Can I get by with 3.55 frt gears with a 3.50 rear? The D44 frt has 3.55, I'm putting a 9" rear in, can only get 3.50. I would say yes since 4x4 is only used in snow/mud/dirt but want to check on here. Thanks.

 

Soft ground or not, you will be spinning your front tires or dragging your rear tires the whole time you had 4wd engaged. Even though the ring is a very small difference in ratio I would have to think that kind of stress on the transfer case can't be good for it and would drastically shorten it's life.

Just my .02

 

i wouldnt worry about it as long as you dont use 4x4 on dry pavment

 

i have been running it in my 86 sence i have been drivein it aint had an issue yet even on pavement i havent felt a bind, the front is actually 3.54 and i think the rule is 1% so that would be .35 and with a little imagination its close enough to .4 for me so im happy with it doesnt hop in 4 wheel drive and im locked front and rear so all 4 are turnin i say go fer it.

 

Thanks. I googled Ford 9" 3.55 and see a lot of references to it but cannot find the gears so far, only 3.50. I've already got the 3.55 from the TTB that is being replaced with a 79 SA.

 

I found a thread on another board that said that the factory actually used 3.54 up front with a 3.50 rear so I guess I'm good!

 

That's what I was just going to say. You are fine with that difference. You will find the same problem with the 4.88 ratio, the 9in has 4.86. You don't want to vary too far but about 1% or less is about right, so with 3.50 ratio; plus or minus .035. Max is really 3.54 if you want to use it for the street. In some mud drag instances drivers will overdrive the front axle as much as 20% to help pull in a straight line.

Matt