Gearing suggestions.
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Gearing suggestions.
I have a 94 F150 5.0 single cab 2wd and I’m tired of the poor fuel economy and lack of performance. I figure if I’m going to get bad mileage I may as well have some form of performance. It’s got 31x10.50 Extreme Country tires and I’m thinking either 3.73 or 4.10. In fact the local Pick Your Part has a 40% off this weekend and I’ve been considering getting an Explorer 4.10 gear set with a limited slip if they share the same carrier. Current gears are 3.08:1 and I have a hard time keeping a constant 70 on the freeway without seriously bogging down.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2016
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From: Mid Missouri
The carrier break is 3.73. From personal experience, I'd go 4.30 if you're at high elevation, 4.10 if at sea level. But even 3.73 you will notice a big improvement over 3.08. Long tube headers also help a lot. Both will actually help your fuel mileage problem.
Hotshot
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I went with 3.73 LS from a 5.0 Explorer and its great since I often drive at speeds of 75 mph or so on the freeways here. If you don't you get run over. I am inclined to agree with Conanski though. The 4.10 would really wake up the 302. I have no idea why Ford put such lousy gears in them from the factory considering they have overdrive.
I also have 31 10.50. Did you recalibrate your truck's speedometer?
I also have 31 10.50. Did you recalibrate your truck's speedometer?
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I went with 3.73 LS from a 5.0 Explorer and its great since I often drive at speeds of 75 mph or so on the freeways here. If you don't you get run over. I am inclined to agree with Conanski though. The 4.10 would really wake up the 302. I have no idea why Ford put such lousy gears in them from the factory considering they have overdrive.
I also have 31 10.50. Did you recalibrate your truck's speedometer?
I also have 31 10.50. Did you recalibrate your truck's speedometer?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Then you need 4.10 gears. The 5.0 needs to be turning 2000rpm by 70mph to produce enough torque to maintain speed in OD. What fuel milage does the truck get now? My 4.6/4.10 equipped van does 16mpg US cruising at 70mph.
None of which will work with the stock EFI or fuel systems so some upgrades and tuning will be necessary, and all that will also make the engine even weaker at low rpms so the need for gears is even greater.
No, won't fit on the drivers side due to interference with the steering shaft and won't mate with a truck Y pipe, you are stuck with shorties because of where you live but don't make it any harder than it needs to be and use truck specific headers.
No, won't fit on the drivers side due to interference with the steering shaft and won't mate with a truck Y pipe, you are stuck with shorties because of where you live but don't make it any harder than it needs to be and use truck specific headers.
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
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From: Gilbert, PA
4.10s is what you want. That is what is in my lightning with 29" tall tires. Gets 15-17mpg on the highway and is a BLASST to drive
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Then you need 4.10 gears. The 5.0 needs to be turning 2000rpm by 70mph to produce enough torque to maintain speed in OD. What fuel milage does the truck get now? My 4.6/4.10 equipped van does 16mpg US cruising at 70mph.
None of which will work with the stock EFI or fuel systems so some upgrades and tuning will be necessary, and all that will also make the engine even weaker at low rpms so the need for gears is even greater.
No, won't fit on the drivers side due to interference with the steering shaft and won't mate with a truck Y pipe, you are stuck with shorties because of where you live but don't make it any harder than it needs to be and use truck specific headers.
None of which will work with the stock EFI or fuel systems so some upgrades and tuning will be necessary, and all that will also make the engine even weaker at low rpms so the need for gears is even greater.
No, won't fit on the drivers side due to interference with the steering shaft and won't mate with a truck Y pipe, you are stuck with shorties because of where you live but don't make it any harder than it needs to be and use truck specific headers.
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I did but I’ve noticed it’s 5 MPH slow with the Dick Cepek tires. If I recall they’re actually closer to 32” the reason I’m considering 3.73 is I do highway driving. As far as others have suggested like long tubes that’s a no go for me in California. I’m planning on going with AFR renegade heads, a custom grind cam and the Edelbrock Performer RPM intake. Does anyone know if the BBK equal length mustang headers will work on the F150?
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I plan on going with a megasquirt ecu. I do have mass air though. I’ll probably get some cat forward headers and I’m thinking about using V bands and making a midpipe thats easily removed. That way I can run a catted X or H pipe with some high flow cats when I’m driving typically the throw the Y pipe in when I need to get it smogged. The end plan is to ditch the state of California and drop a coyote into it. As far as MPG currently 9-10 city 11-13 highway below 75. Doing 80+ home from Reno I got 24.8.
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To this day, I can’t tell you. I know I ran the AC off and with my previous tires the speedo was dead on. It’s happened multiple times. Went to the gun range 81 miles round trip used 3.6 gallons. Went from Reno to Fresno, 306 miles calculated by the truck and by gps on 12.3 gallons. I don’t know how and I don’t know why. I would say it’s a fluke or a miscalculation but I’ve gotten numbers like that several times.
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There is really no need to upgrade the intake on a 5.0, since its runners are large already. The opposite is true of the 5.8 though. I wouldn't think you would see much difference with it. I like the idea of better heads, but Conanski is likely right about the lower RPM torque.
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