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I'm looking to down grade my ratio on '60. I have a T-98 Wagner and a 223 inline. I'm currently running a 4.11. What would be the best ratio and easiest way to do this? Would just ordering a ring & pinion be best or is it a little harder then that?
If you already have a Ford 9" rearend in your truck you should be able to just purchase the 3rd member or center gear section in the ratio you need and swap them out. You will need to determine if you have 28 or 31 spline axles. A 3.00 or 3.23/25 ratio would probably give you decent cruising speed on the highway, but your tire diameter weighs in on that also. There are rpm calculator programs on the web that by entering your rearend information and tire diameter will give you motor rpm. Just do a google on rpm calculator. I would think you would want to keep your engine in the 2000-2200 rpm range at 65mph. Hope this helps you.
You should check out any of a number of gearing calculators. I always use the one on Richmond Gear's website. You can input your tire diameter and play around with different ratios and cruising speeds to find what will be ideal for you.
As for ordering the ring and pinion, it all depends on how confident you are at setting one up and setting preload on bearings...I would pay someone to do all that because between buying tools I'll only use once and probably doing it incorrectly, it would be less hassle. You can probably find a 9" third member ready to go somewhere for around $100-200 or so. Just make sure that you'll be able to fill it, if your current rear has the filler hole on the third member but your new one doesn't you'll either need to drill and tap a filler hole into the housing or find one that has the filler in the third member.
That's all I know about it...well, that and that it's such a great design that you can swap third members out so easily that you'll love it.
I'd be cautious, go too steep and you end up needing to use 1st to start off or downshift for long hill. You just have to decide where you will spend the majority of your time, around town or on the highway. No offense, but the 223 isn't exactly a hemi! They need to rev to push that big box through the air at highway speeds.
If you already have a Ford 9" rearend in your truck you should be able to just purchase the 3rd member or center gear section in the ratio you need and swap them out.
You will need to determine if you have 28 or 31 spline axles.
All F100's with 9" rear ends from 1957 thru 1967 have 28 splined axleshafts.
Most 1968/72 9" F100's are also 28 splines.
Only the 1968/72 F100's with the 9 3/8" rear end, have 31 splined axleshafts. This rear end was only available (as an option) with 360/390 engnes.
btw: 1959/67: If Limited Slip was ordered, the rear end is a Spicer-Dana 44.