Question on gears for Mike
#1
05-06-2002 | 10:09 PM
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From: GULFPORT. MS.
#2
05-08-2002 | 06:13 PM
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Joined: Mar 1998
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From: Virginia
Hi TRUSSMAN,
Well, with the Supercab and the hard tonneau cvover with a 4.6, you've got a fairly heavy F-150 there as well as the smaller V-8, which has a lot less torque down low compared to the 5.4 motor. It really all gets down to how many rpms you're willing to turn on the highway as well as how you're using the vehicle. If your primary concern is highway mpg, then use the 3.55's, they'll be a noticeable improvement over the 3.08's. However, if you are towing anything of any weight (mroe than 2000 lbs.) and doing that more than just once in a great while (1-2 times a year for short distances), definitely use the 3.73's instead, as you'll need all the help you can get when towing.
I hope that's the kind of information you're looking for, if not we'll try again.
Well, with the Supercab and the hard tonneau cvover with a 4.6, you've got a fairly heavy F-150 there as well as the smaller V-8, which has a lot less torque down low compared to the 5.4 motor. It really all gets down to how many rpms you're willing to turn on the highway as well as how you're using the vehicle. If your primary concern is highway mpg, then use the 3.55's, they'll be a noticeable improvement over the 3.08's. However, if you are towing anything of any weight (mroe than 2000 lbs.) and doing that more than just once in a great while (1-2 times a year for short distances), definitely use the 3.73's instead, as you'll need all the help you can get when towing.
I hope that's the kind of information you're looking for, if not we'll try again.
#4
05-10-2002 | 12:32 PM
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Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi TRUSSMAN,
OK, thanks for sharing that rpm at speed data with me.
Based on that, for me, 2100 rpm @ 80 in Overdrive isn't much, and I wouldn't mind turing 2400-2500 rpm at that speed, especially to get the extra torque from that 4.6 motor, so for me, I'd go 3.73. Now that's just how I feel, and that really doesn't matter, it's the rpms that *you* are comfortable with that matters.
In our 2001 5.4 Lariat w/ORP & 3.5 gears, it's only turning 2400 rpm @ 90 mph in Overdrive (thanks to the tall tires on the ORP package), and that is such "tall" gearing it drives me nuts, which is why we're going to change that out to 4.10's if I ever get the time!
OK, thanks for sharing that rpm at speed data with me.
Based on that, for me, 2100 rpm @ 80 in Overdrive isn't much, and I wouldn't mind turing 2400-2500 rpm at that speed, especially to get the extra torque from that 4.6 motor, so for me, I'd go 3.73. Now that's just how I feel, and that really doesn't matter, it's the rpms that *you* are comfortable with that matters.
In our 2001 5.4 Lariat w/ORP & 3.5 gears, it's only turning 2400 rpm @ 90 mph in Overdrive (thanks to the tall tires on the ORP package), and that is such "tall" gearing it drives me nuts, which is why we're going to change that out to 4.10's if I ever get the time!