I have a 4.2 v6 xlt ext cab, 5speed with 3.08 gears. slow on take off. Should I change the rear to 3.55's?
I have flowmaster ext. and a k&n in the air box thats about it.
I would like more power and speed but need to get it done as cheap as possible.
I am making the air box change. but need to know where to go from there.

 

Yes. My buddy has basically the same truck 4.2, 5- speed w/ the 3.55s (non limited slip) and its probably almost as fast as my 4.6 auto w/ 3.55. If you want good traction as well go w/ the limited slip. I have it on my truck and I get great traction everywhere.

 

Thanks, Can I yank out a set form a dismantling yard and install them myself?
do you think a chip is worth the money?

 

I've had great results with the Superchip I purchased from Mike Troyer. I got more power and better gas milage. It was $225 plus $9 for shipping. I do have to run 92 octane gas, but the extra power makes it worthwhile.

I would recommend changing the gears to 3.73 if you're going to bother changing them at all. I have the 3.55 gears now, I've thought about changing to 3.73 in mine. I don't think the change from 3.55 to 3.73 is worth doing, but changing to 3.55 or 3.73 in your truck would definately help the low end. The 3.08 gears definately make the V6 a dog. You might see a slight decrease in gas milage on the highway, but not more than 1-2 mpg if any.

Mitch

 

I had 3.08 in my 97 v6 it felt very weak,when I was shopping for a new truck I had already swore off the v6, But the only 2001 ext cab he had happned to have a v6 with 3.73.s he talked me into a test drive and boy was I impressed. The new truck felt like it could pull 2 trucks on the old one. Both had 5 speads.realybig diff. well worth the time and money to swap.

 

Slick 001
I have the same model truck as you and changed from 3.08 to 3.55 gears. The improvement in driveability was dramatic and I can now tow 4000 lbs with no problems. I also did not noticeably affect my highway fuel mileage and I don't have to pay for premium fuel like you would if you installed a chip. I changed the gears myself and installed new Form Motorsport gears. The whole job cost me about $400 (Can) if I remember correctly. If I were you I would find a complete differential in the scrap yard instead of pulling the gears out of it. You can open it to inspect the gears, but there is no advantage to putting the gears into your existing diff. If you are competent or have a mechanic buddy, you could install new gears yourself. I posted "3.55 gears installed.." in the "other drivetrain" message board when I completed the job in June 2001. I got some negative feedback that what I did was not for the average person, but if you are competent, it is a very enjoyable and rewarding job. A good reason to go with 3.55 gears for my truck (98) was that I could get a speedometer gear from Ford that would give me the correct reading. I also compared the 3.73 ratio to my stock 3.08 ratio and found that the truck would rev the same in 5th gear with a 3.73 gear as it did in 4th gear with the 3.08 gear. I drove at highway speeds in 4th and soon decided that it would be too much. Try this for yourself before making a decision. Good luck with the upgrade, GlennMc.

 

Thanks for the info. Glennmc I will look into it and see if I can find a diff. in a junk yard around here. Although I live in Peru ind. and I don't think they have to many here.

I have another question for you. When moving out here from Calif. I was towing a 98 Saturn behind my truck and I came onto this freeway ramp and there was lumber all over the road. I had to hit the brakes pretty hard. After that my ABS light came on and has been on every since. The brakes seen to work fine but the light has never gone out.

Is something wrong, do I have to disconnect the battery cable to reset something or what????

By the way what do you think a diff. would cost me at a junk yard??

I would like new gears but I don't think I would have the tools to do it. And if I remember right from auto class in college it was a little difficult to get the foot print right.

Thanks for the help. I would like to get all the power out of my truck without changing the engine to a v8 or putting on a supercharger(that I can't afford at $3700.00). besides I do like the engine I just want some more power.