What gears

[91grandmarquis]

Does anyone know what gears would let me still have somewhat good mpg and a nice ride on the highway but make my HO (when swaps done) work a little bit harder. I was told 3.53, but I do not claim to know anything about this, also how would one go about compensating for this in the speedo?

[pantera77]

I have 3.55's and drive about 75/25 highway/city. My mpg actually didn't change at all with them (19-23), if anything I think it went up. I used the purple 21 tooth speedo gear, but my speedo reads 5mph slow.

[1980c10]

I have 4.30's and love them. I think there perfect for a H.O. but they may be a little much for your average person.

[pantera77]

I see this has spawned into it's own thread. I couldn't imagine anything more than 3.73's on a daily driver. Call me crazy, but I like my cars idling along at 55.

[91grandmarquis]

I see this has spawned into it's own thread. I couldn't imagine anything more than 3.73's on a daily driver. Call me crazy, but I like my cars idling along at 55.

The gripe I have with whatever is stock now is that 55 is right on the edge of shifting, So If I hit a hill its 60+ or like 45... And NH is full of those darn hills, this is more aggravating running along back country roads where the speed limit is 40-45 because Its constantly bouncing back and fourth. I don't know if that made any sense.

[1990LTD]

the K code rear seems to be a favorite around here.

[pantera77]

The gripe I have with whatever is stock now is that 55 is right on the edge of shifting, So If I hit a hill its 60+ or like 45... And NH is full of those darn hills, this is more aggravating running along back country roads where the speed limit is 40-45 because Its constantly bouncing back and fourth. I don't know if that made any sense.

Probably have 3.08's. If I where you, I'd go with 3.55's or 3.73's. Everyone seems to be happy with those gears.

the K code rear seems to be a favorite around here.

Yep, K-code FTW!

[1990LTD]

I really want to put a K code in mine and get rid of the 3.08 but finding one is troublesome. Finding a 3.55 rear end is one thing but finding one from a Panther..

[91grandmarquis]

Can't you just get the gears and swap em out? Maybe im being and idiot or something but I thought it was the same thing as me putting the eaton LSD in that they make for an 8.8 inch rear end.

[gadget73]

you can install any gears you'd like in the current rear, but you have to set it up properly. Its not quite a bolt-in operation. The pinion depth needs to be correct, and the gear shimming must be correct otherwise the contact pattern is all wrong. Best case, it whines. Worst case, the gears chew themselves to bits.

Same thing with changing the carrier, though thats usually more of a checking operation than anything else. The pinion doesn't come out when you swap the carrier, but the ring gear could possibly be moved slightly side to side depending on manufacturing tolerances on the carrier. It may be bang on, but it might need a couple shims moved around.


3.55 or 3.73 is a good HO gear. The stock motors do OK with a 3.27 or a 3.55 since the torque peak is at a lower rpm. For sustained long distance flat highway speed cruising at 65+, 2.73 or a 3.08 on a stock motor really kicks ass. They're horrible climbing hills though. Basically there is no "perfect gear" for everyone. It depends on how and where you drive, along with the motor in front of it.

[91grandmarquis]

Ok thats what I thought, I would have a shop do the swap because I don't really know much about the rear end, and don't want to screw shit up.. I knew it was more than just bolt-in. Thanks.

[87gtVIC]

For sustained long distance flat highway speed cruising at 65+, 2.73 or a 3.08 on a stock motor really kicks ass. They're horrible climbing hills though.

+100000000


Highways I do great with my 3.08's but during Scottfest 09 those hilly climbs were kicking my cars ass. The car was working so hard I was on the verge of overheating according to my water temp gauges.....

on another note...those hills kicked my ass with braking as well...pedals felt like mush.

[91grandmarquis]

+100000000


Highways I do great with my 3.08's but during Scottfest 09 those hilly climbs were kicking my cars ass. The car was working so hard I was on the verge of overheating according to my water temp gauges.....

on another note...those hills kicked my ass with braking as well...pedals felt like mush.

NH is full of hills wich sucks balls, But my car never even hits the middle of the temp gauge. The brakes usually develop a nice odor though.

[merc91]

with 3.08's (what I had) it's not worth goin up to anything less than 3.73 in my opinion. 3.73's are still very streetable for a DD and give you some more noticible punch. Thiers a guy that offers rebuilt 8 clutch LSD's on e-bay for close to $100 that does a good job, I have been using his and it works great and he's a straight up guy to. And snag a good shape real ford 3.73 set of gears and timken bearings or another good qualitly bearing and seal kit and get a good shop to put them in. labour runs around $250-350 range.

[91grandmarquis]

Both my parents work for timken! That labor doesn't seem to bad either. Thanks.