Alright so I have myself a 96 2wd 7.3 manual with an 01 motor in it(lucked out and I have forged rods!) and 4.10 gears. I have some options im considering to get myself to 400-500hp(preferably a little over 400hp maybe as close to 450 as possible). Anyway, ive got my build list going and first thing I want to look at are my differential gears. I have my parts truck I bought and it is an 01 F-350 with 3.73 limited slip gears. My dilemna is should I save money and throw in the 3.73 limited slip gears(the limited slip would be pretty sweet) or try to find some 3.55's? Plans after my gears are taking out the twin I beam front end and put in a solid axle so I can get better suspension options in the future and get a slight leveling kit and keep my same tire size (stock). I know the 3.55's are around 2000rpm @ 70mph and the 3.73 is around 2100rpm @ 70mph. I would think that the 3.73 gears would probably be a little more preferable because they are kind of the best of both worlds I would think between the 4.10 and 3.55's. 3.55's get better fuel mileage, less acceleration, and capable of cruising at higher speeds on the highway, whereas the 4.10 gets less fuel mileage, better acceleration, and lower cruising levels due to high rpms. Back to 3.73's its a happy medium between the two, also the leveling kit might drop the rpms slightly also the gears have limited slip so i actually would have two wheels going at the same time from the start. My truck basically only sees highway miles and its my daily driver, my goal is to reach 400-450hp and stop. You really dont need over 500hp, I just want to have a little get up and go instead of slugging around.

 

For those of you who are curious of my build list: custom S300 Borgwarner turbocharger, 238/80 single shot Injectors, regulated return, southbend clutch (unless anyone else has had a better clutch, I havent Ive got the Luk clutch kit with a solid mass flywheel), Fuel bowl delete, Short throw shift kit, maybe a larger intercooler if my egt's start running high like a mishimoto, and the solid axle swap. So far I already have the 01 engine with forged rods, 01 stock intercooler, efuel, 4" diamond eye dual exhaust with 3" downpipe(after the leveling kit I may have more clearance to put in a 3.5" or 4" downpipe), 6637 napa air intake, and Dp-tuner's F6 smartchip with stock and an 80hp tune. Any suggestions are welcome to a more efficient build. Im aware I may need to run a better fuel pump or get another Bosch pump and run dual pumps, one going to each head.