Seeking drive train knowledge
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 1
From: Jamestown, IN
Larry brings up an excellent point I have a 63 international 1 ton 4x4 with 4.88s and i drive it to school from time to time. 45 seems to be its happy speed. It has a TON of power. So gears like this can be handy but also inconvenient for highway speeds
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,687
Likes: 1,255
From: Jefferson City, MO
That's one thing I love about this forum. You will always get all sides of a discussion.
My Father-in-law told me it could handle highway speeds, but that may be why Grandpa Mark had to have the engine rebuilt sometime around 1970
Of course he also said it was a great mudding truck. They would put chains on the back and go have fun. Which is why I'm having to scrape a layer of grime off everything....
I really appreciate all this good info.
My Father-in-law told me it could handle highway speeds, but that may be why Grandpa Mark had to have the engine rebuilt sometime around 1970
Of course he also said it was a great mudding truck. They would put chains on the back and go have fun. Which is why I'm having to scrape a layer of grime off everything....
I really appreciate all this good info.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 51
From: SW Missouri
Harrier
Your kinda like I am ,not in a highly populated area and not on a interstate. If you wanted to go to Jeff. or Sedalia it would be back roads and 45 to 50 would be fine. Only you can decide if that would be ok with you. I would suggest you get it drivable and see how you liked the low gear rearend. The low gears have several advantages, being able to pull hills and not be shifting all the time. You will be able to turn a corner at 20mph and accelerate back to speed without ever having to shift and go across a field at 2 mph.
Good luck what ever you decide.
Larry
Your kinda like I am ,not in a highly populated area and not on a interstate. If you wanted to go to Jeff. or Sedalia it would be back roads and 45 to 50 would be fine. Only you can decide if that would be ok with you. I would suggest you get it drivable and see how you liked the low gear rearend. The low gears have several advantages, being able to pull hills and not be shifting all the time. You will be able to turn a corner at 20mph and accelerate back to speed without ever having to shift and go across a field at 2 mph.
Good luck what ever you decide.
Larry
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,687
Likes: 1,255
From: Jefferson City, MO
That's what I will end up doing. I don't have a bed for it right now, so it will be even easier. I will get it up and running....someday....and try it out for a while. It's good to have lots of options.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,556
Likes: 80
From: Manhattan, KS
I changed the rear end in my 54 F250 to a 3.73 to be able to drive at highway speeds. The truck originally had a 4.88 like yours and screamed at 50+ mph. I was changing the engine/trans and drive train anyway and it wasn't my grandpa's truck either. The rear end change allows me to cruise at 65-70 with a reasonable RPM and 245-75-16 tires.
Now, the easy to change part might be an overstatement. The first change was a bear as the axle U bolts were a bugger to get off. Many hours, lots of PB blaster and a 4 ft cheater bar on the nuts. Easy would be to cut and find new u bolts, but I dont' know how available they would be or the cost.
OT, to Harrier, see my user name, GBR!
Now, the easy to change part might be an overstatement. The first change was a bear as the axle U bolts were a bugger to get off. Many hours, lots of PB blaster and a 4 ft cheater bar on the nuts. Easy would be to cut and find new u bolts, but I dont' know how available they would be or the cost.
OT, to Harrier, see my user name, GBR!
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Long Beach/Crestline, Ca
A good spring shop should be able to make up new U bolts for a fair price.. when i did the 4x4 kit on my 55 F250 i had the front spring stacks done and all new U bolts made up at the same time.. don't recall just what they charged to thread and bend the bolts for me but i think it was like 7 bucks a bolt.. but thats been a few yrs ago..beat the hell out of trying to get a 50 yr old nut off.. blueflame wrenched the old ones off..
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,556
Likes: 80
From: Manhattan, KS
$7 a bolt would be supper cheap for the amount of work it took to get the old ones off and keeping them in good enough shape to use again. Closest spring shop for me is about 50-60 miles away.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,687
Likes: 1,255
From: Jefferson City, MO
I
Now, the easy to change part might be an overstatement. The first change was a bear as the axle U bolts were a bugger to get off. Many hours, lots of PB blaster and a 4 ft cheater bar on the nuts. Easy would be to cut and find new u bolts, but I dont' know how available they would be or the cost.
OT, to Harrier, see my user name, GBR!
Now, the easy to change part might be an overstatement. The first change was a bear as the axle U bolts were a bugger to get off. Many hours, lots of PB blaster and a 4 ft cheater bar on the nuts. Easy would be to cut and find new u bolts, but I dont' know how available they would be or the cost.
OT, to Harrier, see my user name, GBR!
I was wondering about your user name and you are living in K-State land. Of course I live in MU country with my parents and in-laws all Missouri School system grads. My wife has adopted the Huskers. My 11 year old boy is already planning his Nebraska football career. Matter of fact, he chastised his older sister when she said she didn't want to go to NU because she thought it was too big. Being an ex-athlete I got a tour of the facilities a couple of years ago. I need to post a couple of those pictures, amazing. Much nicer than when I was there in the late 80's. (I can hijack my own thread can't I?
)
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