What is the best transmission and gear combo for a 1992 to 1996 F150 4x4 for freeway driving and mpg?

I'm going to start the search for a regular cab short bed.

Thanks

 

Ford thinks it was 2.73 gears but it will depend upon tire size, the transmission, the speed you wish to go and if it's over flat ground or hilly. If you live in the mountains you will never see the milage people get down in the flat country.. regardless of powertrain combo, and if you gear it for maximum fuel milage it will be slower than average in terms of acceleration. I think the sweet spot will be somewhere in the 3.08 to 3.55 range depending upon the transmission, a manual 5spd would do better with 3.08 gears while an auto overdrive will work better with a little more gear.

 

Depends on what tire you want to run. Stock, it seems like most guys like the 3.55, the 3.73 is better for lots of guys that run a little over size tires. From what I have seen and noticed, most say stay away from the 4.10 as it really is too low of a gear for the 4.9. I can't imagine you wanting to go for MPG's with a 4x4 so I would think anything lower number wise would just make you unhappy. Most likely your 4x4 has 3.55's now. I say this for both transmissions, but like Conaski said some will notice the difference when using the different transmissions. I just sold a 1990 f150 4.9 auto with the 2.73 gears in it if I remember correctly. It was too much of a dog for me both off the line and on the hi-way. It was also 2x4 and too nice to use as a wood truck, it only had 24K miles and was a very clean southern truck. I replaced it with another southern truck 4.9 4x4, 5 speed, 3.55 gears. Just had it in my back 40 today loading it up with wood. I'm much happier with this truck. You on the othe rhand, seem to want a hi-way truck. I would not go any lower number wise than 3.08, I think you would be unhappy.

 

ford probably didn't offer the 2.73 in the 4wd trucks.those are likely only found in 2wd.just a guess though.

the 4wd's did come with 3:08's for sure though.that's the truck to get for best mpg,for hwy use.
when i had that truck,i didn't drive it on the hwy much so i swapped to 3.55's and loved it much more then.didn't effect fuel economy for me cus i didn't drive fast with the truck.loaded up all the time,it worked much better with the lower gears but your after a 4wd truck with the 3.08 without question.

 

Depends on the tire you will run. My truck has 31s on it with a 3.55 gear. That gives it the same effective hear ratio as a truck with the stock 235/75r15s and a 3.31 gear... Which I believe was an option. If I wanted the hear to seem like a 3.55 I'd have to switch to a 3.80 gear, but they don't make one so I'd have to go to a 3.73 or 4.10

 

3.08 4x4, E4OD can reliably get 18mpg highway at 60-65. I've done it consistently. 3.08s is a dog though IMO. If the E4OD had a deeper first and wider ratios it would be better but with such narrow ratios and a .69 OD I'd have no problems sticking 4.10s in there (but those wouldn't net the best fuel economy). For fuel economy I'd look for 3.31s. 3.08 is just a tad too tall for lower highway speeds with the E4OD IMO.

Correct. 2.73 is not even an available ratio for the high pinion D44 front.

 

My current DD is a 4.9 5 speed with 3.08s and I've been getting between 16.5-17. My old DD had the 4.9 E4OD with 3.55s and delivered similar numbers.

Both of them are slugs