2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission whats the best way to jump from 3.54 to 4.10 gears???

[rraulston]

well i went and looked at the big one today. 39 foot weekend warrior 5er . Might go with the 36 though. Its huge!!! High ceilings. Beautiful. o. k. but 10,200lbs empty, high wind resistance tripple axel. A few TDR's ago there was a towing article. My truck was the worst on the list. 99 4x4 auto 3. 54. So the auto is ATSed but what about the gears. I dont want tear the truck up, so i thought the 4. 10's would be a logical step in making less stress on things. The 275 injectors and VA box was all i hoping to need for an estimated 13,000lb tow. You think ime in the ballpark or no... . Thanx RRR

 

[WadePatton]

The cheapest way to change your effective final drive would to be going to a smaller tire. If you are on 265's you could drop to 245's.



I haven't done the math but that wouldn't be quite as big a change as 4. 10's.



I wouldn't want to downsize from 245's though and that's what Mom's '99 has on it.

 

[Sticks]

I would have to agree. Smaller tires, and that also takes care of lowering it. If you have the $$$, get a new set of wheels (all 5) and then you can change them out when you are not on the road. Hit a junk yard and you should be able to pick up a set of 5 lots cheaper than buying new.

 

[nwilliams98]

4.10

I have some 4. 10s that I can sell you for a 4x4. I'm asking $300 obo. They only have 40k miles on them and the differential shop said they were in perfect shape when they came out. New gears will run you about $800 to $900 for the whole truck.



I went through the same decision as you a while back except the other direction. I ended up going with the gear change because tire changes really can't make up for the 16% difference that the gears do.



My e-mail: in case you are interested.



-- email address removed --



Good luck.

Nate

 

[Dkevdog]

Go with Nate's deal. The easiest way to change gears is to find someone who wants to swap. New gears are more than $800-900. I was quoted $1275 for the rear on my 2wd dually. Don't forget you need to change the carrier bearing too. That adds a chunk of change to the price. :{



Kev

 

[Todd G]

I would swap you even up if you had a Dana 80.

 

[IWeiny]

So you guys who went with the 3. 54...



Do you tow with those? I know you must be going to better milleage, but you must not have a larger load then right?



I have the 3. 54 and have been thinking about going with the 4. 10's. I have < 7000# trailer and a 3000# camper. So about 10000# total load. I went with the 265/75R16's because they have 400# per tire more capacity than the 245's (for the camper) With new Alcoa rims. Very nice tires and rims. Thus far I have not had a problem, but I have only been on one small trip, without any hills.



This weekend will be the real test...

 

[WadePatton]

Another thing is--I wouldn't fool with the gears if I was EVER going to up the power.



And then there's the GV overdrive.

 

[IWeiny]

Why? mileage?

 

[WadePatton]

Because you'll be running higher RPM at highway speeds and won't need the lower gears for pulling. Most of us with extra power and even those without really would like two more gears in the old 5600.



But adding power requires gauges (I wouldn't tow that heavy without them on a stock CTD), transmission/clutch upgrades, and money.



And the mileage may be lower. Depends on how mountainous your travels are.

 

[Bug Out]

Tire change for 4:11 ratio

Go to fritz ram site and look at tire diameter Vs. gear ratio.



the "average" 4:10 Vs. 3;54 loses 10mph at 60 MPH.



I calc'd my 3:54 to 3:73 by going with 225/ size tires, which are approx 2" less in dia. .



From 265 to 225 I would lose 5mph.



To make it to 4:10 ratio, I don't know what size tire you'd use.



That what I figured, but could be wrong. hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong. .

 

[Sticks]

You could go "Mexicna Bass Boat" and get yourself some creeper 4:73 gearing with 14" rims and 13" tires.

 

[Bug Out]

LOL!

Actuallly,hey Dude, I was gonna get, you know dose rims from harbo freight dude, 12". . Den I have 4:88 posi. . Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[Big White Beast]

Had em both.........

Started with 4:10's and didn't like the highway cruising at all. Found someone to swap for 3:54's and wasn't happy with the drastic change the other way. There is about a 600 RPM difference between 4:10's and 3:54's. Finally coughed up the money for 3:73's and am very happy.



If your going to buy gears you might want to think of 3:73's. There's about a 300 RPM difference and the 3 series carrier will work for both. If you go to 4:10's the carrier will have to be changed.



Garrett