Weird question about gearing
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 5
From: Muskegon, MI (home)
Just for gits and shiggles I checked the JBG website the deepest gear they offer for the 8.8 Ford is a 6.14 
hmm kinda low huh? Low gears can be a lot of fun IMO, being able to drag heavy loads around with the greatest of ease.
hmm kinda low huh? Low gears can be a lot of fun IMO, being able to drag heavy loads around with the greatest of ease.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 5
From: Almost Heaven
Well, you might laugh at me, but I was wondering why farmers don't gear their farm trucks that low (7.1.1). I'm talking about the trucks that never come off the farm. Wouldn't it make sense? The truck could still go fast enough (I'm guessing 25 mph?) for the farm and woods, but be able to pull a whole lot more than a "normal" pickup.
I know it might seem crazy but I was bascially thinking about farmers transforing these pickups into "semi'tractors". I mean, these trucks have Radio, AC and Heat if equipped and they aren't rediculously huge or anything.
I'm not saying they can subsitute a tractor. No sir. What I'm saying is, it would compliment the farm. I'm not sure if I'm explaining myself clearly, lol.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 0
From: Trenton, MI
Farm tractor is very dangerous when go fast.
We have Ford 601 It capable go 24-25 mph straight but it scary. Best is 12-15 mph instead 25 mph.
Plus they have no synchronized in transmission so it hard to change gear without grind it. I try shift from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 it PITA in Ford 3000 with loader. Try roll in 4 gear it will kill engine.
I am glad my Ford 601 don't have that transmission it use select on speed it like auto but have 10 gears speed.
One thing when my ford 601 is pull heavy trailer that almost 15,000 pounds. It kind bog need keep rpm at 2,200 to roll that trailer. It have 4 cylinders it produce 35 hp.
We have Ford 601 It capable go 24-25 mph straight but it scary. Best is 12-15 mph instead 25 mph.
Plus they have no synchronized in transmission so it hard to change gear without grind it. I try shift from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 it PITA in Ford 3000 with loader. Try roll in 4 gear it will kill engine.
I am glad my Ford 601 don't have that transmission it use select on speed it like auto but have 10 gears speed.
One thing when my ford 601 is pull heavy trailer that almost 15,000 pounds. It kind bog need keep rpm at 2,200 to roll that trailer. It have 4 cylinders it produce 35 hp.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Gear it as low as you want. 
Shop around at the various ring & pinion vendor sites and you can get some pretty low gears for the Dana 44 and the 8.8.
My '89 F-150 has 3.55 gears and a T18. In first gear, 4lo you can get out and walk circles around it, it's moving so slow. I can't see why you'd want to gear a truck any lower than that, unless you had a 5-speed or an automatic.
There are really only two problems with lower gears. The first and most obvious is you lose your top end speed. The other problem is that you are going to be breaking a lot more parts. In 1st gear 4lo on my truck I am afraid to step on it too hard because all that torque is going to attack the weakest point, and you are talking about a LOT of torque there. I would imagine you'd start going through u-joints, slip yokes, and transfer cases pretty quick. Axle housings, carriers, and axle shafts probably wouldn't be far behind if you beefed the others up first.
Shop around at the various ring & pinion vendor sites and you can get some pretty low gears for the Dana 44 and the 8.8.My '89 F-150 has 3.55 gears and a T18. In first gear, 4lo you can get out and walk circles around it, it's moving so slow. I can't see why you'd want to gear a truck any lower than that, unless you had a 5-speed or an automatic.
There are really only two problems with lower gears. The first and most obvious is you lose your top end speed. The other problem is that you are going to be breaking a lot more parts. In 1st gear 4lo on my truck I am afraid to step on it too hard because all that torque is going to attack the weakest point, and you are talking about a LOT of torque there. I would imagine you'd start going through u-joints, slip yokes, and transfer cases pretty quick. Axle housings, carriers, and axle shafts probably wouldn't be far behind if you beefed the others up first.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Gear it as low as you want. Shop around at the various ring & pinion vendor sites and you can get some pretty low gears for the Dana 44 and the 8.8.
My '89 F-150 has 3.55 gears and a T18. In first gear, 4lo you can get out and walk circles around it, it's moving so slow. I can't see why you'd want to gear a truck any lower than that, unless you had a 5-speed or an automatic.
There are really only two problems with lower gears. The first and most obvious is you lose your top end speed. The other problem is that you are going to be breaking a lot more parts. In 1st gear 4lo on my truck I am afraid to step on it too hard because all that torque is going to attack the weakest point, and you are talking about a LOT of torque there. I would imagine you'd start going through u-joints, slip yokes, and transfer cases pretty quick. Axle housings, carriers, and axle shafts probably wouldn't be far behind if you beefed the others up first.
Shop around at the various ring & pinion vendor sites and you can get some pretty low gears for the Dana 44 and the 8.8.My '89 F-150 has 3.55 gears and a T18. In first gear, 4lo you can get out and walk circles around it, it's moving so slow. I can't see why you'd want to gear a truck any lower than that, unless you had a 5-speed or an automatic.
There are really only two problems with lower gears. The first and most obvious is you lose your top end speed. The other problem is that you are going to be breaking a lot more parts. In 1st gear 4lo on my truck I am afraid to step on it too hard because all that torque is going to attack the weakest point, and you are talking about a LOT of torque there. I would imagine you'd start going through u-joints, slip yokes, and transfer cases pretty quick. Axle housings, carriers, and axle shafts probably wouldn't be far behind if you beefed the others up first.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 5
From: Almost Heaven
There are really only two problems with lower gears. The first and most obvious is you lose your top end speed. The other problem is that you are going to be breaking a lot more parts. In 1st gear 4lo on my truck I am afraid to step on it too hard because all that torque is going to attack the weakest point, and you are talking about a LOT of torque there. I would imagine you'd start going through u-joints, slip yokes, and transfer cases pretty quick. Axle housings, carriers, and axle shafts probably wouldn't be far behind if you beefed the others up first.
And this is why God made Tractors!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 1
From: Mass.
lol, the 8.8 is deffinately not an axle i would be willing to try this on. A 10.25 would probably have a better chance of taking some abuse.
I have this gut feeling the first time i touch the gas after the 351 goes into my crown vic the 8.8 is going to be blown to bite size pieces, but we shall see.
I have this gut feeling the first time i touch the gas after the 351 goes into my crown vic the 8.8 is going to be blown to bite size pieces, but we shall see.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 5
From: Almost Heaven
lol, the 8.8 is deffinately not an axle i would be willing to try this on. A 10.25 would probably have a better chance of taking some abuse.
I have this gut feeling the first time i touch the gas after the 351 goes into my crown vic the 8.8 is going to be blown to bite size pieces, but we shall see.
I have this gut feeling the first time i touch the gas after the 351 goes into my crown vic the 8.8 is going to be blown to bite size pieces, but we shall see.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 2
The 8.8 will hold up fine , With a nice true trac posi & superior axles ... An other tip is to weld the axle tubes to the housing, this will stop the flex... Theres alot of guys using the 8.8 with 400-500 hp with slicks .. Lew
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 1
From: Mass.
well, that makes me feel a little better. Welding the axle tubes to the housing sounds like a good idea, i think ill try that.