With your 4.10 gearing and our SM465 transmission you could get by for a while with the 4.10 gears and 35" tires, but 4.56 gears would be better with 35".  

putting on the 4 inch lift would help stability and lower your center of gravity.unless you`re driving through ponds i would drop it. a buddy of  mine has a 1979 f250 with a 4 inch lift 35`s and 4.10`s for a daily driver. any higher off the ground and it would be illegal around here in Missouri. the bumpers cannot be more than 44 inches off the ground.  

Yeah, I've pretty much decided to drop it. I'm going to regear it also, but for now I'm just going to drop it down and go with smaller tires. The truck does not get used that much (only when I'm playing, or odds/ends). I want to keep the tough look of the truck. Engine and Tranny are in good shape, Suppension is new, what more can ya ask for when ya buy a used 4x4 for under five thousand.  

Ok, I know you guys were losing sleep over my truck. Just so ya know, Transmission is fine. A hose was clogged causing pressure and making things leak. Had some hoses changed and a new pcv valve and all is good. Transmission is in good shape and going strong. Hope you guys can get some good sleep tonite after that. LOL. Just wanted to say thank you for all of your advice, it is appreciated. Bryan, I'm seriously considering that offer.  

my email is crazy_redneck08@hotmail.com   if you want to see pics of my truck you can go to www.myspace.com/cumberlandredneck08 and go to pics and then my vehicles...the truck does not have the lift block in the back at the moment...its just the front lift and the 35's  

Ok, you guys have been great but I have one more question. With the gears that are in it, what would be the least inexpensive way to get this truck a little more road friendly, yet keep its tough look and still make it woods/muddin ready? With the way that it is geared (4:10)Which tire should I go with and should I drop it? I'm confused about the gear ratios. Am I geared low or high (yes I'm that new to 4x4). My 305 engine is running good and I'd like to work around what I have. All I'm really trying to do is make it more road friendly for longer travel (I know 38's are no good for that, I'm not that much of a noob...LOL). Thanks in advance for the help.  

p.s. I'm just looking for other options besides regearing it.........  

Your engine RPM with the SM465 and 4.10 gear ratio at 60MPH and 38" tires is 2175 RPM.  That is still higher than if you had a 700R4 transmission (.70 overdrive) with P235/75R15 (28.9") tires with the same 4.10 gear ratio (2002 RPM).
Dropping to 4" lift from 8" lift will give you less wind resistance on the highway and 35" tires will fit with minor trimming on the front fenders (depending on the width of tires), less stress on your driveshaft u-joints also.  Then your RPM with the 4.10 gear ratio at 60MPH would be about 2362 RPM, giving you more power.  35" tires with 4" lift will still have that tough look you want to keep (depending on tire choice) and be better for longer distance driving.  

GM, thank you for the help. I am going to go ahead and do just that. I will probably have to keep the eight inch lift on it for a little while, but I am going to go with smaller tires, and then drop it when i get the chance. I am eventually going to put a 350 in it and I think then it'll be exactly what i want. I wanted to get the fenders trimmed anyway as because I think it helps all the way around (clearance, turning, large holes). Thanks for all of the help and advice everyone, this forum is awesome. Be safe out there.  

GM, I have a 700r4 transmission in the truck. When I turn I cannot turn very sharp or the tire will catch on the fender. I think I have decided to keep the lift for a while, but I am going to be adding a set of 33's on the truck. I think this will give me the clearance I need for ditches, logs, holes, etc. Also, if I'm correct, the truck will gain back its power and be a little more road friendly. If I am understanding all of the advice you guys and friends have been telling me, I should be able to take the truck longer distances on the highway to get to my hunting spots, and still have enough tire to make it through the trails to get back into the Florida woods. I may drop it down a few inches if I can find someone that would want to trade out lift kits down here. In the future I'll probably throw a larger motor in it and change the tranny to a Turbo400. For now, I think the change of tires will take care of what I need (highway/distance driving). Am I incorrect with this assumption? Again, my truck is a 305, with a 700r4 and an eight inch lift.  

or according to your last post, 35's should work ok too, is that correct?  

For some reason I was thinking your truck had the SM465 Manual transmission.  With 4.10 gears and the 700R4, any tire bigger than 33" will be slugish and limit the use of overdrive.  With the 700R4 in overdrive (.7) 33" tires at 60 MPH will be less than 1800 RPM.  There would be no need to change to a TH400 trans.  To keep the 700R4 alive and keep overdrive useable you just need to gear correctly.  

Axle gearing with the 700R4 trans:  P235/75R15 (28.9") tires - 3.73 gears;  235/85R16 (31.7") tires - 4.10 gears;  33" tires - 4.56 gears; 35"-36" tires - 4.88 gears;  37" tires - 5.13 gears;  38.5" tires - 5.38 gears.  These are still keeping RPM between 1900 RPM and 2000 RPM at 60 MPH in overdrive except for the first two I listed that have the RPM at just over 1800.  Most of the time they are geared too tall from the factory.  

Roger that GM. I can't regear it at this point and time, so I am going to go with the 33's and hope for the best. I am currently redoing the front brakes (keeping them stock). I'm not in a position to regear (sounds like that might be pricey and/or above my knowledge of mechanics). Its a good looking truck, and for the cheap price I paid, I can't complain. So hopefully the 33's will solve my delimma for a while (ie roadfriendly and woods capable). With the 8 inch lift is should give me clearance also.