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.

 

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.

 

There is no carrier break with the 8.8 and 4.10 is what you want.

 

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?

 

 

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.

 

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

 

 

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.

 

There really isn't much need for true duals. A nice well made Y pipe like Bassani with a larger single exhaust should be more than plenty. How the hell did you break 20 mpg? Never seen any of these trucks do that, esp doing over 65.

 

 

 

Well Reno to Fresno is a 4200 foot drop in elevation. Albeit, gradual it still is a down hill drive.