ok i currently have a 97 standard cab flareside f150 with 4.6 and automatic n 4wd looking into a big suspension lift about 10" sometime soon....am currently running stock open rearend with 3.55s and 265/75/16 mud tires and was thinking about 4.88s and l/s with the lift and 38" tires...but would that just keep me at about the same ratio as i am now? i am lookin to put some ore umphh into the truck if im going to spend all this money on gears.....so i also thought about maybe 5.14s would that help out in the power department? also one last question what if i just put the gears in now without the lift and big tires would fuel mileage plummit with the closer gears but my truck be strong off the line or would fuel mileage not be affected too much?
thanks in advance

 

also just noticed that i cant find any 4.88s or larger for the 8.8 ifs up front.... any help guys? so 5.13 or 5.14s may be out of the question but what do i do if i cant find 4.88s for the front diff?

 

Lift, Bigger tires, higher gears = less mileage.

The larger tires are heavier and would require different gears just to turn them more efficiently. = less gas mileage

The lift will increase wind resistance + add weight = less mileage

The gears will have enough strength to handle the tires but you run higher rpm's and lose top end speed which = less mileage.

Neither of the things you wish to do will really maintain mileage the same. Alot will depend on how you drive but they all increase the capability of your truck, not necessarily improve mileage. Go with what you will see the most out of your money. JMO

 

I am looking at going 4.88. In some places I found cheaper than the 4.56(although this is probably the most common and widely available) I am not expecting great gas mileage but more power to turn the tires well in the mud and sand and offroading on hills and such.
Here is a place that I had seen some

http://www.jawsgear.com/store/catalo...oducts_id=1391

http://www.4wheelparts.com/PPT6066T100679.aspx

http://www.riversidegear.com/search.php

 

thanks for the links yea not really worried about fuel mileage since its terrible already so i figure i might as well have a bada&& truck that can actually move and looks sweet than one that has no power, looks stock, and gets bad mileage. im just looking for gears that will move my truck faster off the line not worried about top speed since ill be sittin 10" higher than i should be plus the bigger tires. if anyone knows where to find reverse cut 4.88s or higher for the 8.8 ifs let me know thanks

 

just found 4.88 front and rear gears for my truck with master kit for $593.06 from 4wheelparts.com is this a good deal?

 

That sounds lika a good deal to me. most of what I was looking at for mine was 770 and up. Remember the most important will be a reputable shop to install them. I don't think gears are expensive for what they do in terms of benefit to your truck. BUT believe me when I say it sucks when they are not installed properly. It was a headache when I had some 4.10's placed on my mustang. They whined like crazy. I had them removed and I was told they were not shimmed properly. you could see the wear on them where the metal was grinding.

 

yea i have 2 uncles that each own auto shops and do great work so i got the hookup

 

Nice. sounds like you have a plan. Let me know how you like them; as I may be looking to get the 4.88 gears hopefully sometime soon.