Fellow Gearheads, What is the deal with the 4.6/3.08 rear end towing chart. The 1999 chart showes that a supercab with 4.6/auto/3.08 may tow 5500 lbs. The 2000 chart shows the same combo is good only for 2000 lbs. Why the change? The GCWR is 10,000 lbs for both. I would think that if one used "drive" vs "over-drive" and babied the rig while towing that there would not be a problem with towing higher weight than 2000 lbs. I like the gas milage but need to tow a big load once in a blue moon. Anyone have any experience with this issue?

 

I have a 2001 4.6l and had a 3:08 rear end. I assume the low rating is because Ford doesn't offer a 3:08 with a tow pkg. so there will not be a tranny cooler with the 3:08 or any thing else required for towing. I thought I would add the tow pkg myself and tranny cooler and a superchip for a little extra power. I tried towing with it and wasn't real happy with it towing about 4000lbs. I was a little concerned that the extra power and the weight being towed would put extra stress on the tranny with a 3:08. I put a 3:73 rear end in it and am very happy, big difference. My MPG with the 3:08 was 17 going to work and around town, now its 16.5mpg so there isn't much of a difference.
Jeff

 

suvdrvr how much did it cost for the 3.73 and did you do it yourself or take it to a shop. Also can you feel any difference while driving as far as the performance of the tuck.

 

Did the job myself with the help of a mechanically inclined friend with the necessary torque wrenches and dial indicators, and other tools to make it a little easier. We took our time, about 12 hours, learned alot and wouldn't be affraid to do it again. Bought the gears from Reider Racing 800-522-2707, $266.00 with the install kit. The gear lub runs about $50.00. Summit racing would be another choice for me, a little bit higher priced but a quality company. 2500 miles on the gears and so far no problems. I believe there is quite a difference, the gears seemed to really perk up the little 4.6l.
Jeff

 

suvdrvr,

Thanks for the feedback! Do you know of a wedsite that call out the tools, parts and method for doing a gear swap? Is it necessary to remove the rear axle from the truck? If the gear swap can be performed by a good shad-tree mech (me) then I want to do it. Let me Know. Thanks again.

JDM

 

J D Moore, I suspect that either you read the wrong column or there was a misprint in the 2000 manual.

I notice that the truck you described had a 2000 lb limit for the manual transmission in 1999.

 

JDM
WWW.corral.net/tech/ this site is for mustangs but has some information about rear end swaps. Click tech articles then drive train, then 8.8 axle gear install. Both axles need to be pulled far enough to clear the differential, This was easy, There was a small bolt holding the spider assy together this needs to be removed then the spider gears can be removed to allow the axles to be pushed in about a quarter inch to allow the c ring to be removed to allow the axles to be pulled out. I pulled them out just far enough to clear the differential. I also didn't pull the drive shaft, I just wired it up out of the way. You can also do a search on this site in the other drivetrain section and read all you can that has been posted by other members. Once you get the differential removed, which ever company you buy the gears from, should provide the necessary information to complete the job. Summit racing used to provide a free video, Reider Racing provides great tech help. Good Luck.