4.10 to 3.73

[CumminSense]

excuse the newbie-ness, just joined TDR yesterday.



I've found a 2003 2500 QC LB ETH/DEE 4x2 that I hope to get soon. Only equipment I don't like is that it has 4. 10LS instead of 3. 73. I really hoped for a 3. 73, but these 2003s are gettin' hard to find.



How big a job is it to change 4. 10 to 3. 73? cost? a job for country-boy mechanic or high-end shop?



Only thing I found on this topic in search pertained to a '99.



Many thanks. TDR is awesome.

 

[RonWeiss]

Take the easy way out and the cheapest... . get 31" tires



Will just about put you at 3. 73's.



Ron W.

 

[VStahl]

go with bigger tires!!! much cheaper, easier route. and it makes the truck look better anyway with the bigger tires.

 

[RankRam]

Won't these tires be a little large? The truck is a two wheel drive.

 

[y-knot]

Look you do what you want, If you choose to get a different gear the job is not for the goofy. It should be done by a competent shop, preferably, a drive line shop. You can figure 250 for the gear, 50 incidental parts, and another 250-300 for labor, so you are looking at 600 buck roughly. If you go with the larger tires, they probably run around 125-150 ea, so choose your poison, it's pretty much a draw. I would say screw it and keep the 4:10 and run the tires you have, I happen to like the 4:10 ratio, and I order the trucks that way? What ever you do don't get cheap on the shop, if this is your choose, the rear end is one part of the truck you do not want problems from.

 

[DPKetchum]

Did you know that changing axle ratio actually is in violation of EPA. I did some gear swaps on customers trucks a few years back and was TOLD to do NO MORE. Don't know all the reasons why but was told it could carry hefty fines. Not trying to say don't do it but I got hit with that issue about 4 years ago. Course never saw any men in london fog coats snooping around looking.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Welcome! You may want to drive a truck w/ 3:73's before you do the swap. The 3:73's are pretty steep and there's not really that big a difference between them and the 4:10s IMO.

 

[Moterhead]

Originally posted by RonWeiss

Take the easy way out and the cheapest... . get 31" tires



Will just about put you at 3. 73's.



Ron W.

Actually, the stock 265/70/17s are 31. 6 inches tall. So he has those already. To go to an effective 3. 73, you would need to go to a tire roughly 10% taller. That's the percentage difference between 3. 73 and 4. 10. 31. 6 + 10% is 34. 75. A pretty tall tire. A 315 is right there. A disadvantage of the bigger tires is it raises the truck height. In this case about 1. 5 inches.



If my math above is off, "never mind".

 

[Dean Upson]

Try the 4. 10 LS, you just might like 'em .



Dean

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Either get the 315 tires or find an '04. The engine and stock tires seem to like the 3. 73 well; if you go for taller tires, the 4. 10 may be the way to go, unlike earlier gen trucks that were fine with tall tires and 3. 54s.

You might find an 04 with fewer options at the same price; also the Kelley book trade in value is around $4000 higher on an '04 somewhat offsetting the lower rebate.

 

[ACerf]

The 4. 10's are Great! Most people I know have thrown out the 3. 73 and opted for the 4. 10... . more pull and better take off!

If I were you I would not mess with it, the last change job I saw cost $1500, that is a whole lot of other goodies for the truck!

 

[Casey Balvert]

Stick with the 4. 10s. Top speed is still well over 100 mph and you will still get 19 miles to the gallon if you don't drive like a maniac. As for pulling? I still get excited when I hook her up to the fiver.



Casey

 

[tobaccogrower]

i have 4:10's in my 99 and love them!

save your money on a gear swap and put it into a fueling chip or a DTT TC and VB! you'll forget you even had 4:10's when your transmission shift's like a camaro!! BTW, why do you want to trade? fuel milage or top speed? if you do the gear swap for milage it will take ALOT of fillup's to have the gears pay for themselves. either way,4:10's or 3:73's, your getting IMO, the best pickup truck out there! good luck!... james

 

[HEYBOSS]

4:10's

I would say if you have the auto stick to the 4:10's, I think the 3:73 and 3:55 are good with the sticks.





Casey Balvert, Newmar double dually? seen them at a local dealer, looks sweet but pretty heavy though? Must tow real nice.

 

[DPKetchum]

I want some 19. 5sOo.

 

[WadePatton]

I've seen 315's on a 02 4x4. They look GREAT, but I doubt that they'll fit on 4x2 without raising the front a tad.



I've got a 3. 54 and could go taller--or use a 7th gear.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Re: 4:10's

Originally posted by HEYBOSS

I would say if you have the auto stick to the 4:10's, I think the 3:73 and 3:55 are good with the sticks.





Casey Balvert, Newmar double dually? seen them at a local dealer, looks sweet but pretty heavy though? Must tow real nice.

HEYBOSS,



What's a little weight with a Cummins under the hood.



Casey

 

[HEYBOSS]

A little weight:-laf :-laf Ain't you glad you have the Cummins in the 3500

 

[Dean Upson]

These truck were born to tow .



Dean

 

[2003Cummins4Me]

i have driven both 3. 73 and 4. 10 and i prefer the 3. 73's... the truck is actually faster and drives better with 3. 73's because you dont have to shift as quickly and you will be in optimum powerband on the interstate.