Hey folks.

I am working with a 97 F250HD 5.8 pickup and I am going to use it to tow my Wrangler rock-crawler to Moab this April. Some pictures:




I have the truck for sale right now and if it doesn't sell for what I'm asking I'm going to keep it and use the dang thing. My problem is that I love the tire & wheel setup (35" tire 18" wheel) but hate the associated problems that come with increasing tire height from stock. So, gonna try and alleviate it with some mods.

From messin' with the Jeeps I know the benefits a re-gear can have with respect to power and driveability. My plans:

Gear the rear only (for now in plans to SAS the front with a 60) to 5.13 gears. The calculator shows 70 mph with a 2500 RPM with this trans (E4Od,) tire, and gear setup. I can live with that.

Step up to a set of shortie headers (any info here is very welcome) and I'm going to build a Cat-less exhaust setup (I've already thought about the environmental issues and I'm ok with it.)

Here's what would help me in my decisions here. I need some real-world experience with owners that have done the gear ratio in this type of pickup. What was your experience with the driveability and towing ability with this setup?

I have plans for a modified P-pump cummins in this pickup in a couple of years but I NEED to tow with it until then.

I welcome any and ALL flaming, constructive critisism/ideas. I have done a search about gear ratios and I just didn't find what I'm lookin' for but I suck at searching these forums. Bring on the info, and thanks in advance

 

5.13s sounds good to me, 4.88s probably wouldn't be bad either. I'd suggest longtubes if you touch the exhaust at all though, shorties require replacement of the stock Y and cats to provide any benefit and even then they won't produce gains like the longtubes under 3000rpm.

P.S. Nice trucks you got there.

 

Long tubes it is! I thought about that and yeah, since I'm doing a new exhaust anyhoo might as well get rid of the stock Y and just make it a true dual.

Thanks for the info.

 

hey good looking truck. what lift is on it?

 

Well yall just about have me talked into the long tube headers as well

Btw the way, That IS a GREAT looking truck, Mine is the same but, except the two tone and I dont have the wheels

 

Just a basic 2" suspension. Leafs in the front and blocks in the rear. Rides like crap so I'm planning on linking the front end and utilizing a Dodge Dana 60 axle for the coil spring junk. Should ride a bit nicer and, hey, it'll be a linked truck. That's just cool IMHO.

 

Nice truck! Once you re-gear it will make a huge difference im sure. As far as other performance mods go, an exhaust will give you a really good increase. And I have been told a new cam produces a lot more power in the 351's. Soon I hope to put a cam in my 96 F-Deuce as well.

 

Ya got another vote for long tubes here. I went from stock exhaust to LT headers and true dual w/ single chambers on my 89 351, and OH MY GOD did it wake this truck up.