Hey Folks!

After some discussion with both Tom and Matt, I've also sent a PM to Dave (hav24wheel) for more info, I'm pretty sure I'd like to swap from my current 3.73 to 4.88. I just need some input from some experienced folks on what to buy, where to buy it, etc. If anyone knows of a good shop in Eastern Washington that would be extremely useful!

In case it helps, the Rhino is my "daily driver" although at max I only drive a few days a week. When I do drive, it's either 20ish miles into the small town nearest to us to pick up a few things. However, more than likely the bulk of my driving will be over the 40ish mile mountain pass (2500ft elevation to start then climbing up to 5500ft at the top) into the larger cities which are a decent distance away. I end up running somewhere between 100 and 500 miles round trip depending on where I am headed. Since those drives require a lot of steep mountain climbing, adding the necessary power to make that climb easier on the truck would be ideal.

For those who don’t know, please understand that I'm not very knowledgeable, I'm very much in the learning phase. Hell, I'm not even experienced with these type of projects, at all. I've always had stock vehicles. This is my first project of any sort, so any info you good folks can provide would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

P.S. – I’m still a handful of days away from my first 30 days as a member of FTE and I’ve most definitely caught the bug. I’m not sure if I should praise or curse yall!? In honesty I’m going on record now as I'm buying any of you sonoffaguns I run into a beer!

 

OK, now I see how you are going to be, waiting till AFTER you move another 2000 miles farther away before you start with the free beer offers!

I think you should just pull that GVOD unit off your EX and ship it back East to me, I'll find something to do with it.

 

While not on the eastern side, Randy's Ring & Pinion is on the west side. At the very least you may be able to get the parts from him shipped and installed at a reputable shop on your side of the state.

I had three vehicles regeared with them while I was still stationed up in Whidbey, nothing but praise.

 

LOL!

Tom - Actually, I plan to be in PA for a visit sometime next year (likely sometime in the summer) and if everything works out I'll look you up for sure!

As for the GVOD I plan on keeping it but I will gladly send you a case of beer!

Hey Matt!

A trip to Seattle is always a fun time. I may just need to plan something, and rent a car, while the Rhino is in the shop!

You're also on the list for free beer!

 

Where in PA would you going to Chad? I'm down in the very South East corner near DE. If you come back here to PA and we can meet up I'll buy!

 

Hey Tom,

Royersford, PA - looks like 35 miles +/- from Media?

 

Sounds like I'll be buying!

 

Good news for you is I'm a non-drinker so I'll be cheap.

Yup, I just said I was cheap...bring on the jokes!

 

Tugly in the 7.3 forum used a shop in eastern WA. I think he has a Nitro rear end. He is on here alot, I would send him a PM. Careful though he is a "cautionary tale". If you make it out west PM me. I am in Kent.

 

Hey Chad : Could you tell me WHY you would be thinking of changing your gears ???? Unless you are planning to pull a house or turn the truck into a rock crawler (LOL) I just don't get it . Just don't run the O/D unit if you've stretched things a bit... It just seems like you are chasing your tail

 

^ he did put 35" tires on it recently and mentioned driving through a lot of hills. I don't think the gears option is a horrible idea really. Several here have done it for towing and others even have an effective 4.30 ratio for cruising. Would provide a bit of power in the hills and help momentum off the line, combine that with the GVOD on highway trips and that could be a win win.

 

V-10, 3.73, 35's, mountain pass, NO O/D ...I find it hard to believe he would have any issues as a grocery getter . To go to 4.88s so he can run the O/D to get back to 3.73 on the flat ( which he does not seem to have much of any more ) seems like a very expensive error to me. I never got Chad was trying to improve his hole shot

 

Wasn't so much a reference to the hole shot as general economy and less abuse on drive-train. 4.88's will put him right around a 4.39 which is optimal for the V10 engines. Pushing the engine higher the power band will aid in the driving through hills.

 

Hey Bently_Coop!

Thanks, I'll do that.

Hey harley4jcs,

I now live in a fairly remote area of WA. I'm surrounded by a lot of mountain passes and it requires a decent amount of driving over those passes to get to any semblance of civilization. Since those drives require a lot of steep mountain climbing, my thought is adding the necessary power and performance to make those climbs and drives easier on the truck would be ideal. I plan on keeping this rig forever.


Hey Bently_Coop,

Pretty much this. After speaking with Matt and Tom it seems like the change in gears and the GVOD is a best of both worlds scenario.

Hey harley4jcs,

Our driving route is over Sherman Pass (5575 Elevation) anytime we are heading to Colville, Chewelah, or Spokane which is about 80% of our driving. I'm just looking for the performance necessary to make the drive easier on the truck. I've made a few trips over it both before and after 35's and it just could use some more umph when going over.


I know I'm likely not really articulating this very well, noob lingo and all, apologies.

You'll have to forgive me, hole shot?


Hey Bently_Coop,

Thanks for putting this in more concise phrasing than I could. Yes, general economy, less abuse, optimal for V10, and aid in driving through the hills. That pretty much explains it!


Now, if changing gears isn't going to give me those results, I may have more to think about.

Thanks for all the great discussion folks, keep it coming, I really appreciate it!

 

That's no lie... but we're not talking diesel here, so we're OK.

4.88 is some pretty tall stuff. Have you done the math on the 4.10s, 4.30s, and 4.88s to zero in on an RPM on a particular grade that annoys you? We're practically neighbors (Wenatchee) and I've done Sherman Pass during a storm when there was nothing but me and one snow plow on the whole damn pass (he was going the other way). I know my grades over the Cascade range, but I've only traveled Sherman one time. I'd take that most annoying grade and dial your pumpkins for that - then use your GVOD to get everything back to flatland performance.

These are your guys [LINK] in Cashmere. They can do it right there in the shop while you go for bratwurst in Leavenworth (take the bus). Call 'em up and consult with them, they'll hold your hand (or beer, if that freaks you out) through the whole process.

I haven't experienced this particular problem because my grunt is in the lower RPMs, and OD is SOP. This is up a measly 6% grade.