8.8 and dana 35 gears.

[F150hybred]

ok, this may be a little late, but I just want to make sure I didn't bite off more than I can chew. This past week, I ordered new tires in a 35" flavor and I also ordered gears in a 4.88:1 flavor. I'm sitting here now second guessing my choice. Did I choose rite? The last time I picked gears was for my old 81 F150 and it was a bit too much, (engine was buzzin 3000rpm at 60 mph) I wasn't happy. The vehicle in question is a 94 Explorer. As it sits now, it has 33's and 3.73 ; 1 gears. Chime in and let me know what you think.

 

[corkey]

i ran a 35 inch tire on 4:10 gears and it was not enough, 4:88's would have been alot better, and if off road only,. than a 5:13,

but if you are gonna highway drive it at all 4:88's would be good,

 

[corkey]

i think you made a good choice,

 

[jd4242]

4.88s and 35 is about perfect ,i got 4.88 and 36x14.50 and wish i went 5.13.i ran 4.88s and 33x12.50,i LOVED it but on highway it was NO good for gas!!

 

[F150hybred]

Maybe I should give more details about my Explorer. yes, it is a 1994. What I didn't say is that is't also an automatic with a locker in the rear and limited slip in the front... if that may make a difference.
JD4242, you say it sucked gas on the hiway... I'm wondering what transmission you were running. Was auto or manual? And just how bad did it suck for fuel on the hiway? Rite now, I'm getting roughly 400 km (620 miles) to a tank on the hiway and worse if I'm in the city. If it ends up about the same, then I won't mind. I was hoping to maybe pick up a point or two.

 

[corkey]

Rite now, I'm getting roughly 400 km (620 miles) to a tank on the hiway,

HUh ??? that ain't right at all, ,

 

[corkey]

i think you were posting them backwards, , and by the way that is like 20 mpg, if it is,
and with a 35 and 4:88 you should get the same with an auto trans,,

 

[F150hybred]

Corky, Your Canadian so I'll keep it simple, I get roughly 400km to a tank (I consider empty 1/8 of a tank).


EDIT: 248 miles to a tank, you were correct, I was wrong.

 

[corkey]

okay,
well that is not good milagae at all,

 

[corkey]

i was driving a 96 with control trac, and 4:10 gears and 33's and was getting 20 mpg plus,, when i went to the 35's i was getting about 11 mpg, so i reasoned that with 4:88 that would not only correct the speedometer but bump the gas mileage as the motor would not be working as hard, giving more mpg,,

 

[F150hybred]

i was driving a 96 with control trac, and 4:10 gears and 33's and was getting 20 mpg plus,, when i went to the 35's i was getting about 11 mpg, so i reasoned that with 4:88 that would not only correct the speedometer but bump the gas mileage as the motor would not be working as hard, giving more mpg,,

So what your saying is it's not gonna get any better?

 

[corkey]

it will get better if you run a 4:88 and a 35 inch tire, numbers in the 17-19 mpg should be a reality,,

 

[F150hybred]

Cool, so long as it remains the same or gets better, I'm cool with that. I will admit one thing though, 33's and 373's do work (you gotta use low range), but it sure sucks when you need some speed ASAP!

 

[corkey]

well, in my opinion, with a 33 and a 3:73 the motor is working very hard, and that saps gas mileage in a hurry,, i did that before, and never will again,, once i went to the 4:10 and 33 i got almost 22 mpg, which is really good, ,
one other issue that rears it's ugly head is that with not enough gear like a 33 on 3:73 the trans won't go into overdrive and that is not good,

 

[corkey]

hey Arborg?
how far from Winnipeg are you ?
i am not that far away, just near Kenora,,

 

[F150hybred]

hey Arborg?
how far from Winnipeg are you ?
i am not that far away, just near Kenora,,

I'm about an hour north of Winnipeg on hiway 7. Actually, it's the end of the hiway!

 

[4x4junkie]

4.88 + 35s is just about perfect with the 4.0L, though I don't think the mileage would be all that much less even with 5.13s (well, unless you like to blast down the freeway at 80+ MPH (125+KPH), which IMO isn't really a good idea in a rig on 35s in the 1st place).