I was talking about the automatic tranny. It has a first gear ratio of 2.60 or something like that. Also, if I am not mistaken, the rearend in a 1/2 ton Ford cannot be equipped with 3.73s, although a superduty does come with 3.73s. Many Chevy half-tons come with a 3.73 rear end ratio. It is part of the Z-71 package, and many Chevys are Z-71s. Chevy also makes a 3.42 gear ratio, which is what the Tahoe may be.

 

I don't see a 5.3 outpulling a 460 unless it is a sick one. Mine will outpull my father's 454. He gets 4 mpg with it and I get about 10 with mine.

 

**It has a first gear ratio of 2.60 or something like that.

first in the auto is 2.7. but just about all autos are in that range for first(not sure about the new 5 speed autos). thats why they are 3-4 speeds and a manual is a 5 speed.


**if I am not mistaken, the rearend in a 1/2 ton Ford cannot be equipped with 3.73s.

i dont think you can get them from the factory with one. but hey, thats what the aftermarket is for.

 

The 460 was by no means sick, but it was an older carbed 460. I have nothing against the 460, it is probably one of the better Ford engines made. I was just stating a fact. Your EFI 460 can probably outpull a 5.3, but the 5.3 will hold its own pretty well.

 

**I don't see a 5.3 outpulling a 460 unless it is a sick one.

i notice you dont say 5.4 like i said about our tahoe work truck, i dont think itll pull a lawnmower up a hill. but i cant argue about the 5.3 in a truck, ive never driven one or been in one that had a decent gear in it. but me and my cousin pull the same amount of weight to the racetrack and we follow each other up there and the 5.4 pulls right with his 460. we both have to downshift out of overdrive at the same point(speed limit slows down to 45 and goes uphill). hes never pulled anything more than a race car with his, so i cant say how the 460 pulls with more weight on it than that. but at 5 or 6K we cant tell a difference in them.

 

Pop has a 5.4L F-150, I drive it to the coast and back with a 4k boat. It does ok, but it does have to downshift quite often, more so than my truck. I've also driven a 5.4L F-250, it does better than the F-150, but not quite as good as mine either. It rides better, but it doesn't pull as well. Pop's is a '98 (the 235hp 5.4L, but has Flowmasters on it) and the F-250 is a '99 with the 260hp version in it also equipped with Flowmasters. I can tell a difference there between the 2 5.4L's, the horsepower between the '99 5.4L and mine is about the same since mine has glasspacks, (around 260-270 hp), but I can definitely tell the difference in low end torque. All I have to do is put it in drive and it starts the trailer. I have to give the 5.4L a little gas before it will move. Both are good engines, but I just don't see how a much smaller engine will do as well as a healthy hi-cube V-8.

 

All 1/2 ton chevy 4x4 come with 3.73s or opt 4.10 in 4.8l or 5.3l and actually the 4.10s get just as good if not better mileage than the 3.73s
Todays engines run at higher rpms and tire sizes are getting bigger
Thats why I find it strange that Ford till the 2004 F-150 to make 3.73 standard, with even larger tires and an OHC higher reving engine than GM's
The 260 hp 5.4 acelerates better than the 285 hp 5.3 now I haven't tried the 295 hp 5.3l yet but it should with 3.73 gears.

 

Ford used 3.55's as standard in the past for better fuel economy in the F-150's. 3.73's have been standard on all F-250's and F-350's for a long time now.

 

so... i own a silverado half ton 5.3.... n i honestly dont know how u could complain about this truck. i mean i have put a lil money into it. magnaflow, cam, intake. but even before that. more than enough power. i have taken it through things tht ive seen and passed four wheel fords dodges and chevys in. water over the hood. this truck jus will not die. i have 398 on the original motor and have had no major problems with it wat so ever. ive hit 6 grand countless times and been there steady through many a mud hole. i hauled dual hay wagons at one time with 200 square bales a piece on them quite a few times and have yet to even hear the faintest of a knock tick or sputter. given the fact that even tho i beat the crap outta it. shes still my baby n i take care of her veryyyyy well afterward. and i mean verrryyyy! good care of her. shes my baby and ik for a fact that that pretty lil chevy sitting in my driveway will never let me down.

 

The big problem with Chevy's is their crappy use of gearing.

I had a 07 GMC WT with the 4.8 and the only gear available was a 3.23. The stock tires were 30 inches tall. In overdrive doing 75 I was only doing 1750 rpm.

I switched the gears to 4.56, and my city fuel economy actually got better with the HWY staying the same.

I only towed light 1 time with the truck so I don't know about that, but it never felt out of power when I hauled it full home for home depot.

Ford is more generous with there gears then GM so I expect a Ford to feel better towing then a Chevy.

 

Soooo...a Chebbie owner just had to register on a Ford site and post in a 7 year old thread defending his 5.3L. Wow...

 

I got a Ford now. I plan to build a mild custom out of it. The one thing that kept me away from Fords for the most part was the lack of quality lowering kits.

Thank-God for the CV.

I like all kinds of cars+trucks, and have owned
1 63 Dodge Dart slant 6 super car. Not really
5 68-72 Novas
1 69 Camaro
2 Mustangs 66+67
1 Heavily custom 74 Camaro never finished only had it 4 weeks while on vacation. Had to sell was offered to much money to not too.
1 5.0 Mercury Capri with every option except sun roof. Wish I kept this one.
4 VW Bugs. I love the Furher weapons
1 VW Bus. Hitlers foot locker. Sex machine
1 73 F250 CS
1 2002 GTI VR6 stolen :-(
1 2007 GMC wt
1 1974 F350 flat bed dually. Bought for $200. Cleaned it up, and dropped in a 390 that I practically stole. Sold it becouse it was really expensive to drive, and my planned Big Rig rims were $5000. I was high on pain pills when I saw it, and damn if words were not streaming out of my mouth.
1 Dodge Magnum "soon to be my wifes"
1 1966 F100 the Pepto warrior.

 

had a 2001 FX4 lifted with a K&N 5.4L and my stock 2006 FX4 5.4L is quicker...both blew away the 5.3L Government Motors truck....

 

Obviously this thread is old as hell and I know this is a Ford forum but I have NEVER seen a 5.4 that was quicker then a 5.3. I can believe that the 5.4 tows better but what next, you guys gonna tell me a stock 5.8 will run all over a stock 5.7?

 

A stock 5.8 will beat a stock 5.7. I've personally seen my stock 5.0 in my 94 F150 hold its own with a 98 1500 5.7 pulling camp trailers up the canyon.