Hey guys I have an 02'scab 2wd with the 4.6L. It has a spindle and leveling kit combo for about 5" lift...right now it has 265/70/17 but I am going to go to a 33 or 34 inch tire and want to regear to accomodate for it. Right now I have a 3.55LS and it does really good on the freeway but definetly needs more low end power! My question is I would like to try to get it back to stock with the 33's or 34's...so it should be a lot quicker than where I am right now with the bigger tires and original gears. I do mostly around town driving, I do tow a little, but I definetly do use it on the freeway too and I dont want it spinning at 3K RPM at 75-80mph. Basically looking for a noticable difference but I dont want to over do it either.

 

personally, I would go w/ a 4.30 ratio...

 

i didnt think we could get a 4.30 in our trucks? If we could...that'd be my choice. I'm personally stuck between getting 4.10s and 4.56s, but if your only going with 33s, i would go with 4.10s since you do some highway driving.

 

2WD's can go w/ a 4.30, 4WD's cannot. there is not a 4.30 ratio available for the front diff (8.8 Ford IFS reverse cut). 2WD's don't have a front differential. the ratio is available for the rear.

 

ohh, gotcha. almost makes me wanna get a 2wd...but not really. then yeah, i'd say 4.30s would be perfect for you.

minimonster, did you ever end up getting gears?

 

no, but i need to... i really don't have the $$$ to pay someone else to do it, and I want it done right... i'm researching it, and am going to probably do it myself. i am running 35'' BFG AT's, so they're not putting as much stress on my trans. as for example, a heavy 35'' mud terrain. i'm going w/ either 4.10's or 4.56's. 4.88's and my foot = <10mpg. it probably wouldn't be that bad, but this truck is staying my DD, and I am not going to upgrade to the 37-38's.

in the end, i will probably go w/ the 4.10's. the ratio will net me a realized 3.73 ratio, and i will be back in the stock powerband. i need to preserve my mileage as much as possible, as i already noted. i also have the 5.4, and some good power upgrades, so I don't feel I need to go as low as 4.56 or 4.88.

 

it has been so long since I drove the truck with stock gearing that I cant remember how much of a difference it was...I def. remember a noticable loss with my 265s, but this is prob because I have the 4.6L which doesnt have the most bottom end power. I think that the 4.10's will be very close to the stock setup plus I have a troyer tuner and intake and exhaust now so I think if I could get it back to stock with the bigger tires I am about to get I would be pretty stoked. 4.30 is interesting but I really dont want to over do it.

 

I think 4.30s would be perfect for you. You figure you might get back to stock gear ratio but you arent acounting for the extra weight of the tire. Im going with 33" mud terrains with my 4.6 and I plan on upgrading my 3.55s to 4.56s. I also want some extra low end as well.