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Oct 12, 2008 | 12:24 PM

#16

bleeds blue

Thread Starter

More Turbo

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 583

Likes: 46

From: Utah

Would it be worth finding a 9.75 axle off a wrecked truck? I know I'll end up putting air bags on it and putting way too much weight on it. Will the 8.8 stand up to that abuse?

Oct 12, 2008 | 07:20 PM

#17

Bobby82490

Posting Guru

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 1,466

Likes: 0

From: N. Fort Myers,FL

For its size the 8.8 is a stout axle, and parts to rebuild one are cheaper than the 9.75.

FYI you have the 8.8 in the rear, no 4.6 ever came from the factory with the 9.75.

Oct 13, 2008 | 10:02 AM

#18

bleeds blue

Thread Starter

More Turbo

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 583

Likes: 46

From: Utah

Thanks for the info

Oct 16, 2008 | 08:10 AM

#19

shorebird

Hotshot

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 11,537

Likes: 27

From: Long Beach, Ms.

Blue blood you may want to pm FTE Parts Guy with your VIN and an E-mail return address. He may get you the build sheet for your truck. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...newpm&u=406391 Ask nicely and remember him when in the market for parts.

Oct 16, 2008 | 10:46 AM

#20

FTE/PARTS-GUY

Former Vendor

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 1,811

Likes: 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by shorebird

in my best

Val Kilmer voice from Tomstone

I'm your Huckleberry!

Ed

Oct 16, 2008 | 11:58 AM

#21

BURNSTOUGHFORD

Posting Guru

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 2,486

Likes: 0

From: Iowa

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncranchero

People need to remember ............. gearing is the great equalizer!

My ex-work van, an '05 E250 4.6L w/4.10 gears & 188K miles out performed my new '08 E250 5.4L w/3.73's and got 3 MPG better mileage!

My current '98 F150 SCab 4x4 4.6L w/3.55's gets 16 MPG and that kicks the crap out of the '95 F150 SCab 4x4 5.0L w/3.31's I did have and still has plenty of power for my occasional car trailer towing. Personally, I love the 4.6L !

but i think as a whole everyone that has switched gears have seen some much more responsive power, but at the cost of a few highway mpg. I swapped motors and still get the same gas mileage. Id assume putting deaper gears in it will drop the mileage.

Look at it this way, driving down the interstate with OD off i get about 400 rpm more and loose 3 mpg... if i put 4:10's in i will be turning roughly the same rpm with my OD on and probably receiving less mpg. Thats all speculation and not necessarily the entire story theres so many things that go into the equation.

Oct 16, 2008 | 02:30 PM

#22

lonerangerinaz

Senior User

Joined: Nov 2003

Posts: 108

Likes: 0

I did both the engine swap and changed gears. The difference is like day and night. Ran the new engine for a couple of days before I changed my gears and the engine alone made one heck of a improvment from my 4.6 I only went up to 3.73 gears but I could feel the difference when I installed them.
I get the same gas milage on the highway and in town.