Gearing advice?
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From: Olanta, PA
Gearing advice?
Hey all, Now that I am getting to know my "baby" better, she has 2.73 gearing. Doing a little homework I found they put that gearing in back when the gas crisis was an issue, and apparently it is good for gas mileage on the highway, but doesn't give you much power at all. I don't want to Pull mountains, but I may be pulling a trailer from time time with ATVs, a small boat, a car dolly etc... It will not be my daily driver so I don't need to eek out every MPG possible, but I don't want 12mpg either. I have the 300I6 with the C6 Tranny, so I know I have a pretty good engine/tranny combo. Any thoughts on changing gearing? Nothing drastic but something for a little more uummpphh...
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From: Ohio
With no OD, any kind of gear increase will start to kill mileage.
For instance, my '89 F150/302/aod has 3.55's out back. But with the AOD, it thinks it has 2.66's in OD. It gets 15 around town(not using OD) and 18-19 on the highway. (completely stock).
They offer a 3.08 and 3.27 for an 8.8 That should only gain you a couple hundred RPM at cruising speed and not kill your mileage.
For instance, my '89 F150/302/aod has 3.55's out back. But with the AOD, it thinks it has 2.66's in OD. It gets 15 around town(not using OD) and 18-19 on the highway. (completely stock).
They offer a 3.08 and 3.27 for an 8.8 That should only gain you a couple hundred RPM at cruising speed and not kill your mileage.
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From: Olanta, PA
3.08 - 3.27
Thanks, I Was Thinking The 3.08s Might Be A Good Option, But 3.27 Would Probably Work Well too, With The C6, There Is Only So Much MPG To Squeeze out And I Have My Car For That. Now, Just To Decide Whether To Do It Myself Or Pay Someone...
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Going to 3.08 isn't enough of a change to make it worth your effort or time, you have a car and although milage isn't your primary concern I think your truck may even get better milage with a gear change because the theory behind this gear ratio only works if it's flat in every direction where you live and you spend more time on the highway than in the city. I say go with 3.55 because that ratio was common in these trucks so you should be able to find a complete rear axle to swap in and that should be cheaper than having a shop install gears... that depends upon scrap yard and garage costs in your area of course.
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From: Roseville, MN
I'm with Conanski on this. If it was my daily driver I'd probably want taller gears, like 3.08s or even sticking with the 2.73s, but then again I drive like an old man. If I thought the 2.73s were too tall for the towing I did and it wasn't my daily driver I wouldn't bother with anything taller than 3.27s (and even that would be questionable). And if I could save a few hundred bucks by swapping a readily available 3.55 axle I'd go that route.
By the way, I don't know if your truck is 2WD or 4WD. If it's 4WD the costs of a gear swap at least double because you need to do both axles.
By the way, I don't know if your truck is 2WD or 4WD. If it's 4WD the costs of a gear swap at least double because you need to do both axles.
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From: Olanta, PA
Thanks for the ideas!
Thanks all... You all hit it right on the head.... I will post some pics from the progress soon, but I have been mulling over switching the transmissions. I like a 5 speed manual myself, but was wondering how hard the AOD would be to swap. Since it is EFI would I have problems with the shifting/electrical? I haven't really looked into the electrical side of it much yet, but the F250 I rebuilt had a C6 which I switched out for a T18 4 speed.... That helped with the 460....But this may end up being my sons first car so I am hesitant to go with the 5 speed manual just yet....He will learn to drive a standard but I;m not sure if he'll be too excited abaout a standard right off the bat....
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I would get a junk yard rear (3.55 LSD "H9" axle code on door jamb sticker)and swap it in before worrying about fuel mileage.
For a vehicle that will see limited road time and tow a trailer as well (shouldn't tow in OD) the cost of a trans swap may be a waste of money. I personally wouldn't put a used AOD in. They are a great car transmission, not as good a reputation in the trucks.
Between a trans rebuild and all the parts need for the swap you could buy a lot of gas with that money.
For a vehicle that will see limited road time and tow a trailer as well (shouldn't tow in OD) the cost of a trans swap may be a waste of money. I personally wouldn't put a used AOD in. They are a great car transmission, not as good a reputation in the trucks.
Between a trans rebuild and all the parts need for the swap you could buy a lot of gas with that money.
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