Why no 3.73's?
 

I am at the end of my lease and trying to decide whether to keep my truck (FQR and all) or turn it back in and buy a Screw 5.4, a new Ram 5.9, or a GMC 2500HD 6.0. Over the last few weeks I have been test driving all of the above.

One thing that really irks me about the Screw 5.4 4x4 is that you can't get a 3.73 rearend. My 99 F150 5.4 has a 3.73, and when I get in the Screw with the 3.55 it feels sluggish. Bottom-end, midrange, top-end, everything just takes longer with the 3.55 and added weight of the crew cab. I'm not saying the truck is a dog, it's just not as quick and lively as the Scab with 3.73. I do plan on towing ~4-5000 pounds, in Colorado and Wyoming, and I'm afraid the 3.55's won't cut it. Damnit Ford, you come out with the perfect truck (well, the bed could be a little longer), and you stiff us with no rear gear selection!

So, I'm wandering over to Dodge or GMC. I have to say, right now, I'm leaning towards the GMC 2500HD with 6.0 and 4.10. Has gobs of power and rides nice. Cab is not as big as a Screw, but bigger than my Scab. Dodge is nice too, but I've always said "I will NEVER buy a Dodge". Who knows, I may just buy my Scab and have lower payments.

Anyways, just venting. I'm sure for 90% of the time the 3.55s are fine. Just wish Ford would give us the chance to choose what rearend we want, as we may all not be concerned with MPG only.

If I had it all to do over again, I would be driving either the GMC or CHevy half ton HD 4 door. You will get the same gas milage as I currently get with more torque and horsepower. You get alot of extra stuff also like seperate cargo light, dome override, the radio keeps playing with the key off and the windows work as well, alarm is standard feature, tow haul button for towing. I have spent over 600.00 trying to get this 5.4 ltr to run like my old chevy 5.3 litre and I still aint there. When it comes to performance and gas mileage........Ford Sucks!:mad:

You forgot one little thing....... reliability.
My Chevy broke down all the time after 90,000 miles. I also have a fleet of 6 Ford Cargo vans and I replace them after they reach over the 250,000 mile mark.
GM sucks :D
Cap
P.S. The windows do work with the key off. :rolleyes:

I pull a 4700lb travel trailer dry with no problem. I've pulled it from New Hampshire to N. Carolina and back. I've pulled it through Vermont and Virginia. It never strained, just laughed at the work.

I drive the Supercrew daily to work and back (without the trailer) for 100 miles a day. I get about 17 mpg with the 5.4 4X4. I've got 20K on it now. No problems.

Before the Ford, I bought a new 2000 Dodge that died 8 times before I had 2k miles on it. They made me drive it with one of those computers hooked up so they could find the problem. They couldn't find it. Dodge offered to buy it back without me asking. I never pulled anything with it!

Gotta love the FORD!!!

I would like to see a 3.75 and a 4.10 option on the SCREW as well. I would pay good money for it too! Now you can get it later but it will cost a pretty penny. I may be doing this even though the gas mileage will go down. It is estimated to increase the RPMs by about 300 in 4th (Over Drive)

As for BRANJEN's comment on Ford sucks, remember that the Chevy with about the same options cost 3-4 thousand dollars more! I have nothing aginst GM and think that they make great engins. I have have heard of lemons with both GM and Ford trucks/cars.

Personally I love my SCREW, and I have been in a Chevy, the one thing that the Chevy does do is put in the taller gears to give it that extra boost. Also don't forget that the Ford 5.4 on the SCREW is a 16 valve engine, Fords 32 valve engine will kick the chevys ass, but you will only find it on more expensive SUVs like the Navigator.

Hey firstimeFord!
 

according to blueoval.com and my dealer you can now get 3.73 gears. If you order a 4.6 with 17" wheels I think you can now only get the 3.73 gears. I believe it is now shown as an option also with the 5.4.

hmmm...I was just at the dealer Saturday looking at Screws, salesman said no 3.73 with 5.4 in any configuration. I think I will check with another dealer and try to input the combo into the order system and see what happens. This would be a very good thing...

I ordered my 5.4 Screw in Early of 2001, and they gave me the option for 3:73's.

I have 3:73's in my Screw, don't have any idea why you guys are having so many problems, and they are factory installed.

I did however have a mechanic ask me how I got those on there, when he was replacing my muffler. Just told him it was an option when I ordered.

Kevin

Well Kevin, I have been on this board a while and your the first person with 3.73 gears on there SCREW stock. So how that happened if you do indeed have them, is a possible mistake or Ford did that at the very begining and took away the option soon after.

Well put, but the chevys are only 1500-2000.00 more at best and the Escalade is the most powerful SUV on the Market with over 300 hp. North star system. GM gotcha again. The only thing ford has over chevy is the lightning. Chevy doesn't have a truck that will out do it..........yet. All they need is a super charger and bye bye lightning. I agree that both vehicles are equally reliable. I've had nothing but good luck with all 8 chevys I've owned, but both ford and chevy have had lemons.

As for BRANJEN's comment on Ford sucks, remember that the Chevy with about the same options cost 3-4 thousand dollars more! I have nothing aginst GM and think that they make great engins. I have have heard of lemons with both GM and Ford trucks/cars.

Personally I love my SCREW, and I have been in a Chevy, the one thing that the Chevy does do is put in the taller gears to give it that extra boost. Also don't forget that the Ford 5.4 on the SCREW is a 16 valve engine, Fords 32 valve engine will kick the chevys ass, but you will only find it on more expensive SUVs like the Navigator. [/B][/QUOTE]:D

1st gen SCrew with 3.55 limited slip here, I don't recall the 3.73 available with the LSD.

If there was a 4.10 option for my truck, that's what I would get since 90% of my driving is in town and less than 10% of the time am I able to go over 55 mph.

Why the 3.55? Can only guess a couple of reasons. Ford wanted to keep things simple so limited the choices. Limited choices translates to lower production costs. A second reason is that there simply isn't much demand for 3.73 or 4.10 gears.

I checked with 2 more dealers...one said no way to order 3.73 with 5.4 4x4, the other said they would check and call me back.

As for Chevy/GMC costing more, I'm not finding that to be true. I'm looking at a fully loaded 02 GMC 2500HD SLE Xcab 4x4 6.0 4.10 LS, and it's coming in at $34,400, dealer will sell for $28000. An 02 Screw XLT 4x4 5.4 3.55LS with the same equipment comes in ~$34000, and dealer will sell for $28000. Same price, but the GMC is a 3/4 ton.

Still tossing around the idea of buying my 99 after the lease. Payoff is $19000, extended 3/36 warranty is $1315. Truck has 32k miles, 10k on FQR, and is like brand new (except tires). Decisions, decisions...

To be honest, I think the only thing Chevy has over Ford is the Tahoe and the Vette. I'd take a F-150 over a Silverado all day long, I'd take a Ranger over the S-10 anyday, would definately take a new Explorer over that new TrailBlazer (even with it's strong I6) heck I'd even take a Mustang over a Camaro. Chevy makes good engines... That's about it... As far as the reliability being equal, compare any publication comparing initial build quality and long-term reliability. You'll find the Chevy doesn't even compare... In 2001 they wern't even able to compare the two in reliability on the same graph.

I think the discussion on "Fords VS Chevys" will go on forever. The bottom line is, this is a Ford discussion board and the Chevys will lose this debate at least on this board, so lets just drop it.

I love my SCREW and I don't see a Chevy anywhere in my future unless Ford really starts to suck. Hopefully not, and hopefully Ford will pound GM down a place and take over as the top car manufacture with there new CEO Bill Ford.

-And we ask where is Mr. General Motors?