When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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
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?
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?
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
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.