upgrading from 3.73 to 4.10 or 4.56

[dru]

Im looking to get more low end power for off the line acceleration and towing and have come to the conclusion that intake, exhaust and all that other stuff is useless for my situation. Ive decided that a regear is probably my best choice for low end towing power.

Ive been searching this site for exactly what is needed to convert gears from 3.73 to 4.10 or 4.56. i have a 7.5 rear axle and 3.73 gears. I would like to upgrade to 4.10 or 4.56 without having to step up to an 8.8 axle. is this possible? If so what products do i need to do the job? just a ring and pinion? Ive been looking at 4 wheel parts and other sellers for complete kits but its all too confusing. one more thing if i go with a regear will it affect the automatic transmission or ECU negatively in any way?

thanks

 

[Will]

3.73 to 4.10 isn't worth it. 4.56 will give you a good push--increasing your torque by 20% or so.

 

[dru]

3.73 to 4.10 isn't worth it. 4.56 will give you a good push--increasing your torque by 20% or so.

i was thinking the same thing. anymore advice to answer my other questions?

thanks

 

[marlow3000]

it'll throw your speedo off, but if you ever go up in tire size it's effectively like de-gearing. so if you plan on increasing tire size you better go ahead and go with the lower (higher numerically) gearsets

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

4.10's would be worth it if you found a complete 7.5 with the gears already installed (junkyard)....this would be the cheapest and easiest option.

if your going to install an R&P in your current housing, id go with 4.56's. you need the R&P and a new crush sleeve and a set of shims for setting the gears up. keep in mind that properly setting up an R&P isnt something your average backyard mechanic can undertake. it takes a number of special tools and requires extreme precision or else you will eat up your new gears in a matter of miles. your probably better off letting a shop set the gears up for you, but that will cost you.

 

[dru]

4.10's would be worth it if you found a complete 7.5 with the gears already installed (junkyard)....this would be the cheapest and easiest option.

if your going to install an R&P in your current housing, id go with 4.56's. you need the R&P and a new crush sleeve and a set of shims for setting the gears up. keep in mind that properly setting up an R&P isnt something your average backyard mechanic can undertake. it takes a number of special tools and requires extreme precision or else you will eat up your new gears in a matter of miles. your probably better off letting a shop set the gears up for you, but that will cost you.

id like to go with new products rather than digging through a junkyard, not that its not a great way to get a bargain, i wouldnt know what to look for condition wise.

will 4.56's work with the 7.5 axle i currently have? and yes im not planning to go about this endeavor with my mechanical skills . what do you think this will take labor wise for an experienced mechanic? half a day, full day? Id like to have as little down time as possible with this being my only vehicle.

thank you

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

axles are pretty low wear items...most jukyard units will be in perfectly usable shape.

4.56's will work fine in your current axle. the R&P setup shouldnt take more than a few hours.

 

[dru]

axles are pretty low wear items...most jukyard units will be in perfectly usable shape.

4.56's will work fine in your current axle. the R&P setup shouldnt take more than a few hours.

GREAT!!! what can i do to reconfigure my speedo after the swap?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

your dealer can reprogram it for you. takes about 10 minutes.

 

[fordboi415]

You realize that this gear swap is going to run you about 700+, I know you don't want to do an 8.8 swap but Its about 200 to 300 dollars cheaper and easier and not to mention your getting a better rearend as well and you can get the 8.8 with the gears you want already installed

 

[dru]

You realize that this gear swap is going to run you about 700+, I know you don't want to do an 8.8 swap but Its about 200 to 300 dollars cheaper and easier and not to mention your getting a better rearend as well and you can get the 8.8 with the gears you want already installed

where would i get the 8.8 with the gears i want cheaper?

thanks

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

hes talking about hitting the junkyard.

 

[colinrmitchell]

I just put some Richmond 4.56s in my 7.5" in my 1997. I have oversized tires (33"), and a 2.3L four-banger, and the difference is incredible. It really made a difference on hills, especially, and gas mileage.

It took a depth micrometer, and whatever the name is for the meter you use for checking backlash, a small tabletop shop press, and we got it in there in an afternoon with a couple tries of pinion shims. We ended up using a 0.024" pinion shim and got a great pattern. We then jacked the axle up, put the tires on, and "broke" the gears in by running it for about 25 minutes on the stands. I took it for a careful test drive, everything worked great.

I got my gears and complete istallation kit for a little less than $300 from Summit Racing.

Good luck! Go for 4.56s! It will make a world of difference!

 

[Sunk]

Check around in other places where used parts are as well. A while back I picked up a complete Ranger 4.10 8.8 out of a 01 for $150.

 

[fordboi415]

dude im tellin ya i just blew my 7.5 and replaced it with an 8.8 with 4.10s and a lmtd slip diff for about 540 and it only had 1500 miles on it, when i called to find out how much a shop wanted to rebuild my weak 7.5 they estimated about 750 bucks