I am wanting to put new gears in my truck but cant decide which would be best. First the details 4.2 V-6, 32 inch tires, some towing. Has 3.31 now looking at 3.73, 4.10 maybe even 4.56 or 4.88 or would these be too much any insight would be helpful. Thanks

 

I would vote for 4.10's. I just got 35's on my truck and I am going to go with 4.56's. You have to keep in mind that if you go from a 3.31 to a 4.10 your speedo will be way off and you will need to get a programmer to correct it.
I think a set of 4.10's would really liven the V6.
Here are a couple of websites to look at to help you decide.

http://www.4lo.com/calc/geartire.htm

http://www.4lo.com/calc/geartable.htm

 

I have a 2002 XLT 4x4 4.6L came stock with Lt 245/75/16 tires. I just put on 285/75/16. I noticed a loss of power and was thinking about changing gears.

How do I find out what my old gear ratio was?

What gears do i need to get back to that ratio?


Thanks,

 

Your stock tire size was 30.5" and your new size is 32.8" You can get your gear ratio by looking at your info in the drivers side door jam sticker. There should be a code that will correspond to the ratio. If you do a searh for the codes you will find them.
Assuming that you had 3.55's a new gear ratio of 3.91 would take you back to stock, now if you have 3.73's stock then 4.10's will bring you back to stock. Either way you will have to go with the 4.10 gears since they dont make any size between 3.73 and 4.10.

 

with a V6 id go 4.56. i had 35s on my 2001 4.0 ranger and i put in 4.88s and it helped alot but if they made 5.13s i would have gone that route.

 

I ahve the 4.6L V8. I will go check out my door for the ratio i have. So if i go to the gears that would take me back to the stock ratio would my power and MPG go back to what i had with the stock tire size? (Assuming that I know my speedometer if off until i change it back)

 

With the exception of the fact that you are now adding heavier tires to the truck. For example, if you had BFG A/T's, they would have weighed 50 pounds each in the original size, and now they would weigh 55 lbs. It's not a radical change in wieght, but rotating weight is always most noticeable.