Should I change gears?
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Should I change gears?
Well guys with the price of diesel looking to top $4 gallon, I have really been looking at the things Dave Whitmer has done to his truck. MY mileage isn't bad at all, but with these prices I am looking to squeeze every last bit out of this truck as it is going to be with me until it dies.
Should I change the gears from 3.73 down to 3.53 or 3.08? I have priced parts and labor and it will run ~$300. That's not bad if i'm able to pick up 2mpg. NO TOWING and NO RACING, I am just trying to improve mpg of my daily driver.
What tire size will I have to go to with the different ratio? would I have to send my pcm back to jody to adjust for the regearing? is there any thing else i should consider before going drastic like this (i already drive like grandpa and all the other stuff)?
my pops and I are getting setup to brew bio but who knows when/if we will get it done.
Should I change the gears from 3.73 down to 3.53 or 3.08? I have priced parts and labor and it will run ~$300. That's not bad if i'm able to pick up 2mpg. NO TOWING and NO RACING, I am just trying to improve mpg of my daily driver.
What tire size will I have to go to with the different ratio? would I have to send my pcm back to jody to adjust for the regearing? is there any thing else i should consider before going drastic like this (i already drive like grandpa and all the other stuff)?
my pops and I are getting setup to brew bio but who knows when/if we will get it done.
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From: Chicago suburbs
I am going to go the other way. Since I have 37 inch tires, I need to get the RPM back in the sweet spot. It seems that I may be lugging when first taking off from a stop. And most of my driving is around town with lots of stops and go's. Seems that I have to get the RPM's up way higher than it should. Plus I do not have the speed surge when hitting the Turbo Sweet Spot (unless I have it floored it). Since Diesel has been at $3.80+ per Gal for a few weeks, I want some relief from $110 fill-ups. (When I first bought the truck, a fill-up would cost me a little over $30)
Dave..
Dave..
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I want to stay with the stock 265/75/16 tires. my next set will be from china-mart and they won't put anything but stock size on a vehicle. maybe i need to look into 3.53 for this size.
whatever i do, I don't want to make my mileage worse. i just like the sound of 1700rpm @ 70mph. right now, at 2k i am running ~68mph.
i hope someone who has done this will chime in and get me pointed in the right direction.
whatever i do, I don't want to make my mileage worse. i just like the sound of 1700rpm @ 70mph. right now, at 2k i am running ~68mph.
i hope someone who has done this will chime in and get me pointed in the right direction.
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From: Charlotte-Fairbanks-Bflo
I think the 3:53's may be a good idea, I would even be tempted to go to the 3:08's, if you try it let us know cuz for 3 to 400 bucks I would find someway to do it. The only towing I will ever do is my little dingy Vdub Cabrilet. Keep in mind that when Ford built this truck they were assumming that most of them would be used for some fairly heavy towing.
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Looks like you have two wheel drive truck, stock tires. i don't know of your Mod's, but yes 3.53 gears would be just right, with 265 tires, older super dutys had that gear ratio. If you don't have Synthetic in everything, switch to it in everything.
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i won't tackle this job myself, but the ring & pinion set is ~$200 and a friend at a local shop says he'll install it for a hundy. just need to make up my mind. i am tempted to go 3.08 but leaning more towards 3.53.
i am not sold on synthetic for the engine, but will use it in the rear end.
i am not sold on synthetic for the engine, but will use it in the rear end.
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From: Charlotte-Fairbanks-Bflo
Say we do this, how do you go about calibrating the speedometer? Plus getting away from stock tire size would negate any changes in rpm at the higher speed you're looking for. If you are real happy with the 53's, I will be real tempted to try the 08's. Does your pal that is going to change the ring and pinion know that this is not just an out with the old and in with the new project? I ask this because 100 buck's sounds kind of cheap for what all is involved.
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Mark, yeah, he knows his stuff. I did promise to buy him a beer as well, though. That is where it will more than make up the difference, LOL.
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From: 21791
I would do the 3.08 gears. The small tires arent hard to spin over, and it will sure increase your mileage! How much miles does it take to equalize out the cost of the swap, plus the method on correcting the speedo to equalize the fuel costs?
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From: Charlotte-Fairbanks-Bflo
Originally Posted by strokin_it7.3
I would do the 3.08 gears. The small tires arent hard to spin over, and it will sure increase your mileage! How much miles does it take to equalize out the cost of the swap, plus the method on correcting the speedo to equalize the fuel costs?
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Originally Posted by strokin_it7.3
I would do the 3.08 gears. The small tires arent hard to spin over, and it will sure increase your mileage! How much miles does it take to equalize out the cost of the swap, plus the method on correcting the speedo to equalize the fuel costs?
Originally Posted by Markadeck
No one has answered my speedometer question. Is it still just as simple as changing a little gear in the transmission, or is it done by the PCM?
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From: South-Central Kentucky
These trucks read speed off of the rear diff. So, yes you would either have to have your PCM re-flashed or you could go with one of the speedometer correction products out there. I believe there is one called tru-speed or something like that, they are mainly used by guys who have switched to bigger tires and lower gears for mudding. Good luck, hope this helps.
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From: Charlotte-Fairbanks-Bflo
Dave, I think you may want to consider Kris's suggestion and go with the 08's cuz the 53's are not much of a drop from what you already have. If they seem to be just too high for around town driving, just turn the overdrive off.