I have a question. I currently own a 94 Ranger with a 4L and (I believe) a 3.08 rear end. Now, everyone talks about increasing (the numbers) of the rear end to get more power, ie, 4.1's and higher. But, my Ranger will rip the wheels off the pavement in anything but perfect blacktop (even with about 200 lbs of weight in the back). So, I am confused, how does it have that kind of power with such low gears? Could someone either explain this, or give me a link to a good sight that explains this kind of stuff? Thanks.

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-Jay

 

It's almost compared to riding a 10 speed bike. If you had to stay in low gear all the time you would have terrific acceleration and not much top end. If you had to stay in high gear then you would have terrible acceleration but great top end. The ideal gear would be one that suites you. If you are interested in drag racing or heavy towing then a low gear would be best. If you are interested in top speed then a high gear is best (or gas mileage) Ofcourse a truck has transmission gears and with a lower gear differential all transmission gears as a result would be lower. With higher differential gears all transmission gears are as a result higher. With lower differential gears a truck traveling at 60 mph would be turning more engine RPMs than one with higher gears (thats why lower gears use more gas ) At 100 mph the truck with lower gears may be turning the max RPMs the engine will go but the higher geared truck will still have more mph. to match the same RPMs of the other truck. From my experience the 355 gear is a good all round ratio. Your truck would melt the pavement with 411 gears but your top end would drop several mph. With 411 gears your truck would accelerate faster but remember you are using more gas and top speed drops off


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2000 F-150, XLT, SC, 5.4, 4X4, 355 LS, ORP, Black/Silver, class III, single CD, sliding glass, med. gray, keyless, elect. shift, engine date 8-18-99, '93 Harley Fatboy Black & tons of chrome