4.10 rear end, worth it?

[gottaba5spd]

Been thinking about stuff to do to the truck besides maintenance and upgrading the rear end has crossed my mind. 98 b2500, currently has an open 3.73 rear end and I've thought about getting a 3.73 or 4.10 LSD rear end, 4.10 preferred but I'm wondering if anybody that's done it can offer some insight. Pros, cons, anything other insight will be helpful!

In case anyone asks, the truck is just a backup daily/whenever I need it vehicle, no off road or V8 swaps in my future lol.

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[pSycHOarsOnisT]

If your not going for bigger tires or towing it wouldnt be worth it in my opinion. I love my 4.10s and lsd but i wheel my truck and tow, with 33s.

 

[RonD]

Wouldn't be a bad idea, and not unusual for a Ranger with 2.3l to have a 4.10
People bought 4cyl trucks for economy not power, so lower ratios were more common for better MPG, but 4.10 was a popular option.

Higher gear ratio is leverage, i.e. pop the clutch in 1st gear(3.40:1) and you jump forward, pop the clutch in 5th gear(.79:1) and engine stalls, lol, leverage.

So higher rear axle ratio gives each of the transmission gears more leverage, manual or auto

But really depends on your daily driving.
Around town, or with a load in the back, you would have more get up and go
But on the highway RPMs will be higher so MPG will be lower, not alot.
More leverage = higher RPMs

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Who's doing the work? If you pay someone it will be many years for return on investment. If you go from 20 mpg to 25 mpg that is a 20% improvement. Like getting a 20% bigger fuel tank full for the same price as fuel fill was before. So maybe save $15.00 per fill. Gears + labor = ~$500. $500/$15 = 33 1/3. How often do you fill the tank? Ata fill once per a week it would be about 8 1/2 monthsd for break even. At a fill once per month it would be closer to 3 years. All these numbers I'm pulling from my ass but you get the idea.... a back-up vehicle would see even less use.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Been thinking about stuff to do to the truck besides maintenance and upgrading the rear end has crossed my mind. 98 b2500, currently has an open 3.73 rear end and I've thought about getting a 3.73 or 4.10 LSD rear end, 4.10 preferred but I'm wondering if anybody that's done it can offer some insight. Pros, cons, anything other insight will be helpful!

In case anyone asks, the truck is just a backup daily/whenever I need it vehicle, no off road or V8 swaps in my future lol.

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Not worth it IMO. If you want a little more torque, put smaller tire on it. My 97 XL has 195/70-14s and 3.45s, but still spins faster than my Dads with 3.73s and 235/75-15s

 

[pjtoledo]

food for thought.
with the open differential starts on wet pavement can result in just 1 wheel spinning, the other keeps you going where you want to go, straight ahead, or around the corner. unless 'ya get crazy on the go pedal.
with a LSD both rear tires can easily spin, causes the rear to slide out. lots of fun if traffic allows. not so kool if the wife freaks out easily.
LSD is better in snow, traction on ice is so poor that a LSD won't be of much benefit.
being a backup vehicle, I assume MPG is not an issue. going to 4.10 from 3.73 is a 10% increase in torque and RPMs. that would help in starts and hills.

some apporx torque numbers:
100 engine X 3.4 first gear X 3.73 rear is about 1268 torque at rear wheels, the 10% increase from the 4.10 would be and extra 126 for about 1394.

its a driving style/intended use decision.

 

[gottaba5spd]

Well I'm hoping to relocate in the next few months and plan on taking the truck with me if I can't bring both vehicles with me right away so I'll be using it more when that time comes. I'd like to have a little more pep, which is why the 4.10 rear end comes to mind, and I'll be using it when it does snow so an LSD would be nice to have, and I have an LSD in my escort and that's all kinds of fun.


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