Regearing the Ford

[SNOTROCKET]

well ive been mulling it over for a little while now and i want to regear the ford. i know it will definately help out with towing and all aounr gas mileage. i just dont know what kind of gears or what ratio would work best for my application.

its a 1997 for F350. dana 60 front and a ford 10.25 rear. i believe they are geared 3.55 right now. atleast thats what it says on the plates bolted to the housings. if that is correct or not i dont know. i know how to find out but im about 99% posotive that either of the previous owners changed em'.

basically i need to find out what kind of gears to get. ive been looking around and seen different sets of gears for the dana 60 axles (thin, thick, reverse. etc...) and the same for the rear (full floater or not) i just dont know the differences and exacatly what set to get for my truck. the tires i have on there now are LT265/75R16E  

here's a couple of pictures of the axle housings and the placard on the door jam.



Rear



Front

[SNOTROCKET]

i plan on using it as a daily driver and a tow rig. i haul around the lance set in camper and i will be pulling the 4runner on a trailer at some point.

i had been thinking along the lines of a 4.56 or a 4.88. but im not to sure which would be best for all around driving and towing. the truck will see very light off road use. 

[mogman]

You mean you don't like getting 7 mpg? Love that 460
My 1994 Ford ( 2wd ) has the 4.56 gears and I would like even lower to pull my 8k Mog / trailer combo so I would say go with 4.88. Not as much top end speed but as you know by now over 70 is like driving a barn.

[Mikegyver1]

4.88??? Fo Real Mogman..  I don't know anything about Fords other then (found on road dead) with those little tires I think anything over 4.56s wouldn't be worth it.. 4.88s you would probably be pull 3500 rpm at 70mph. Thought ur gas gauge moved fast before.. also there is a charrier break on the D60 at 4.10/4.56. so going up you would have to replace it. The rear you get lucky, just gears.

[84sr5]

I have a 1992 F-250 4WD 7.3/ Banks sidewinder with 4.10s LT265-85/16E and the best I can do is around 70-75mph @2200 rpms without the thing screaming down the road. In my opinion for what its worth go with 4.10s and 4.56s are the lowest I would go if you want to change your gears. 

[dezertcrawlin]

I know its a little different but I tow with my 1996 F150 4wd with the 5.8 and it has 4.10's and would out pull my dads 94 F350 4wd with a 460 and 4.10's.  (Towed the same load with both, even my dad likes my truck more).  Mine is on 33's and his was on 35's.    I too think 4.88 is way too low.  I would say 4.56 max with little tires.  Going up the grade my truck hits 3600 going 50 towing my jeep on a flatbed.

[SNOTROCKET]

i have absolutely no idea what rpms the truck is running at now because there is no tach.

if i have to change carries between 4.10's and 4.56's. along with buying gears and set up parts and paying for the install would it be cost beneficial in the long run to go with 4.56's or 4.10's?

i generally drive on the HW at 55 when im just driving around town and have to get on the HW. if im making a long haul ill go 60. 65 max. ive noticed doing that now saves me about 1 mpg. wich isnt much but it all adds up.

thanks for all the responses. since i plan on keeping this truck for a long time i thought i would start working on it to make it a very nice tow rig. 

[Mikegyver1]

Give Trent or John at BorderParts a call. John will want all those numbers you have and most likely numbers you didn't see 
They charged me 250 an axle to install the gears, but you have to pull the axle your self and deliver it to them. I got it back the next day.

[SNOTROCKET]

Give Trent or John at BorderParts a call. John will want all those numbers you have and most likely numbers you didn't see 
They charged me 250 an axle to install the gears, but you have to pull the axle your self and deliver it to them. I got it back the next day.

250 an axle!!! and i have to pull them!!!! i dont have anythign that would haul these things any where. except the ford.

[99xj]

The guy that did mine, Dwight Brinkerhoff, Horizon Performance Drivetrain, 619-990-1718.
He charged me $200 Labor per axle and I drove it to him droped it off and he called me when it was done. He does outstanding work and he stands behind it!

[SNOTROCKET]

so 4.56 or 4.10? and what kind of gears?

200 aint bad. especially if i dont have to take the axles off.

[Mikegyver1]

That is a good price.... If your not planning on running larger tires then what you have I would go with 4.10s

[99xj]

4:10's.......your not planning on running 40" tires????

I have 3:73 in my F250 Superduty (7.3 Powerstroke) and It's plenty of gear. I have 285/75/16 (33") tires. I've never had a problem towing my trailer (24' Cherokee and 2 quads) with the bed loaded.

Fuel economy is decent. With your 460 if you run anything more than 4:10 your milage will be horrible all the time.

Gears.....try RWK Haus Supply.  Robert is a good guy.  http://www.rwkhaussupply.com/magento/

My $0.02

[moorehouse77]

Is that a three speed or four speed tranny?


Dave.

[SNOTROCKET]

will runnin 4.10's actually help gas mileage compared to the 3.55's?

and i have no intentions of ever running bigger tires. (i say that now)

i always thought the lower the gears your runnin than the more torque you have going to the ground. essentially taking more load off the engine.

4 speed tranny.  

[moorehouse77]

currently running about...

65 mph = 4th gear - 1739 rpm
                3rd gear - 2450 rpm

55 mph = 4th gear - 1472 rpm
                3rd gear - 2073 rpm
                2nd gear - 3192 rpm

with 4.10 gears...

65 mph = 4th gear - 2009 rpm
                3rd gear - 2829 rpm

55 mph = 4th gear - 1700 rpm
                3rd gear - 2394 rpm
                2nd gear - 3687 rpm

And with 4.56 gears...

65 mph = 4th gear - 2234 rpm
                3rd gear - 3147 rpm

55 mph = 4th gear - 1890 rpm
                3rd gear - 2663 rpm
                2nd gear - 4100 rpm


Dave.

[moorehouse77]

Lower gears will give you better gas mileage while towing cause the motors not working as hard but worse mileage while not towing cause the engine is spinning faster.  More revolutions more air and fuel passing trought the motor per mile.


Dave.