gear swap
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gear swap
my 76 f-100 came originally with a 302 and now has 460 the gears are 2.75 i was wondering if i used steeper gears would i help my gas mileage or hurt??if so how much improvement on gas i was thinking 3.25s or 3.50 anyones help is greatly apprciated
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2.75 is a good ratio for highway fuel economy, but what do you use the truck for? If you use it to haul heavy loads or pull a trailer, 2.75 might be a bad choice. Your engine is doing a lot of the work on its own and probably struggling a little, therefore affecting fuel economy. If you hardly use the truck to work though, I agree with Mil1ion and I would stick with the original gears.
Madmike33
Madmike33
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From: North US Border, Canada
Originally Posted by Torque1st
A 460 has plenty of torque and power to work with those 2.75's.
Madmike33
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Ford engines are designed to give best torque at low RPM's (unlike GM)
If that engine is running at 2200 RPM at 60 MPH with 2.75's you will hav immediate torque when you punch it.
As a work truck, the amount of torque in the 460 at 2200 RPM is more than enough to "Yank Something" outta the hole.
Read the specs on the 460 in the 385 engine forum
If that engine is running at 2200 RPM at 60 MPH with 2.75's you will hav immediate torque when you punch it.
As a work truck, the amount of torque in the 460 at 2200 RPM is more than enough to "Yank Something" outta the hole.
Read the specs on the 460 in the 385 engine forum
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From: Louisiana
I agree your fine w/ 2.75 gears.
If you switched to 3.25-3.50 gears you might save $5-10 at the pump each time you fill up from empty to full, but it'll cost you a good $550-800 to have gear work done by a proffesional.
If you switched to 3.25-3.50 gears you might save $5-10 at the pump each time you fill up from empty to full, but it'll cost you a good $550-800 to have gear work done by a proffesional.
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From: Louisiana
I was saying he might save $5 on a full tank fill up by switching to 3.25 gears or so, and actually that would help the in town mileage, but like you said wouldn't help at all(actually hurt MPG) for highway use.
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the gear swap for in town driving was what i was wondering on the mpg ,i intend to later rebuild my stock 460 and up grade to a stealth intake slightly bigger cam headers,my truck now has astock 78 lincoln 460 with dual exhaust turned down just before the rear with 2 1/12 pipes and those round turbo mufflers its also a short bed 2wd custom with no power except power steering no and no air and this will just be a cruiser not much heavy loads at all thanx guys for all ur input
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From: Louisiana
W/out any hauling the amount of gas you save in 5 years or more wouldn't compensate the cost to regear. Your 460 has all the power you need, but if you want better acceleration then you can go to 3.25 gears or 3.50 gears.
What rear end do you have a D44 or a ford 9"?
IF you have a D44 the cheapest regearing would be around $500 depending on shop, and if you had a 9", you might be able to get away w/ $400.
What rear end do you have a D44 or a ford 9"?
IF you have a D44 the cheapest regearing would be around $500 depending on shop, and if you had a 9", you might be able to get away w/ $400.