Rearing F250
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Rearing F250
New member here,
been looking at a 1984 F250 with the 460 and a 4-speed to match. Very clean truck, and the owner tells me it was a "camper edition", so it's has special towing accessories. My issue is that I will most likely not be towing very heavy loads with it, but I do wish to take it in the highway, and I assume it has 4.10 gears, which coupled to the 460, I will be hugging the right shoulder. My question is simply, would it be wise to rehear the truck to 3.73 or even 3.55 to get the RPMs down on the highway and make the truck somewhat more enjoyable to drive?
been looking at a 1984 F250 with the 460 and a 4-speed to match. Very clean truck, and the owner tells me it was a "camper edition", so it's has special towing accessories. My issue is that I will most likely not be towing very heavy loads with it, but I do wish to take it in the highway, and I assume it has 4.10 gears, which coupled to the 460, I will be hugging the right shoulder. My question is simply, would it be wise to rehear the truck to 3.73 or even 3.55 to get the RPMs down on the highway and make the truck somewhat more enjoyable to drive?
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
It's perfectly enjoyable to drive as is! At 55 MPH, the national speed limit at the time!
Just keep feeding it.
Welcome to FTE.
IMO you'd need to burn a LOT of highway miles to make up for the cost of a gear swap, YMMV.
Just keep feeding it.
Welcome to FTE.
IMO you'd need to burn a LOT of highway miles to make up for the cost of a gear swap, YMMV.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
Yes, welcome to FTE! Don't assume it has 4.10's. Go here and decode the label on the driver's door jamb: Certification Label - ???Gary's Garagemahal.
My 1985 F250HD, Big Blue, has 3.55 gears. So it is quite possible you do as well. And while it turns 2500 RPM at 65 MPH, it still keeps up with traffic on most highways. However, I'm seriously thinking of installing the ZF5 transmission I have in place of the T19, which will drop the R's to 1900 at 65 due to the overdrive 5th gear. ZF5's came behind the 460's in the late 80's and are a good swap into these trucks.
My 1985 F250HD, Big Blue, has 3.55 gears. So it is quite possible you do as well. And while it turns 2500 RPM at 65 MPH, it still keeps up with traffic on most highways. However, I'm seriously thinking of installing the ZF5 transmission I have in place of the T19, which will drop the R's to 1900 at 65 due to the overdrive 5th gear. ZF5's came behind the 460's in the late 80's and are a good swap into these trucks.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,983
Likes: 2,736
From: Virginia
I vote you install the zf 5 speed also instead of re-gearing. Makes the truck much more versatile and quiet on the highway.
If you figure the price of fuel and the price of the swap, it will probably be 10 years before it pays for itself, unless you drive it alot. But being able to keep up with traffic and being so much quieter at highway speed makes it worth it in my opinion, it's what I did with my 89 diesel, it has 4.10's in it. Also there is much less wear on the engine with the overdrive.
If you figure the price of fuel and the price of the swap, it will probably be 10 years before it pays for itself, unless you drive it alot. But being able to keep up with traffic and being so much quieter at highway speed makes it worth it in my opinion, it's what I did with my 89 diesel, it has 4.10's in it. Also there is much less wear on the engine with the overdrive.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,906
Likes: 4,122
From: Angier, NC
If good ZF5 where easy to come by that is a way I would go but every swap I hear, the ZF5 needs to be rebuilt before install.
So buying the trany, all the parts needed for the swap and a rebuild kind of turns me off.
Did not say if 4x4 or 4x2, there are 2 different over drive units you can use with the trany you have now.
I like the Gear Vender OD unit (4x2) and the other is from Advance Adaptors Ranger OD unit (4x4 or 4x2).
Do a Google search on the 2 as an option too.
Dave ----
So buying the trany, all the parts needed for the swap and a rebuild kind of turns me off.
Did not say if 4x4 or 4x2, there are 2 different over drive units you can use with the trany you have now.
I like the Gear Vender OD unit (4x2) and the other is from Advance Adaptors Ranger OD unit (4x4 or 4x2).
Do a Google search on the 2 as an option too.
Dave ----
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
Likes: 72
From: Roseville, MN
I agree with everything everyone else has said.
In addition, if you have 4.10s and are going to regear, don't bother with only going to 3.73s. $1000 (for a 2WD, $2000 for 4WD) to drop the engine speed at 60 mph from 2610 rpm to 2370 rpm isn't worth it. Even 3.55s only get you to 2260 rpm. (OD in a ZF5 brings 4.10s down to 1980 rpm
But figure out what it has first, then the advice I always give is "drive it for a while." You might decide you like it well enough as-is that you don't need to spend the money. And if you don't like it you'll know that spending the money was worth it.
In addition, if you have 4.10s and are going to regear, don't bother with only going to 3.73s. $1000 (for a 2WD, $2000 for 4WD) to drop the engine speed at 60 mph from 2610 rpm to 2370 rpm isn't worth it. Even 3.55s only get you to 2260 rpm. (OD in a ZF5 brings 4.10s down to 1980 rpm
But figure out what it has first, then the advice I always give is "drive it for a while." You might decide you like it well enough as-is that you don't need to spend the money. And if you don't like it you'll know that spending the money was worth it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Brohamady
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
9
Apr 6, 2016 12:26 PM
Franken-Truck
Big Block V8 - 385 Series (6.1/370, 7.0/429, 7.5/460)
6
May 1, 2005 06:59 PM
sa_rains
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
5
Jan 29, 2005 11:36 PM
sfford
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
Jul 23, 1999 09:52 AM
