Lift Kit/Tires vs. gearing ratio

[TXRam]

OK,



You guys that know about this stuff help me out here. I have a friend looking at a used 2000 PSD (no flaming, please, this is a serious question). It has been lifted 6" (Super Lift or Skyjacker, can't remember, but professionally done - I know the shop that did it) with 36" tires. It has 3. 73's and is an automatic.



Is this to much height for the 3. 73's?



Any other advice (besides don't buy a Ford)? In all seriousness, it's a sweet rig!



TIA

 

[NVR FNSH]

I run 315s (~35") with 4. 10s - not towing I feel the 3. 73s would be perfect. Towing the 4. 10s work great. He'll probably be fine with that set-up unless he's planning on heavy towing - ~20k or so.



Brian

 

[LSMITH]

It will not be all that quick with that tire on it, and that is a lot of load on the automatic. Generally speaking the auto trans will live longer with lower gears, and the ford transmission is not any more reliable or higher in quality than the dodges. If he can live with the power it should be OK with good maintenance and some smarts used in regard to driving the automatic. That will end up acting like a 2. 90-3. 10 gear which is pretty high, I would guess that it is pretty doggy until it gets spooled. Forget about a tight torque convertor too, it will make it miserable to drive around town. MHO, hope it helps.

 

[Cooker]

I don't know anyhting about the torque curve on the PS, but I assume it is similar to the 24v Cummins. Plus PS trucks don't have near the torque of the Cummins?



I'd have to agree with the others. I don't think he will be too bad off as long as he doesn't plan on towing big with it. As long as he is happy with how it drives, I think he'll be just fine.

 

[John]

TXRam, a (work) friend of mine has the exact same truck (more or less)... a PSD powered Ford SD. It's a F350 4x4 crew cab 8' bed (non-dually) with the 3. 73 axle ratio and 36" tall tires with the auto. trans. I believe he has about a 4" lift kit though (guessing). He has told me many times he likes the way it drives, feeling the tires are just about the right diameter in relation to his axle ratio. However, he doesn't tow anything (that I'm aware of).

 

[Beast2B]

towing NOT an option

I drive a Ford PS 4x4 crewcab longbed for work. Stock gears with stock tires are TERRIBLE for towing. How do I know? How about 5, YES F-I-V-E transmissions so far!!! :{ I now run 4. 56 gears with a 285/75r-16 (approx 33") tire and the towing is much better. My trailer is 10k, and a lot of mountain driving, but even in the valley it sucked! I don't tow with my Dodge, so I can't compare them... but please warn him not to load the truck too heavy or tow much of a trailer unless he regears it and upgrades the trans & torque converter.

Wanna start another crewcab debate? I LOVE THE FULLSIZE CREW CAB