345 gears vs 373 gears

[mtnrgr]

Need assistance on these two gears for a stock 2wd ranger.

My 97 3.0 5spd ranger is 345 gears and single wheel peel with a 7.5 axle. For what it is now the 345 gears makes it scoot really good, yet I've read 373 gears will improve it all around. Will it really assist with fuel mileage, acceleration, climbing hills, etc? As mentioned the 345 does good with everything, yet im looking for more improvement. I'm looking to add a limited slip unit to there for traction from both tires. This ranger will stay stock, not building it as I did my 94 3.0 5spd ranger.

My 94 3.0 5spd had 31s with 410 gears with an auburn limited slip unit. Had those installed in 1999, and both were still in there when that truck was taken away from my hands last year. The truck had 90,000 miles when those were installed and it had 653,370 miles last summer..always used motorcraft 80w-90 with motorcraft friction modifier in the axle. Those units had roughly 530,000 and some miles on them and were still going strong.

Is there a major difference between 345 and 373 gears? If so what brand gears are good these days? For limited slip, I'm considering auburn again or what else is good for a limited slip unit?

Any and all assistance is appreciated.

 

[pjtoledo]

going by the math, it's about an 8% increase in torque.
any way you could borrow some 8% smaller tires for a trial run?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

3.45 may squeak out a little better highway economy.

My blue 00 Ranger was running 235/75-15 tires and 3.73 gears with a 3.0 and 5-speed. I was pretty happy with the setup but I also worked the truck a bit hauling. It would really scoot if you wound out the gears and let the 3.0 do its thing

 

[19Walt93]

If you're happy with the 3.45's, 3.73's would make a little difference on acceleration and climbing hills. I assume your area isn't hilly like NH, I test drove a new 04 Ranger 4x4 with a 3.0, 5 speed and 4.10's because I've never liked the 4.0 SOHC. After the test drive, I ordered a 4.0.