Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Changing the gears

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 15, 2008 | 07:37 PM
  #16  
fordguy300's Avatar
fordguy300
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 357
Likes: 0
From: THEHAUTE
haha this truck will never see 140 mph haha
but thank you
when i mean low gears i know what way you are talking about im just sayn i run alot of rpm at highway speed which sucks gas
my main question is you dont think my truck would be a real dog with 33s do you?
 
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2008 | 07:57 PM
  #17  
fmr9's Avatar
fmr9
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 834
Likes: 0
I think I'm running close to 2000 at 65. I don't remember. Been awhile since I have had it out of the city.
Frank
 
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2008 | 08:02 PM
  #18  
Opossum's Avatar
Opossum
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 0
From: Renton, WA
Originally Posted by fordguy300
haha this truck will never see 140 mph haha
but thank you
when i mean low gears i know what way you are talking about im just sayn i run alot of rpm at highway speed which sucks gas
my main question is you dont think my truck would be a real dog with 33s do you?
That's an interesting question because of your tranny. If you compare it to the numbers for Fox_Racing to your truck, with your granny and the 3.08s you have a final ratio of 19.53 and with the 33s will be turning 1988rpm at 10mph. That is more then enough gear to get any load going.

But with your next gear wether you call it second or first, you have a big jump in ratio and it will be hard to launch well at a light. In this gear you got a final of only 9.55 with the 3.08s and with the 33s will hit 10mph at 972 rpm, with these numbers if you try to launch hard in 1st you will probably be going well over 10mph before you get the clutch all the way engaged.

However your mileage should get better if you keep the 3.08s and add the 33s because your rpms will go down at highway speeds. But if you change to 3.55s with the 33s your mileage will get worse because the motor will be spinning way to fast going down the highway.

Will it be a dog? Your not going to win any drag races because of the tranny and the huge differance in your first two gears. But because of the granny low you will still be able to pull and haul vary well.

Don't change to 3.55 unless getting an even bigger tire, going down the highway at 2400rpm isn't going to work and will make the truck suck to drive over 55mph.
 
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2008 | 08:07 PM
  #19  
fordguy300's Avatar
fordguy300
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 357
Likes: 0
From: THEHAUTE
ok thanks
makes sense
so once i get the 33s
should i go ahead and start taking off in 1st gear? i would hate to wear out the clutch bc it has a new one it it the truck has 219k miles on it =\ i know my sig is wrong i was going off my friends that number came up for some reason in my head hah
 
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2008 | 08:19 PM
  #20  
Opossum's Avatar
Opossum
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 0
From: Renton, WA
Originally Posted by fordguy300
should i go ahead and start taking off in 1st gear?
That is entirely up to you and the situation your in with load, hill, etc. I have owned three trucks with that tranny and never used one or the other all the time.

I had that tranny in a V8 CJ-5 I built and low was almost useless unless I was wheelin and wanted to go real slow, that jeep would wheelie in second, and could lite-em-up in 4th at a stop or going 60 down the highway.

But the other trucks I would use low when starting with a load or on a steep hill and use 1st in most other driving.
 
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2008 | 08:36 PM
  #21  
Fox_Racing's Avatar
Fox_Racing
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Opossum
thanks for the numbers.... i dont tow anything over 6500 pounds and thats only about once a month. and for highway driving i dont go much over 55 , yet when i have to drive highway it is realy hilly and i dont have a good gear for it now with my set up. the salvage yard down from my house will sell me a donor truck to use for 300 with 3.55 and it has a v8 and same tranny and tcase and my auto teacher will buy the motor for 150... so i think this is prob a good rout since its the cheapest by far, or is there any direct swap years with 3.73s?
thanks to all.

p.s. artic wolf 31 work great for me, i dont wanna lift it and i only mud a little bit and tires cost alot and i have to pay for all of that stuff plus insurance and gas while going to school and wrestling i dont get very many hours at my job. so for 110 a tire i couldnt beat them! and they look great on it. but your right 33 are BA and they look great with a 2.5 inch lift.
 
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2008 | 08:39 PM
  #22  
fordguy300's Avatar
fordguy300
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 357
Likes: 0
From: THEHAUTE
ok thanks for the help and sorry to the o/p if i hijacked your thread too much but its on the same topic so =\
about the v8 jeep my friends gpa has a couple landcruisers with built 383s that will do wheelies
 
Reply
Old Dec 15, 2008 | 08:56 PM
  #23  
Opossum's Avatar
Opossum
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 0
From: Renton, WA
Originally Posted by Fox_Racing
Opossum
thanks for the numbers.... the salvage yard down from my house will sell me a donor truck to use for 300 with 3.55 and it has a v8 and same tranny and tcase and my auto teacher will buy the motor for 150... so i think this is prob a good rout since its the cheapest by far, or is there any direct swap years with 3.73s?

but your right 33 are BA and they look great with a 2.5 inch lift.
That sounds like a good deal, there are trucks out there with factory 3.73s but I couldn't tell you where to look.

I think my 37" tires are BA on my stock height truck, and if Arctic Wolf was a real Big Dog he'd have at least 40s.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:58 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE