Ok... I'm a bit confused on this whole gear thing. From everything I've read including articles from multiple magazines the recommended gear ratio for me sits between a 3.55 up to a 4.10 and this is for daily driving/good gas milage on a set of 31's...? I dunno. Sounds like a very opinionated line of sh*t to me which I care not to smell anymore:

V6 2000 4x2 on stockies with 265/75/16 pushed with a set of 3.08's...

Should I go 3.55 LS or 3.73 LS?

I think either of those will work perfectly for whatever I end up doing to this truck. Highway gas milage and low end acceleration are most important to me.

 

Gotta pic mileage or acceleration, which is more important?

 

3.73 Ls

 

Indeed, you cannot get both highway mileage and acceleration as they are at opposite ends of the gearing spectrum. For mileage, stick with the 3.08s. For acceleration, bump up to the 3.73. 4.10s would be WAY overkill, and the engine would be screaming on the freeway.

-Joe

 

So what's the difference in the final gear between the 3.73's & the 3.08's? Could I work a set of 3.73's and swap out for my fifth gear from my 3.08's for highway gas milage or should I just quit my whining?

 

The difference is 21%.

3.08 is physically stronger than 3.73 or any higher number.

My Bronco runs 3.08 + 32s, and I can tow the world, but my trans has one of the lowest granny gears ever offered in a 1/2-ton truck. It's perfect for me, though, because I don't have OD, but the high gears make up for it. I can set the cruise over 100mph & turn less than 3400RPM. I've never topped it out.