3.55 to 4.56 Gear Swap Complete!
#31
I also put just put 4.56 gears in front and rear. I have a 4.6L 5speed manaul. I originally had 3.55 running 35" tires. The truck was such a dog. I couldn't even use the truck in 4hi because the motor wouldn't turn all 4 tires without riding the clutch. The truck really takes off now. It pulls my boat so much better. Before the swap I would have to put the truck in 4lo to get off the ramp. With the 5speed the ratio is different than an automatic. I'm turning about 2500rpm at 70mph. Not sure what the mpg is yet. I haven't correct my speedo/odo yet. I recommend 4.56 with 35" tires. I would do it again in a heart beat.
$950 to have gears installed
$531 for 4.56 standard R/P , 4.56 reverse cut R/P, master install kit front and rear (National Drivetrain.com)
$110 for a used limited slip (Ebay)
$50 notched cross pin (Ebay) Need this when using a gear numerically higher than 4.30
$1700 Total Well worth it
$950 to have gears installed
$531 for 4.56 standard R/P , 4.56 reverse cut R/P, master install kit front and rear (National Drivetrain.com)
$110 for a used limited slip (Ebay)
$50 notched cross pin (Ebay) Need this when using a gear numerically higher than 4.30
$1700 Total Well worth it
#32
#33
#34
I have a Ford 8.8 rear end and a IFS 8.8. I only had to buy 1 notched cross pin for the rear.
I bought all of the parts and had a shop install my gears. They may have put a notched cross pin in the front as well, but I didn't supply. I wasn't charged for it if they did, so I'm not sure. (Does that make sense?)
I bought all of the parts and had a shop install my gears. They may have put a notched cross pin in the front as well, but I didn't supply. I wasn't charged for it if they did, so I'm not sure. (Does that make sense?)
#35
Yupp that makes sense, do you remember where you found out you needed to get the notched crosspin? I'm trying to price out putting 4.56s in my truck also, i've got the 8.8 up front and 10.25 out back. From what I've read your mileage definetly didnt get a whole lot worse if at all, is that right? My mileage is pretty horrid now with the 5.4 litre in it, so I don't imagine it could get much worse. I've got 3.73s right now, with a 265/75-16 tire, roughly about 31.5-10.5/16 and am going to a 35-12.5/17. So I think a 4.56 would be alright for me. I don't think a 4.10 would be worth the money to put in, for the difference it would make. How bout a 4.30 though?
#36
Before rushing to have the gears put in, have the 35" tires put on, drive and tow with the 3.73 gears and see how you like it. My truck was really sluggish because I have the 4.6L v8.
There are a bunch of trucks running 35" tires and 4.56 gears. The consensus from reading on the forums is 35" tires=4.56 gears and 37" tires=4.88 gears.
I got my parts from nationaldrivetrain.com. Another place to look is ringpinion.com
There are a bunch of trucks running 35" tires and 4.56 gears. The consensus from reading on the forums is 35" tires=4.56 gears and 37" tires=4.88 gears.
I got my parts from nationaldrivetrain.com. Another place to look is ringpinion.com
#37
Hey, I have a 99' F150, 5.4, auto, 3.73's. I have a 4 in lift with 35/12.50's. I thought i was going to have to get new gears but as far as power i feel like i have plenty. I pull an 18ft. car trailer weighing 1800lbs with my derby cars on it and they have to weigh around 5-6000 lbs. It pulls like a champ. I drive up and down the Natcher parkway in Ky, and its nothing but steep hills. I just turn the overdrive off up the hills and it does fine. I dont really feel like the gears are worth the $1500.
#38
Im taking my truck in soon to get a trans flush and I'm gonna have them put new gears in as well. I was planning on 4:10's but I thought they'd be too weak. Then I thought 4:30's but I want my truck to be faster even when I put the 33" MT's on, I think 4:56's would give me a little extra boost even with the Toyo's. I was looking at Ford Racing Gears, but does anyone know of any better brands? Also I want to replace the differential cover with a nicer one. I was thinking black billet. I saw one on here before but I cant find the thread. Thanks guys!
#39
#40
I talked to a guy at a Trans shop who said he would re-gear my truck but he wont quote me unless he can "see what he's working with". He said I need to get the right parts (obviously) and he said it has to be a 3 and not a 4? I have no idea what that means. Also he said he wants to know if I want the differential to stay open or not. Im assuming he means adding limited slip, which I didnt even know you could do that? Im really lost basically and I just need to know what all this means and exactly what size ring and Pinion gear set I need! Thanks guys
#41
Originally Posted by 05'ThumpinSTX
I talked to a guy at a Trans shop who said he would re-gear my truck but he wont quote me unless he can "see what he's working with".
You should expect to pay between 300-500 for labor per axle.
Originally Posted by 05'ThumpinSTX
He said I need to get the right parts (obviously) and he said it has to be a 3 and not a 4? I have no idea what that means.
Originally Posted by 05'ThumpinSTX
Also he said he wants to know if I want the differential to stay open or not. Im assuming he means adding limited slip, which I didnt even know you could do that?
Originally Posted by 05'ThumpinSTX
I'm really lost basically and I just need to know what all this means and exactly what size ring and Pinion gear set I need! Thanks guys
#42
so, you don't need to get a whole new carrier up front when you go above 3.73's? I want to get a new set of gears, 4.10's, and the guy who is going to put them in said his "gear guy" told him the max you can put in a Ford 8.8 front is 3.73, becuase the ring gear will be too big for the case. Everywhere i have read sells the gears for the front, and all the forums I've looked through don't mention anything about this issue. So, I was wondering what to do about it, becuase I kind of need to regear the end at the least, and figured why not do a front and rear swap to numerically higher gears, because i have 3.55's now. It's a 1999 F-150 4.6l 5 spd, and I want to go to 4.10's. will this work?????
#43
What speedo gear did you have?
Just picked up truck from having 4.56's transplanted into the front and rear diffs.
To make a long story short, I AM HAPPY! What a difference. The acceleration is great, the truck finally pulls like it should. I highly recommend this mod if you are considering this type of thing.
A local 4X4 shop did the gears, I did the speedometer. The Abbott Electronic Ratio Adapter is great. You can compensate to within 1/2%, which put my speedo dead on where it should be. My change was about 28.5%, and you cannot get a speedo gear for that amount of change.
I will post fuel milage results after this first tank is history. I am expecting about 1 MPG loss based on the testing I did before the change.
I will wait about 500 miles before any hard stuff, but after that, watch out you Z-71 Shovie drivers!
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98 F-150 4X4 Ext Cab ORP 4.6L, 4.56 Gears, Superchip, Gibson Cat Back Single exit exhaust, TransGo Performance Shift Kit, K&N Filter, Downey SST Tonneau, Abbot Electronic Ratio Adapter. Future: shorty headers.
To make a long story short, I AM HAPPY! What a difference. The acceleration is great, the truck finally pulls like it should. I highly recommend this mod if you are considering this type of thing.
A local 4X4 shop did the gears, I did the speedometer. The Abbott Electronic Ratio Adapter is great. You can compensate to within 1/2%, which put my speedo dead on where it should be. My change was about 28.5%, and you cannot get a speedo gear for that amount of change.
I will post fuel milage results after this first tank is history. I am expecting about 1 MPG loss based on the testing I did before the change.
I will wait about 500 miles before any hard stuff, but after that, watch out you Z-71 Shovie drivers!
------------------
98 F-150 4X4 Ext Cab ORP 4.6L, 4.56 Gears, Superchip, Gibson Cat Back Single exit exhaust, TransGo Performance Shift Kit, K&N Filter, Downey SST Tonneau, Abbot Electronic Ratio Adapter. Future: shorty headers.