I just spent a half hour going through window stickers for every 6.2L SRW Superduty in Virginia. Not a single 4.30-geared truck among them - XL through Platinum.

Are they special order only?

 

I had to special order mine, not 1 to be found for 300 miles. Dealers either don't order for stock or they are bought up right away? I didn't want anything to do with sync so was happy to order.

 

The problem is that the 3.73 gears are the "default" on a 6.2L and for the guy who orders dealer stock vehicles he looks at how attractive all the extra-cost options are to a potential buyer, and the 4.30 gears just don't show up on most customers shopping lists.

I went through a few months ago what you're going through now and the in the end you're going to be better off just special-ordering the entire truck.

-Joe

 

That's my plan - I just thought it might be informative to go drive one for a couple of miles. I'm guessing I'll love the steeper gears, but it would be nice to find out in person and get some butt dyno time.

 

I would have liked to have had seat time in a 4.30 geared truck as well, but the closest thing any dealer near me had was a 2WD XL 6.2L with 3.73 gears. It felt strong, about the same as my '94 460. They wouldn't let me hook a trailer up to it, which for me would be a more accurate comparison anyway. They did have a diesel crew cab with 3.31 gears that I drove, that felt about the same.

When my truck finally comes in it'll be the first time I've ever seen a 4.30 geared 6.2L in person. I'm looking forward to the test drive.

-Joe

 

The local dealer had a white F350 XL crew 6.2 SB SRW 4x4 with 4.30's priced at 30k when I ordered my truck. It was a dealer order and a phenomenal deal.
It sold b4 I got my truck.

 

While web searching I've seen a few F350 SRW with 4.30's. No F250 though. I might have to drive a little to test drive one before I order. I'm still on the fence between the 6.2 or the 6.7.

 

It's a no-brainer for me. I plan on getting an F-350 that I would drive occasionally and keep for a long time - well past the warranty period. The overall complexity of the 6.7 and its emissions-related interfaces scare the heck out of me. I would be very wary of owning one once the factory coverage ran out - could get real pricey real fast.

So, it's the 6.2 for me when I order. Also, I am an advocate for getting the steepest gears available, especially with an engine that makes peak torque above 4,000 RPM. Heck, I'd order a 4.56 ratio if they offered it.

 

The 430's act very similiar to a 5 speed with 3.73's.

My 2008 6.4 had 3.73's and at 70 mph it was at 1975-2000 rpm. My brand new 2014 6.2 with 4.30's cruises at 70mph at 2050 rpm.

I see more difference in city driving than on the hwy. Higher rpms around town, but that is okay, more power there.

 

Is there much difference in unloaded fuel MPG daily driving and highway mileage between the 3.73 and 4.30 axle? Thanks in advance.

 

You'd see a difference between the two but it's marginal from all the reports I've seen here.

I've read more opinions here on FTE where folks would've rather had the 4.30's than folks that would've rather had the 3.73's.

 

I would have to agree and say I don't think there is a whole lot of difference. I have the 4:30 rear E-Locker and have just over 500 miles on my truck and the fuel mileage according to the lie O meter is claiming I am getting 12.5 mpg average. I haven't checked it out with pen and paper yet but will do so soon. So far happy with the new truck, still just getting used to the differences between my 05 diesel and the gasser. I will be towing in about two weeks and I will be writing about how it does then.

 

I have about 3900 miles 430's and a 5star tune and I'm seeing 11.5mpg's, hand calc. but I do have a high rise cap from Jason on my truck and in the past I would lose at least 1mpg with a cap. This is not my daily driver and I don't regret the gear choice. I do wish I went with taller tires, after I went with bfg's 32"s I saw that nitto had a tire stock width but 34" tall.

I wonder if a taller tire with 430's would actually give you beter mpg's?

 

Did your truck come with 32" tires stock? If not, I suspect your speedo is slightly off as the stock tires are somewhere around a 33/34" tires if I remember correctly.

A taller tire won't help mileage, especially if the truck isn't calibrated for the size of the tire. A larger tire is heavier, requiring more to get it rolling. It's a small enough difference that it may not matter, but I can't see how a larger tire would yield better mpg's.

My speedo was so far off with the stock tires that putting 35's on it actually has it 100% correct (checked against 2 gps's).

 

My spedo is spot on to my handheld gps, the dealer put in the tire size when purchased. Also 5star tuner calibrates to your tire size in the program.
My tires are the same height as stock, 32" spec says 32.8" but mounted on truck you always lose some.