towing?
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towing?
My 96 f350 has a low mileage 460, rebuilt C6 tranny, headers, and a cat-back exhaust so I figured it would be good for towing. I guessed wrong. Towing only a 4500lb boat, my truck couldn't keep up to speed going up a hill that was only less than 3 tenths of a mile and at about 7 percent grade. The c6 tranny downshifted and had the motor screaming at the top of the hill at 25m.p.h.(speed limit was 50) in second gear. It has 3.55 gears in it and only 32.6" tires overall. I figured I could go a few inches overstock on the tires and still tow just fine considering I have the 460.
The moral of this story is, I need help. I should be able to tow 12000lbs with it no problem. Hell, I use to tow that much with my stock 78 bronco all the time and it had the same size tires on it and I can't even tow a 4500lb boat with a 460 powered f350! Should I just regear it with 4:11's or try to get more power from the engine. The engine seems really healthy so I don't know. I need some advice.
The moral of this story is, I need help. I should be able to tow 12000lbs with it no problem. Hell, I use to tow that much with my stock 78 bronco all the time and it had the same size tires on it and I can't even tow a 4500lb boat with a 460 powered f350! Should I just regear it with 4:11's or try to get more power from the engine. The engine seems really healthy so I don't know. I need some advice.
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Yeah, there is something wrong. With a 351, 4.10s, 32s, and a C6 my F250 will hold 45 in second (yeah its reved up) with a 6,000 lb. trailer up a 6-7% grade thats 6 miles long. You should be able to run a lot faster than 25 MPH in second.
Do a full tune up (plugs, wires, cap & rotor, and fuel filter) and pull the codes. At the end of my post is a link to a page that will tell you how to do it without a scanner. Post your results.
http://www.fordfuelinjection.com/?p=13
Do a full tune up (plugs, wires, cap & rotor, and fuel filter) and pull the codes. At the end of my post is a link to a page that will tell you how to do it without a scanner. Post your results.
http://www.fordfuelinjection.com/?p=13
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yea theres somthing wrong buddy i was just pulling a 8,000 pound load yesterday with my f150, 351 4.56s and 37s with 150xxx on the motor and it did great on the highway pulling the grade. id check everything over really good. how old is ur coil?
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I get around 8mpg empty with the 3speed auto. I have never checked the timing considering it has always ran fine. The only thing I can think of is that the computer is reading the o2 sensor wrong because of the exhaust header gasket leak I have. Could this be causing the computer to tell the truck to use more fuel since the reading is wrong?
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Yeah, there is something wrong. With a 351, 4.10s, 32s, and a C6 my F250 will hold 45 in second (yeah its reved up) with a 6,000 lb. trailer up a 6-7% grade thats 6 miles long. You should be able to run a lot faster than 25 MPH in second.
Do a full tune up (plugs, wires, cap & rotor, and fuel filter) and pull the codes. At the end of my post is a link to a page that will tell you how to do it without a scanner. Post your results.
http://www.fordfuelinjection.com/?p=13
Do a full tune up (plugs, wires, cap & rotor, and fuel filter) and pull the codes. At the end of my post is a link to a page that will tell you how to do it without a scanner. Post your results.
http://www.fordfuelinjection.com/?p=13
Do you guys think this could be it? If so, should I adjust them or buy all new drums and internals. Or should I just do a disc brake conversion and how much would that cost?
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[quote=andym;7725983]That would account for the bad mileage but not the loss of power. I would really lean towards checking your timing. You need an inductive timing light but it's easy to do.[/quote
How many degrees should the timing be stock?
How many degrees should the timing be stock?
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Post Fiend
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From: Bonita Springs FL
JThe truck sat for almost 2 years in a very damp garage and when I finally moved it, the right rear brake drum was seized up. I got it to brake loose but ever since I stored it, the truck feels gutless like both rears are dragging. When I push on the gas, it revs up more than it moves and if I push even farther down, about a fith of the way to the floor, I feel a jerk like it the breaks brake loose and then off I go.
If you think that the brakes are what caused it to be slow towing the boat, then so much heat was generated that it no doubt completely destroyed the rear brakes.
You're going to have to pull the drums off and take a look inside to see what's happening.
Kinda surprised that I have to say this, but towing a boat with a truck that has suspect brakes is really not too smart.
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This would have been good information to share in the original post.
If you think that the brakes are what caused it to be slow towing the boat, then so much heat was generated that it no doubt completely destroyed the rear brakes.
You're going to have to pull the drums off and take a look inside to see what's happening.
Kinda surprised that I have to say this, but towing a boat with a truck that has suspect brakes is really not
too smart.
If you think that the brakes are what caused it to be slow towing the boat, then so much heat was generated that it no doubt completely destroyed the rear brakes.
You're going to have to pull the drums off and take a look inside to see what's happening.
Kinda surprised that I have to say this, but towing a boat with a truck that has suspect brakes is really not
too smart.
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From: Southeastern PA
Not to sound stupid but if you were topped out in second, going 25, there is a trans issue. Second gear should be like 1.5:1 ish. My T18's 3rd is 1.7:1 ish, and I have smaller (stock) tires, and it will hit 50 at the top of third, 25 is down around 1500-2000 rpm range. Realistically, you should be going faster than me at any given rpm in that gear, beings as it's a taller gear to start with, and you have larger tires. We both have 3.55's. If you were in 1st, ok, but if you were in fact in second there is a problem there.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: St Louis
landon, andym may have come off a bit brutal, but he is one of the most knowledgeable people on the board who was being blatantly honest with you. I believe the reason for his statement is that if your brakes are already heating up on the rear, you are now overloading the front brakes. Overloading the fronts has the possibility of you jack-knifing the entire set up. Also, sticking brakes could lead to premature failure of your trans, so parking your truck until you get it repaired is much more advisable at this point than the risk with using it.
I can not speak for the rest of the possible boards online for the Ford trucks, but based on hearsay this is one of the better boards, with this thread being one of most honest and least argumentative of the board. But, good luck on resolving the issue and due come back if you have more questions.
I can not speak for the rest of the possible boards online for the Ford trucks, but based on hearsay this is one of the better boards, with this thread being one of most honest and least argumentative of the board. But, good luck on resolving the issue and due come back if you have more questions.
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It has been parked since I found out the towing problem. I also had the tranny rebuilt about 6K miles ago so I don't believe its a tranny issue. Im gonna tear the drums down this weekend and take a look.