2004 Expy 4.6 w/ 3.73s -- is the power tolerable??

[heymrdj]

As i learned in picking my Expy, the 5.4 is the only motor to get. The 4.6 is so powerless it gets same mileage as the 5.4. As for the guy saying 12mpg, wtf??? I can get 20mpg going 55mph. Going 75mph will kill your truck's, and any other vehicles, economy.

[puum]

Originally Posted by AtlPikMan

How Can I Find Out If My Expy Has 3.73s?

There are 2 ways. 1) Check on your driver door jam sticker and look at the axle code. Then do a lookup on the internet to see what it equates to, or post it here and someone will tell you. 2) lay underneath and read the tag on the rear differential and see what it says.

Dale

[AtlPikMan]

Originally Posted by puum

There are 2 ways. 1) Check on your driver door jam sticker and look at the axle code. Then do a lookup on the internet to see what it equates to, or post it here and someone will tell you. 2) lay underneath and read the tag on the rear differential and see what it says.

Dale

When the Rin Quits I'll use option #1.....

[vjstangelo]

Back in 2003 I bought a '99 Expy (4x2, 4.6L)) for about $14,000. The primary use was to tow our 25' camper (dry weight 4500 lbs). The rear end was the 3.31. First trip was to Yellowstone from VA and she was a real dog in the steep grades (e.g. Togwottee pass, Powder River Pass). Back in VA the 3.31 did the job, but was sluggish on the hills. Last year a decided to either (1) sell and get an X, (2) keep and upgrade as best as I could for improved towing. Decided on option 2 for finances. Put in an Edge controller tuned for towing and replaced rear end with 3.73. Much better performance when towing with the new set-up. Hopefully this set-up will last me for a few more years until the kids are out of school and we decide on an upgrade.

Our plans are a return to Yellowstone this year and I'll post a trip report comparing the towing then vs now.

A lot of bashing on the 4.6L but I think it's a bit of overkill. The 4.6L is a fine motor and does well when the 'cuffs are removed (better rear end, etc.). Note we took the ole girl to VA Beach two weekends ago and on the highway averaged about 20 mpg plus change (hand calculated).

[nogo73]

On the door jamb label under axle "19" is a 3.55 open,"17" 3.31 open,"16"3.73 open, "H9" 3.55 L/S, "H7" 3.31 L/S,"H6" 3.37 L/S. We just got a 04' Expy,5.4,3.73 open(16) ,4X4. Picked it up in the Twin Cities on a Tues and on Fri.travelled 1200+ miles round trip tp Dayton,OH. Out was empty and back trip was loaded with boxes(both seats down). Got a solid 19+mpg going the posted limits in Ohio,Indiana.Illinois,Iowa . Tried to use cruise control as much as possible. So far am happy with the vehicle. It has 66k on the ticker now. Original continentals on the wheels. The two rear ones alittle more worn than the fronts(had em rotated) All of them have even wear and 45psi in them .I was suprised to find out that the psi was that high,but with them wearing even across and needing to be replaced before the next snow,I'll leave em where they are.

[nogo73]

My bad ,the "H6" is a 3.73 L/S

[heymrdj]

I just found mine at 45 and lowered to 40. New COntinentals when i picked her up at 48k miles. Turns out the place that rotated them went by the 45psi rating on the tire rather than the 35psi rating on the truck (i run 5 over)