.........
driveability question
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: conway arkansas
driveability question
well, i'm fixin to install my 3.54 gears in my 78 and was wondering what kind of driveability issues i will run into with em, reason i ask is mainly cause i'm split between a 31 inch tire or a 34, got a guy who can get me a good deal on super swampers and dont know which one will work out better, biggest concern i have is how much i'm going to have to slip the clutch to take off in second, cause as anybody with an np435 can tell you 1st is useless unless you are trying to get a million lbs moving up a hill, i'm leaning toward the 31x10.5x16 for this reason, plus they are a few bucks cheaper, what do yall think
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Word 
If you go anything bigger than 31's your clutch isnt going to like it either. You may be able to pull off 33's. I had 35's in my F-150 with a 300-6 and 3.55's, clutch didnt last more than 6 months.
If you go anything bigger than 31's your clutch isnt going to like it either. You may be able to pull off 33's. I had 35's in my F-150 with a 300-6 and 3.55's, clutch didnt last more than 6 months.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 13
I say 33's... i have 31's and 3.55's... plenty of get up and go... could use a lil more top end. Once i get the ZF in and 35's on ill run 3.73's. dont even have to give it gas just let out on the clutch, and thats not even in granny.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,627
Likes: 957
From: Near Yosemite CA
I would try 33s, check my gallery, those are 255/85/16 on my 77, basically a 33x10.50 perfect fit, not to hard on the ol clutch unless my wife drives it. Speedo is off a bit, but it does well, 351Measly with NP435 and 3.50 gears.
Joe
Joe
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 592
Likes: 1
From: Tooele, UT
My dads 85 f150 that has 31s and a 302 EFI and 3.50 gears with a 4 speed and itll chirp em, and we only run about 2800 rpm at 65. You could probly run 33s and if thats too much for the clutch you could go down to 32s or 31s.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: conway arkansas
well, i'm gonna swap gears sometime this week and see how it does with the tires that are on it, 285.75.16 and see how it does with those, they are roughly 32 inches tall now that they are bald
