How many of you guys with the Mazda 5 speed with rears of 3.55 and up(numerically)use first gear to start off. I realize tire size plays into this and I'm running the stock tires and it just seems like unless there is weight in the back or your pulling something that first gear is just too low to start off with. Also what kind of mileage are you getting out of your clutches?

 

1999 150. Not sure if mazda transy, but I almost always start in first, and even when babying between fill-ups the best I can manage is 14.5-15mpg. Short-bed 4x4 4.6.

 

if i remember correctly, the mazda 5 speed is too high geared to start out in anything BUT 1st gear, because otherwise it would seem to me that you'd lug the engine way too much to be healthy...i'm not sure what other 5 spds were offered for the ford 1/2 ton, but with your gearing, it would seem to me like you'd almost have no choice but to start out in first...i have an 84 1/2 ton w/ the 300-6 and t-18 4 spd, and i only use 1st gear if i'm gonna pull something or if i'm tryin to get out of a hole of some sort, but that's the tranny gearing...i've got 3.55's like you have, and if i'm careful about it, i can start out from a dead stop in 3rd, but it really lugs the engine badly....if you do have the mazda 5 spd, i'd stick w/ starting out in 1st gear to save on your tranny cuz that's how it was designed to be driven....just my thoughts...

MontanaFord

 

I've got a '93 F250 with a 6 and M5 I have to start out in 1st, but she's geared pretty tall. It's got 138,000 on it. I talked to the previous owner and he'd never done anything to it, so I'm pretty sure it's still got the original clutch.

Trail Rider

 

First gear on my '84 F150 4 speed combined with its 2.47 rear gear was almost as high as second gear in my '95 F150 (5 speed Mazda) with its 3.08 rear gear. Both had the 300 I6. The '95 weighs more with the supercab. Clutches on the '84 were lastingn 80 - 90 thousand miles. I can take off in 2nd with the '95 but it is just a bit too high for the extra weight over the '84. If I had 3.55s I think I could easily do 2nd gear starts all the time.

 

I have a 1995 F150 300 six with the M5OD, tow package rear 3.55 and I start in second all the time, never lugs or anything, first is only for pulling a load or carrying a lot of stuff in back. Only time I use first unloaded is on a hill or getting out of a hole, otherwise it is just too much.