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New EX owner here picked up a rust free 2002 Limited 4wd V10 to start building as a boat tow / adventure vehicle.
After almost buying a new Suburban (I passed on the 6.2L eating lifters) we picked this to build up. Though it would be fun for my 3 boys to get their hands dirty and learn something along the way. They already love the 2 rows in the back. It was getting cramped in the crew cab truck.
Build up starts this weekend with new brakes and some front end work. Plan is 6” lift, 35’s and regear to 4.56 with a Detroit locker in the rear. My brother is doing a Cummins swap in his so I may go forged V10 with a single turbo / Mega Squirt once it blows.
Looks like a nice clean wagon to build up. My EX is a dedicated tow rig for our 12K TT and it rides on 35"s (Nitto Duras for this highway cruiser) and handles that work very well. The 6.8 likes revs and makes its best power with deeper gears pushing the operating revs up some, the "sweet spot" for these motors for best towing and all around performance is with an effective 4.30 a 4.56 gear. So with your planned 35"s I would recommend 4.88s, it's what I run and the combo works very well. Back when all stock with 31.6" tires and 3.73 gears it used to get 15 MPG highway unloaded, now with the 35"s and 4.88 (effective 4.39 ratio) it gets 14.5 MPG on the highway with the cruise set to 65 MPH. In stock trim it used to tow our old 9,500lb TH at 6-7.5 MPG, currently with the 35"/4.88 combo, Banks headers and 5Star's 89 Perf tune it gets 8-9.5 MPG dragging our 12K TT all over the East.
And 6" of lift on 35"s is a lot, I'm at 3 7/8" over stock on my front and the Nittos are listed at 35.28" tall, but I don't off-road, so no max articulation needed here.
Unless you do a lot of heavy towing 4.88 is a hair deep for 35s. 4.56 is a better all around choice I think.
I disagree, the optional factory gear for these wagons was the 4.30, which is pretty well accepted as a better performing ratio for the heavy EX. 4.88s will get the effective ratio with true 35"s very close to that same 4.30 ratio. Lots of folks worry about the big loss of economy on the highway with these deeper gears, but like I mentioned above, my EX (with 4.88s & 35"s) still gets 14.5 MPG unloaded on the highway at 65 MPH. I do a lot of heavy towing and honestly think 5.13s would serve me a bit better as my rig is a dedicated tow rig with very little unloaded driving, now those even deeper 5.13 would be, in my opinion, pretty much a towing focused setup, still not too deep though as it would only be a 4.56-ish effective ratio.
Regardless, there are differing opinions on gears. Moral of the story is do your homework. Don't go solely on what some person on the internet says, research it, crunch the numbers for yourself. You talk about adding some goodies to the v10 which could change what would normally be recommended for gears and that tire size so keep that in mind also.
Yep, been working through the gear calculator. Final ratio is 2.18 I think on the 4r100.
First mod motor I’ve owned. Previous projects were LSX builds though did have a 9” in a GM and sprayed Windsors.
Actually really impressed that this 6.8 doesn’t smoke or drip with 267K on it.
Just cause you’ll seem like a fun bunch of gear heads.
Old Project, 503 rwhp NA, 100% Garage Built and tuned by yours truly
Yep, been working through the gear calculator. Final ratio is 2.18 I think on the 4r100.
First mod motor I’ve owned. Previous projects were LSX builds though did have a 9” in a GM and sprayed Windsors.
Actually really impressed that this 6.8 doesn’t smoke or drip with 267K on it.
Just cause you’ll seem like a fun bunch of gear heads.
Old Project, 503 rwhp NA, 100% Garage Built and tuned by yours truly
