Re-Gear-Best Perf. Mod for Lifted Truck

[HotHallet]

My '95 Chevy with 7-inch susp lift and 33's just didn't have the power it did stock after I lifted it so out came the stock gears. They were 3.73's. I had 4.56 gears put in and a positratction unit. Now the thing moves and I can't wait to tow with it. I recommend a re-gear on truck with 33 and bigger inch tires. It made all the difference in the world. You can throw all the performance mods you want at a truck-headers, exhaust, intake, chip etc. but you still have to get the power to the ground.

[Havasu Cig]

Unless you have a diesel...I had a lifted f-250 with a 7.3 with 33's. I thought I was going to have to re-gear, but the torque of the diesel almost felt like I was running stock tires.

[mbrown2]

Agree with re-gearing....have a 2002 FX4 Supercrew Ford F150 with the 5.4 with 3.55 gears...after lifting and putting on 35's...it towed like a dog...now with 4.56 gears it tows very good....enough to cause me to stop looking at diesels....I know the diesels are the strongest, but I only tow about 5 miles at the river.

[77charger]

I was thinking of doing gears on my suburban.Right now i have 33s on it w/ 3.73s its an older burb an 89 so i dont have the o/d(TH 400 instead) and i really dont want to suck down more gas (12 at best8-10 towing)boat and can still do 55-60 uphill I only tow a few times a year far but with my toybox i got last year hills suck as well as the milage 6-8mpg good thing its pretty flat going to glamis.
If the trans goes out i might replace with the 4L80 trans w/ OD then i will definitely regear since i plan to keep this as a tow vehichle and get a nice car instead.I have already figured the added cost will pay off soon with the gas mpg reduction

[STV_Keith]

If you are considering gearing to compensate for tire changes, ALWAYS do the power mods first. In many cases, power solves the problem that gearing made, without having to sacrifice the mileage.

[buck183]

STV_Keith:
If you are considering gearing to compensate for tire changes, ALWAYS do the power mods first. In many cases, power solves the problem that gearing made, without having to sacrifice the mileage. The problem is, you put added stress on the drive train because of the higher gears. Put in more HP with higher gears and you're asking for more problems. Putting in lower gears is better than adding horsepower. You put torque back in the equation. And we all know that torque matters more than HP.
Buck

[Foolish]

stock gears (usually 3.55 - 3.73) with not so stock tires = cooked tranny pretty quick. With the big tires and high gears you will be searching for that power and be constantly downshifting for it (heating up the tranny and cooking it)
So by regearing just think you are saving yourself from spending $2000 on a new tranny wink

[MagicMtnDan]

Click here for a handy Web page to calculate gear sizing, etc. (http://www.4lo.com/4LoCalc.htm)

[mbrown2]

Over the life of our truck I have been getting the following milage:
Truck=2002 Ford 4x4 Supercrew, 5.4, w 3.55 gears
Tires, MPG, Gearing
30.5 Stock, 16-17, 3.55
35, 12-14, 3.55
35, 14-15, 4.56's
I felt we were going through more gas without the lower gears with bigger tires because the tranny was constantly searching/switching for more power...now the with the torque, we don't have to keep our foot in it to go 75.

[HotHallet]

Exactly- It takes less gas to get your truck moving and the performance is far better. Gas mileage has suffered slightly for me but if towing performance improves as well as off-the-line power screw it. I currently have a '95 Chevy 2wd C1500 X-cab with a 7-inch lift and 33's mounted on Welds. The stock gearing was 3.73's and I moved to a 4.56. The truck has Gibson headers, Gibson cat-back exhaust, and a K&N element filter. I went to the 4.56 instead of a 4.10 to allow for 35's later if I decide to go higher.

[buck183]

HotHallet:
Exactly- It takes less gas to get your truck moving and the performance is far better. Gas mileage has suffered slightly for me but if towing performance improves as well as off-the-line power screw it. I currently have a '95 Chevy 2wd C1500 X-cab with a 7-inch lift and 33's mounted on Welds. The stock gearing was 3.73's and I moved to a 4.56. The truck has Gibson headers, Gibson cat-back exhaust, and a K&N element filter. I went to the 4.56 instead of a 4.10 to allow for 35's later if I decide to go higher. You made a good choice for future changes. That is what I would have recommended to a customer if they were running the same tire and towing.
Good to see people spend the money and do a lift right for a change.
Buck

[Foolish]

I have 5.13's with my 38's. JBA headers which lead to a Random technology cat 3" full exhuast, flowmaster 2 chamber, MSD 6A, MSD blaster SS coil, 8.5superconducter wires, F&B 52mm TB, Mopar performance computer, 1.6rr's, K&N GenII intake, transgo kit with full red eagle clutches, AND I STILL GET SHIT FOR MILEAGE!!!!!!
But its fast for a truck with 10" lift and 38's

[HOSS]

UUUUMMM not to be a dick but ah,,,,,,,,,,whenever you go larger tires on anything you need to use higher gears. This is not only a law of physics but also common knowledge past the age of 14. wink

[HotHallet]

Wise Ass Hoss! I am not stupid. I was simply suggesting that for the guys who are putting off a re-gear it is the best option for increasing pulling power and performance when pushing big tires around.

[buck183]

HOSS:
UUUUMMM not to be a dick but ah,,,,,,,,,,whenever you go larger tires on anything you need to use higher gears. This is not only a law of physics but also common knowledge past the age of 14. wink I prefer to put lower gears in when using larger tires. Maybe I'm a little different though.
Buck

[HOSS]

:D :D :p

[buck183]

Hoss...you're alright in my book. Don't care what they say. (something tells me you don't either) wink
Buck

[beach gomer]

I have a 03 saburban 4x4 with a 6.0 and 4.10s
a 6" cal super trucks lift with 315.I changed the exhaust put a k&n filter and getting ready to do a super chip do i need to do anything else. My truck says i average about 10mpg but it goes up and down.should I have anything changed.I don't want to do any headers or super chargers. thanks

[beach gomer]

sorry guys it's a 3/4 ton
beach gomer