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Old Jul 15, 2004 | 01:37 PM
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3.08 gears

i just purchased 3.08 gears from e bay. I will use them on my 84 f 150, upgrading the stock 2.73's. i have the ford manual tranny w/OD, it has the 3.25 first gear, and .71 OD. i have 31" tires as well. Does any have this setup, and how do you like it. i am hoping the 3.08 gears will to. The truck will be used as primary transportation, and i would like it to be able to haul a bed full of grass, and a 10' trailer with a couple mid size mo0wers. adn possibly a 19' sea ray boat.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2004 | 02:10 PM
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i have a 85 stepside with th 300 and od but i have 2.43's and i still can pull a mid size trailer but i have also pulled a car hualer that wieghed over 6000 just fine .
 
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Old Jul 15, 2004 | 03:00 PM
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with 2.43 rear end gears, or 2.43 first gear?
 
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Old Jul 15, 2004 | 06:24 PM
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3.08 wont do too much. its the same amount of money no matter what size you choose. i would get the 3.55. i hear you also get better mileage w/them because it doesn't lug the engine. i also have the useless 2.73's like you. if i had the money i'd get 3.55's.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2004 | 07:48 PM
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i have 2.43 rear gears i pulls but you run out of ump at 50 miles per hour
 
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Old Jul 15, 2004 | 07:50 PM
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I have an 88 with a 300 and 3.55 rear end gears that pulled a 5000 pound truck through the mountains. I also have the 5 speed tranny.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2004 | 10:56 PM
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Originally Posted by 1984F15016
with 2.43 rear end gears, or 2.43 first gear?
My '84 had 3.25 first gear and 2.47 rear end (I think 2.43 is a typo, but close enough). With the 2.47 rear and 0.71 OD I coudl not run OD into a headwind. Could run first gear out to about 45 mph though. Like my '95 better. Its OD (with 3.08 rear) is like 3rd gear in the '84.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2004 | 08:54 AM
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Bed full of grass and a 10 foot trailer. No problem at all. I have 3.08 with an e40d...but not too different. And it seems to be OK up to about 2000 lbs. I can still do 75 on cruise control with that load, loses a little up hill though.

It will pull the 19' boat, but probably not at great speeds. I would be tempted to go 3.55's (or lower) for that kind of a load.

But if you got a good deal.... 3.08 is certainly better than 2.47

Jim
 
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Old Jul 16, 2004 | 07:52 PM
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i got a great deal, only 10 dollars (plus shipping)
 
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Old Jul 18, 2004 | 01:14 AM
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do you know how to do it yourself? instilallation will run 400ish.
 
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Old Jul 18, 2004 | 06:45 PM
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i think i have the patience and the skills to do it, i just need to get instructions. I am only a high schooler, so i cant afford the 400$$
 
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Old Jul 19, 2004 | 10:54 AM
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Just the actual gears? Ick...I'd have gone to a junkyard and gotten myself a 3.55 or a 3.73 Traction-Lok unit - in whatever axle you have down there - and thrown that in there. I'd rather change the whole axle then dig into the diff and swap out gears. I dunno....the thought of digging in the rear end just seems more daunting then actually replacing it. Plus you could upgrade to a larger rear axle too.

I have 3.08's and...my 89 with a M5OD does alright. First 3 gears you can go alright, 4th starts to bog. And....don't expect to go ANYWHERE in OD. Only time you'll ever pass in OD is on the interstate or..sorry that's it. Hehe but as I said, first three gears are just fine with 3.08. If this truck had 4WD then I would be swapping in 4.10's and going the 'Four-wheeler' route. But..since its not I suppose I'll live with (relatively) gutless gears.

You mentioned you had a manual with OD? I'd assume you have a different transmission then I do..I don't think the M5OD was offered before 87. Maybe you even have better gearing in the early gears?
 
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Old Jul 19, 2004 | 02:49 PM
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ive got 3.25 first gear, and .71 OD. I think i might end up goin to a junkyard to get a complet axel
 
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Old Aug 15, 2004 | 07:51 PM
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A question. I have a 3.55 limited slip and was thinking of going to the 3.08 for fuel economy sence I dont pull a trailer anymore. Trans is E4OD and engine is 4.9 Six, will a gear change improve milage substantally?
 
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Old Aug 15, 2004 | 08:32 PM
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From: Adams TN
I have 3.55's and a 4spd direct drive and a granny gear.
i have been getting 14-16 mpg driving a little hard on the throttle and towing a 4500lb lincoln town car demoderby car on 2000lb trailer. not bad though i only go about 60 on the highway for the 3 miles i'm on it to high school each day. It pulls like it isn't even there. you can feel it in the hills but i can hold 60 on the climbs.
any thing past 65 mph is screaming rpms.
thinking when i rebuild the engine to put a cam and hedders and a 4bbl on it this winter
 
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