best overall gearing?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Dracut, Massachusetts
best overall gearing?
i wanted to know what your opinions are about gearing. for starters i am building a 78 f250 with d60's front and back, they have 3.54 gears right now, but i want to know what the best choice is. i will be doing snow plowing, highway driving, and the occasional burnout to scare away the ricers! i may also end up using it for other truck type things like stump pulling and hauling junk around. so what are your opinions? are 3.54's good for my application? or do i need 3.73's? i have 4.10s with limited slip in my 77, and it screams on the highway. so i dont think i want to go that low. thanks in advance for any help!
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,481
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You will get better replies with real world experience if you advise:
Engine, size, type, mods you plan
Tranny: Manual, OD, Auto, AOD? In and out box?
Tires: 44's? or 7.00 x 16 load range D?
You get the picture....the whole picture will give you better results.
Engine, size, type, mods you plan
Tranny: Manual, OD, Auto, AOD? In and out box?
Tires: 44's? or 7.00 x 16 load range D?
You get the picture....the whole picture will give you better results.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,959
Likes: 9
From: USA
The best gearing choice for your truck depends on a few things:
What diameter tires will you be using on it?
What kind of transmission do you have (auto/manual, overdrive/non-overdrive)?
What size engine do you have?
How fast do you like to drive on the freeway?
Do you intend to tow anything with it?
[ON EDIT: Sorry 85e150.., didn't see your reply asking the same questions...]
What diameter tires will you be using on it?
What kind of transmission do you have (auto/manual, overdrive/non-overdrive)?
What size engine do you have?
How fast do you like to drive on the freeway?
Do you intend to tow anything with it?
[ON EDIT: Sorry 85e150.., didn't see your reply asking the same questions...]
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 3
From: Dracut, Massachusetts
ok, i wasnt sure what was needed information. im building a 400, bored .030 over, solid cam and lifters, rollerrockers, arp bolts on the bottom end and the heads. edelbrock intake, and a holley 4 barrel either 650 or 700 cfm, with manual secondarys. and an electric chole. thats the basic engine build up. that will be mated up to a borg warner t-18 4 speed manual, no overdrive, and an np205. i plan on using tires that are at least a 285/75, i will probably go bigger, but not much bigger maybee a 315/75 or whatever is close to that, im not good with tire sizes. i like to drive about 75 on the highway. but i want the ability to go faster than that! i dont intend to tow anything with it, maybee once in a blue moon i will tow a utility trailer, the heavyest thing i will tow is a truck. i think i answered all the questions, and btw the truck has been a plow for the past 26 years, with 3.50 gearing, so i guess that its sufficent for that. thank for any help.
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,481
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Based on my 3.50 equipped rig with 31 in tires, 3.50 will be about as short a gear as you want if you are going to run freeway speeds. You don't need a shorter gear for takeoff as you have the granny 1st gear. You could go a little taller, but the gains would be offset by the cost.
You should be able to cruise about 2500 to 3000 RPM at your freeway speeds. Seems about right for your set up.
Better minds will chime in.
Tire co. Websites have "calculators" for specific gear & tire combo's.
You should be able to cruise about 2500 to 3000 RPM at your freeway speeds. Seems about right for your set up.
Better minds will chime in.
Tire co. Websites have "calculators" for specific gear & tire combo's.
