I have to admit I'm not happy with performance of my truck with the big 305/65/17 tires, 5.4 and 3:73 gears. I am considering 4:30 gear conversion because the truck is working hard to pull my 6000 lb boat when I hit an uphill grade. The cost is the only thing holding me back, I have to change both front and rear. Gears and labor would run about $800-$1000 I figure.

Anyone bite the bullet and do the conversion? Was it worth it?

 

If I was running 35" tires with a 5.4, I would go with 4.56s. The cost will be the same. The performance difference will be night and day. You will more that likely get better fuel mileage too. It's the single best thing you can do for your 5.4 with the large tires.

Nothing else will come close. Not headers, a tuner or exhaust, which are all good to do after the gear change.

No gas Super Duty should come with 3.73s in my opinion.

 

The 5.4L should have 4.30s stock, so I'd go with 4.56s.

 

Depends on what you do with the vehicle. You should have lower gearing if you are hauling or towing heavy, but for just moving light loads, 3.73 is fine based on stock tires.

Anyone who intends to increase their wheel/tire size should factor that in BEFORE they purchase and order accordingly (or budget for the extra expense of changing parts). Big tires and tall gearing will make your vehicle feel weak.

 

I would also go 4.56 the 5.4 isn't a power house and it should help. The other solution is to find stock 4.30 geared axles if you can that are cheaper than the total cost then sell yours

 

On Ebay there is a set of 4:56's for $80 and the Sterling gears are $250. Labor should be around $600 and misc parts another $100. Will spending the $1k really make that much of a difference?

 

YES! <filler>

 

nothing u can add to your truck will give you the same effect as regearing..

least not without spending a redicilous amount of money...

 

Having the appropriate gears allows your truck's engine to operate in the "power band" for maximum HP/TQ. Therefore, you get maximum hauling & towing efficiencies.

 

Gearing will make one of the biggest differences in towing. you don't see a tow truck with small gears they are all big numbers.

 

I too have been looking into gearing since I have been looking at a set of 35" tires and am running 3.73's currently. Who sells gearsets for Super Dutys? I haven't seen anything online yet.

 

I'd recommend Randy's Ring and Pinion.

 

Depends where you live, The Gear Shop is a local shop to me. They are a very good reputable shop.

 

Check out BroncoGraveyard.com.

http://broncograveyard.com/

 

Well, looks like a long road to saving up for the gears and swap. Man the wife is not going to like this...... "Yo Baby, I need to spend a G on gears for the truck" , "now I know the kids need to eat, but the truck needs the gears" Yeah this pretty much sums it up. The gears next year.