Today I was messing around with a power stroke and he left me in the dust big time. From the black cloud he left his truck was obviously bombed. I have never had a problem with a stock Ford. Anyways it got me to thinking what to do next to improve my performance. I am torn between bigger injectors and a stronger clutch or different gears. I have 3.54's and 37" tires so it is geared way too high. I would like to go with 4.10's. Do you think I would be better off upping the engine output or getting my gearing back to where it should be?

 

it would probably be cheaper or most cost effective to up grade your motor instead swapping gears in both differentials.i suggest a more aggresive fueling box. thats my opinion

 

Yeah, your probably looking at almost $1,000 in labor and shop time to change gears in both axles. You can get injectors for half of that easy.

 

do a Clutch,, like a South Bend Clutch Con OFE (~$750), or FE, then do some DD3's(~$600), and a PDR '40/16(~$1,275), and a COMP(~$700). He won't be a problem, and then you could smoke him.

Do a clutch first, injectors last.

With 37" tires, and 3.54 gears,, your clutch is probably already crying for mercy! Don't worry about the gears, but do a clutch before you do anymore power,, or at the same time of adding a COMP box.

My $.02
Merrick Cummings Jr

 

Changing to smaller diameter tires to get some "gear" back isn't too costly either.

 

Gears are not cheap. I looked into this with my 4x4 1500 in an attempt to improve gas mileage. It was going to run around $2000 for athe parts and installation.

 

I got a Diesel Dynamics Hx40 16 with +/- 500 miles on it and the 4" down pipe I could let go for a reduced price. 8)

I am going with a twin setup so I won't be needing it!

PM Me if interested...

James

 

DO THE CLUTCH. I have a lot of HP I don't use because of my worn out clutch. get the SBC 13" convershion clutch unless you have a 6spd then you don't have to worrie about the convershion.
DM01

 

Usa a stinger or LAW's rocket on the powerJOKE and they won't do it again--my two cents worth--Glenn :'(

 

Switching to 4:10's wont help your fuel mileage. It wont help lower your rpm's either. I dont think ???

 

It will raise the RPM's which is what he needs to do. The swap would help, but the gain would not outweigh the cost. I saw a formula for figureing out what the actual axle ratio is with different sized tires, but I can't find it now. If I was betting, I'd say yours is in the high 1.xx or low 2.xx. You could probably go to 4.56's if you swapped, but again, I don't think it'd be worth it.

 

Bdog,
I run 36" tires, Auto Trans (DTT), and 355's!!!! I probably need to gear down more than you with the standard but I don't want to... I like the gears and when I build boost...LOOK OUT!!!! I get a tall run like a rocket over my rpm band. The only reason I have considered gearing down is because I have an auto and I want to control the smoke a little better.
Changing gear ratio's will be the last thing I do... After a cam and lifters, twins, and head work.
If my truck was a standard trans I wouldn't change gear ratio's...NO WAY!!!

My .02 from someone with a truck with tires close to your size!

James

 

Depends if you're happy where your powerband is now. New gears would give a better launch, but once you're going through the gears it'll be a wash. The final ratio where the tires hit the ground will be the same (i.e. ealrier upshifts vs. speed).

In a drag car..yeah..you want to launch hard and hit the lights at your max speed (basically)...in a road car that's not very practical. The only real reason to gear down is if you can't move what you have to move without undue stress on components.

 

I looked at changing my gear, the cost was about $600 for the parts not including labor.

KC

 

Hmmmm, more power or more gear
well yes it's true that more pore will help you get those tall heavy tires rollin better but at what cost ? a drive shaft ? main shaft ? clutch ? strip a gear ? losts of torque is great but it needs a place go
I have a 99 w/ 3:55 gears & 33" tires which = 3:01 change
your best option is to go to a 4:88 aprox ( I can't find that chart either but it's out there somewhere ) this will increase you line jump & put you back in to your power band but that's my 0.02 worth good luck w/ your choice
Brian