Which Gears?

[PhdNPrerunners]

Im looking to regear my ranger but can decide what gears to go with. Im thinking 373 or 410 but having a hard time to decide. My truck is a 97 single cab 4x4 4.0 5spd and it currently has 327 gears with 31's and the mileage is killing me. Im getting like 13-14 on the freeway. What would you guys suggest for better fuel economy and overall daily driver? Thanks

 

[metalmacguyver]

If your staying at 31s, go with 3.73s. They are all over the place in RBVs.

 

[Evan]

Go with 4.10s. That's a better gear setup for 31s. However, far less common than 3.73 so you'll pay more.

 

[hitech_hick]

I wouldn't pay to regear if you are looking into ratios that came stock, I would find a set of axles that came with that ratio from factory, then swap them in. With my '94 supercab, I was running the 4.0, 5-speed, 3.73's and 31's. In town I got pretty decent gas mileage, on the highway I was getting low 20's. As for going with 4.10's, personally I like the sound of that, but good luck finding them in a front axle.



hick

 

[PhdNPrerunners]

If your staying at 31s, go with 3.73s. They are all over the place in RBVs.

What are RBV's

 

[BlackBII]

Ranger Based Vehicles

Ranger, BII, Explorer, Mazda B series, Aerostar.....kinda

Regearing can be expensive, so regearing to something that came stock does sound like a waste..

Getting axles is sometimes easier/cheaper, depending on your mechanical ability

 

[PhdNPrerunners]

Is it pretty easy to find dana 35s with 373?

 

[BlackBII]

3.73 are the most common, every RBV i'ved owned has had them

 

[PhdNPrerunners]

On the front would it just be easier to take a pumpkin with 373 and put it in my dana 35 or would it be easier to switch out the whole thing?

 

[PhdNPrerunners]

Anyone?

 

[crbnunit]

Varying opinions on that one. I find it easier to pull everything but others will tell you pumpkin only. If you have never had your arms off, pumpkin only might be the way to go. Those radius arm bold under the spring pirch is freaking TIGHT and Ford uses thread locker!!

 

[Dishtowel]

IDK about pumkin swap, but I do know that swapping the whole axle is pretty easy. Should be able to do in 1 afternoon. ESPECIALLY if you lure a buddy in with a brew-ski'

Varying opinions on that one. I find it easier to pull everything but others will tell you pumpkin only. If you have never had your arms off, pumpkin only might be the way to go. Those radius arm bold under the spring pirch is freaking TIGHT and Ford uses thread locker!!

Good point, forgot about that. Hope you have a impact socket set that goes up to 1 1/8". and a BIG snipe. I suggest leaving the rad arms attached to the frame, securing the truck tires, and putting a 4ft+ snipe on those bolts.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Varying opinions on that one. I find it easier to pull everything but others will tell you pumpkin only. If you have never had your arms off, pumpkin only might be the way to go. Those radius arm bold under the spring pirch is freaking TIGHT and Ford uses thread locker!!

You don't have to pull the radius arm off to change beams, I've always swapped everything including the arms, you DO have to loosen the drivers arm if you swap pigs to get the pinch bolt out, even a propane torch works to loosen that thread locker, personally I'd swap the drivers beam only OR pull the drivers beam out and then do the pig swap on the floor/bench, just from pulling a pig with the beam on the shop floor I think it would be very difficult to do it under the rig IMHO. 3.73s and 31s should be ok with a 4.0, but with any smaller engine I'd want 4.10s.

 

[Skeleranger]

id go with the 4.10s, more power and if u wanna ever go up in tire size they should handle it. i have 4.10s in my truck and i usually get around 20-22 by not romping on it.

 

[hitech_hick]

id go with the 4.10s, more power and if u wanna ever go up in tire size they should handle it. i have 4.10s in my truck and i usually get around 20-22 by not romping on it.

I agree that he would be happier with 4.10's, but good luck finding a stock 3rd member for a '97, 3.73 are much more common.



hick