• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Rear gear choices?


Daniel Black

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Jan 28, 2017
Messages
288
City
Leicester, NC
Vehicle Year
1987
Engine
Transmission
Manual
Tire Size
205/60R15 & 225/60R15
I run a toploader 4-speed in my 2wd 302 truck. This truck is a daily driver. I currently use my stock 7.5 with 3.73 gears and it just feels like too much gear. I have an 8.8 with 3.08 gears and a 4.10 gear set I was going to have swapped out. Ten years ago I'd of went with the 4.10 or more but now I'm not so sure. Gas mileage is usually between 12-15 mpg depending on how I drive it, so usually about 12. Just cruising around the truck is pretty wound up and if I get on the interstate it's almost unbearable. I'm sure a taller tire would help but I have basically new 225/60-15s on the back. What are some of y'alls trans and gear combos? How do you like them?
 
I'm running 3.27 ratio in my 4.0l/m5od. Its good all around gearing for me. With a 4spd, 3.08 sounds pretty good, especially if your bottom end torque is good.
I'm not sure how the ratios (close ratio vs wide ratio) compare between the 2 trans.
 
I went with a 3.27:1 gear set, fuel economy in the 15's.

Plenty of power around town, sweet at highway speeds.

Still, the temptation to go to a 3.73 for a bit more "fun" around town is beckoning.
 
I went with a 3.27:1 gear set, fuel economy in the 15's.

Plenty of power around town, sweet at highway speeds.

Still, the temptation to go to a 3.73 for a bit more "fun" around town is beckoning.
It is pretty fun around town. 1st gear is really short though. If I get on it you have to be ready to yank it in 2nd gear in a hurry. It really feels like it would run better with the 3.08s, like it would have more time to wind up through the gears. I have an older F150 with 3.08 gears but it has the NP435 trans so it's hard to use it as a gauge. On the downside my current 7.5 3.73 is a limited slip while the 8.8 is a 3.08 open diff. The 8.8 4.10 gear set I have is also a factory LS so it would be fun but just not practical with a 4-speed. How they actually used a '60s Mustang with stock 4.30 gears I'll never understand unless it was just for drag racing.
 
308.....drop in locker fixes that open diff...
 
There are quite a few 327 explorer and rangers put there though.....sell what ya have and get one of those maybe...
 
I'm with Ramcharger90.

Both of us being Mopar guys, we're used to seeing this:
07e9347adfc7481c269af22a6edf3ab2.jpg






So hell yeah, slap some 4.10s in it and do some of this sh*t:


Cupace20191023080227.png
 
3.55's might be good that guy I know with the turbo 1000hp+ 17 mustang still has that set and he is going to a 4 speed auto shortly and think Ive heard he is keeping the factory gear set of 3.55
 
Changing from 3.73's to 3.55's is a 5% rpm reduction, not enough to be worth the work or the money. Leave the 3.73's and put a Tremec in it, they use the same bolt pattern as a top loader, have a deeper low gear and about a 70% overdirve so a 3000 rpm cruising speed becomes 2100 rpm.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

TRS Events

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Ranger Adventure Video

TRS Merchandise

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Sponsors


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Sponsored Ad

Back
Top