I have the 98 nascar truck and it comes stock with the 3.73 rear gears. I am thinking about getting some 4.10s installed.I called the local ford dealership to ask them how much would it cost to recalibrate my speedo. They said that it could not be done. Has anyone else heard of this? I thought they could at least reprogram the computer or maybe new gears for the speedo. Also what size rear end come with the f-150.

98 Nascar F-150
Dynomax exhaust,trans go shift kit, K&N filter.
Planning for a supercharger and chip.

 

HI!... JACKHEL the dealer you went to is totally wrong. The speedo in your F-150 can be recalibrated. I am getting 4.10 gears installed in my truck as well in about 2 weeks.(hopefully before the MILAN rally) I talked to my dealer about a week ago and they told me it would take about 30-45 minutes to do and would probably cost around $40.00(can). They are also going to do the gear installation for me for about $350.00(can). I am using a new set of PRECISION GEARS. When I first asked about the 4.10 gear speedo recal, they said it could not be done because there was'nt any code "yet" to do the recal. So a buddy of mine who happens to work in the parts dept in the same dealership e-mailed FORDS in LIVONIA MICH. and got a hold of some SVT engineers and they gave the dealer the speical code. I guess they had to make the speical code because so many people have been wanting to put in 4.10 gears. The speedo does'nt have gears or a cable because it's electronic and has to be recalibrated with a computer.

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NEAL [ the horsepower freak ] NEWMAN
'99' F-150 XLT SPORT, oxford white, reg cab shortbox stepside,5.4, auto, 3.55L.S, captain's chairs, bedliner, GTS carbon fiber headlight covers, **** CEPECK clear halogen driving lights, GTS slotted tailight covers (painted oxford white), FORD locking lug nuts, tinted windows,true duel exhaust with 2.5 inch mandrel bent pipes and FLOWMASTER 3 chamber mufflers with 3' tailpipes exiting before the rear wheel like the LIGHTNING, HELLWIG rear stabalizer bar, AUTOMETER guage pod and tranny temp guage, custom fabricated air intake trac and huge K/N filter, TPS mod, BELLTECH 2-inch rear drop, SUPERCHIP (truck won't start,"DAM"!!, soon to be installed 4.10 gears.

 

HI!... Also there is only 2 rearends that come in the newer style F-150's. They are the 8.8 (8.8 inch ring gear) and the STERLING 9.75 (9.75 inch ring gear). Hope this helps you out.

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NEAL [ the horsepower freak ] NEWMAN
'99' F-150 XLT SPORT, oxford white, reg cab shortbox stepside,5.4, auto, 3.55L.S, captain's chairs, bedliner, GTS carbon fiber headlight covers, **** CEPECK clear halogen driving lights, GTS slotted tailight covers (painted oxford white), FORD locking lug nuts, tinted windows,true duel exhaust with 2.5 inch mandrel bent pipes and FLOWMASTER 3 chamber mufflers with 3' tailpipes exiting before the rear wheel like the LIGHTNING, HELLWIG rear stabalizer bar, AUTOMETER guage pod and tranny temp guage, custom fabricated air intake trac and huge K/N filter, TPS mod, BELLTECH 2-inch rear drop, SUPERCHIP (truck won't start,"DAM"!!, soon to be installed 4.10 gears.

 

Neal, it sounds like they are going to flash your computer. If so you might have a superchip problem. You might want to talk with Mike about that because I think when they flash it your old superchip doesn't match anymore. At least that is my understanding.

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98 SC/XL/4.2/5 speed/3.08/MoonLight Blue Metalic/Mobil One Synthetic/235.70S.16 Michelin XC LT4/AR-136 Wheels/Chrome Nerf Bars/Bug Shield/Aluminum Tool Box/K&N/Superchip/NOS maybe. Soon.

 

Hi, I went through the same problem with my dealership. I went from 3.55 to 4.56 and asked the dealership what needed to be done. First they said it was done with the computer, then they said it was gear, then they said it could'nt be done and my trans would basiclly "blow up"!!??So I did some invstigating and found out that it IS a gear.Just so you know,My truck is a 97 w/anolog odometer,4R70W(AODE)trans. There is 2 different gears that were used,either 18 or 19 tooth(I forgot which one) or 21 tooth. Mine was the 18 or 19 tooth so I went to Ford and picked a 21 tooth up for about $7. I installed it in about 2 minutes and it put the speedo within 2 mph @70. AND guess what?? The trans has'nt blown up.Idiot dealer.Ford make differnt toothed gears that are used in Mustangs that might work so you might have to "trial and error"They didnt even know there was a 21 tooth.
Hope this helps a little. Agian, your truck might differ,but give it a look. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

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97 F-150 Black, 4x4 XLT ext.cab,sb,offroad pack.
4" Susp. lift, 3" body
4.56 gears,
35" BFG.,16.5x9.75 Weld Typhoon wheels
K&N Filter, TransGo Shift kit,
Bug shield,Tinted windows
Sony ES head unit,Sony ES changer,MTX Thunderform sub,Boston Acoustic Proseries up front, Polk in rear,PPI & Coustic Amps,Alpine Alarm

 

HI!... BILL from my understanding of what the mechanic told me, is that tere is a small "COMPUTER" on the back of my speedo and that is what they are going to hook into. Don't know if it's true, but I guess I am going to find out soon. By the way if it does change it so I can't use my existing chip, does'nt matter anyway, the chip I have right now does'nt work.(no start problem)

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NEAL [ the horsepower freak ] NEWMAN
'99' F-150 XLT SPORT, oxford white, reg cab shortbox stepside,5.4, auto, 3.55L.S, captain's chairs, bedliner, GTS carbon fiber headlight covers, **** CEPECK clear halogen driving lights, GTS slotted tailight covers (painted oxford white), FORD locking lug nuts, tinted windows,true duel exhaust with 2.5 inch mandrel bent pipes and FLOWMASTER 3 chamber mufflers with 3' tailpipes exiting before the rear wheel like the LIGHTNING, HELLWIG rear stabalizer bar, AUTOMETER guage pod and tranny temp guage, custom fabricated air intake trac and huge K/N filter, TPS mod, BELLTECH 2-inch rear drop, SUPERCHIP (truck won't start,"DAM"!!, soon to be installed 4.10 gears.

 

Neal, what are you putting 4.10 gears in? You want to get more torque to the ground for quick tire spinning starts? More pulling power? I have 3.08 gears and changing to 4.10 gears would mean my engine would need to turn 25 percent faster to travel the same distance. right? It would slow me down and burn more gas and cause more wear on my engine. 25 percent more wear not to mention the effect on top end speed.

Straighten me out. What do I have wrong here?

BTW, what is the total cost of your gear change going to be?

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98 SC/XL/4.2/5 speed/3.08/MoonLight Blue Metalic/Mobil One Synthetic/235.70S.16 Michelin XC LT4/AR-136 Wheels/Chrome Nerf Bars/Bug Shield/Aluminum Tool Box/K&N/Superchip/NOS maybe. Soon.

 

Dear Neal,

You're right, the speedo calibration is controlled by a computer cluster behind the gauge panel, that is a fact. However, most of the late-model F-150's are still using speedo gears in the transmission,so you can still recalibrate them that way.

And by the way, it's not your Superchip that isn't working, it's the jumper on the circuit board on your computer that is open instead of closed, due to a mistake made by Ford's supplier; it's not the fault of the Superchip that it's not working. Also, in case your dealer ever re-flashes your computer to a different calibration, that will cause your Superchip to stop working, and Superchips will be happy to reflash it for you free of charge! So your investment in the Superchip is always protected. Whenever a dealer reflashes a computer, they are required by law to place a "Notice of Modification" sticker in a prominent location under the hood. This sticker is supposed to carry the exact calibration code that the computer has been reflashed to, so all we need is the original code, and the new calibration code the unit was flashed to, and we can cross-reference this to your new software code, and reload your Superchip.

So for anyone whose computer has been reflashed to a different revision by a dealer causing your Superchip not to work, Superchips will reflash it to the correct software revision free of charge!

Don't worry Neal, we'd never leave you hanging!

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 08-16-1999).]

 

HI!... MIKE T I'm sorry about the way I wrote that. What I meant to say was that my SUPERCHIP isn't working with my computer because of the no start problem. I know it has nothing to do with the chip, it's all FORD's fault why I don't have more power. 8-) 8-)

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NEAL [ the horsepower freak ] NEWMAN
'99' F-150 XLT SPORT, oxford white, reg cab shortbox stepside,5.4, auto, 3.55L.S, captain's chairs, bedliner, GTS carbon fiber headlight covers, **** CEPECK clear halogen driving lights, GTS slotted tailight covers (painted oxford white), FORD locking lug nuts, tinted windows,true duel exhaust with 2.5 inch mandrel bent pipes and FLOWMASTER 3 chamber mufflers with 3' tailpipes exiting before the rear wheel like the LIGHTNING, HELLWIG rear stabalizer bar, AUTOMETER guage pod and tranny temp guage, custom fabricated air intake trac and huge K/N filter, TPS mod, BELLTECH 2-inch rear drop, SUPERCHIP (truck won't start,"DAM"!!, soon to be installed 4.10 gears.

 

I changed the speedo gear in my 98. Oversized tires. I also went to the dealer and they said it was done by the computer. 5 minutes later I was back at the parts counter with the gear that i had just taken out of the tail shaft of the tranny and asked him what the gear was for. Duh. 5 MPH difference between the gears. You wonder where they train some of these people.

 

Hey Neal,

No problem, don't worry about it! I was very glad to see yet another new member tell us about calibrating his speedo via the gear in the tranny. You were right on the money about the computer cluster pack behind the gauge panel, right behind the speedo, and that this is how it's done electronically. You can do it either way, and of course the speedo gear in the tranny is the way to go, it's dirt cheap. Ford just doesn't want you to *know* that.

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com