posts
4,687
Reaction score
13,648
Location
New Mexico
First Name
Ayden
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K1500 Sierra
Engine Size
350ci V8
I'd say make sure everything is functioning the way it should. Make sure the engine is up to par. After that, change the rear gear. If you have 4:10s or something, itll be screaming.
I have a SM465 too, but it'll do 100mph without much issue. As long as the engine is running well, and the rear gear isn't something crazy, I don't see why it shouldn't do 65-70 easy.
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
4,055
Reaction score
5,891
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
Put it on a rollback that will go 70, problem solved. Your welcome. Sorry, couldnt resist. I think before any of us can help you, you need to find out what rpms your turning at 58mph and what rear gears you have. As for every possible way to make it faster, there isn't room to write all that. Stick with the basics, a healthy engine, and the right gearing.
 

nvrenuf

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Posts
1,716
Reaction score
1,922
Location
Mobile, Al.
First Name
John
Truck Year
1991
Truck Model
K5
Engine Size
454
That tire it 31” tall, you should easily be about to run 70. Even if you have 4.56’s you’d only be running 2700 rpm at 55 mph.
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
5,942
Reaction score
9,831
Location
Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
454
^What he said. With your tires and a 1:1 top gear, you're at 2500-2800 rpms at 58mph, if you have 4.10 or 4.56 gears. If you have taller gears then even lower rpms.
The issue is 100% under the hood if that engine can't push the truck past 60mph, or 70+.
 

Catbox

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2018
Posts
3,988
Reaction score
14,558
Location
Just Outside of Portland Oregon
First Name
Peter
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
461
Mine has 265/75/16's and the SM465 and runs 80 mph on the highway like a champ.
I do have a set of 3.73 gears in the rear end.
 

Catbox

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2018
Posts
3,988
Reaction score
14,558
Location
Just Outside of Portland Oregon
First Name
Peter
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
461
I would say check the tune of your engine.
That and vacuum leaks.
Simple and very effective to make things better.

After that, how is the engine configured?
Single exhaust?
Plugged catalytic converter?
Mis matched hot rod parts on it?

Tell us more about what you are working with.
 

73c20jim

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2018
Posts
2,282
Reaction score
2,924
Location
Tombstone, AZ
First Name
Jim
Truck Year
1973, 1973
Truck Model
C20 2WD Custom Deluxe. C10 2WD Base Model
Engine Size
350 CID 195/260 HP Goodwrench crate, 400 CID 2bbl
Check wide open throttle.
 

Matt69olds

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2018
Posts
2,345
Reaction score
3,590
Location
Central Indiana
First Name
Matt
Truck Year
81
Truck Model
GMC 1/2 ton
Engine Size
455 Olds
Do you have a tach? Not that it matters much, even if the truck had 5.13 gears it should run better than 60mph.

My first thought: exhaust kinked up or restricted? Fuel pump or fuel filter/lines restricted? Engine tune?
 

swilson143

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2020
Posts
54
Reaction score
118
Location
CA
First Name
Scott
Truck Year
1991
Truck Model
Suburban V2500
Engine Size
6.0L LQ4
My truck is a 74 it is a 3/4 ton it has a flatbed on it and it is the sm465 4 speed manual with a target master 350. The top speed on it is 58 as of right now and i want to make it go at least 65+ I wanna know every possible way to make it go faster. And yes i want to have 265/75/16 tires. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

LS swap!
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,070
Posts
908,372
Members
33,545
Latest member
GrayWK
Top