3.55 or 3.73? That is my question

[Lugi20]

Hey guys, I'm gonna need all the input I can get...

Alright, for once in my life I have a job where I make money, enough to spend a bunch on the 94' Mark VIII and still have enough for 2000 Calories a day. Anyway, my next upgrade is going to be on my rear end... addco 1/4 sway bar, polyurethane bushings, and 3.55 or 3.73 gear ratio for my pumpkin.

-Which ratio gives me the best price/performance/highway-fuel efficiency?
-Where can I get a fully made pumpkin or at least all the parts to rebuild mine in the new ratio for a the best deal?
-What part would I need to make sure my speedo and the cops' radars agree with each other?
-Is this something I can do (I consider myself a very capable amatuer with the 1994 shop repair manual and the EVTC manual), or should I have a real mechanic do this for me, and what would be a reasonable price?

Lots of questions, I just want to be sure to make the right decisions, and I know a bunch of you out there are very knowledgable about this or have done it before me and know what to expect. All feedback is hugely appreciated guys, THANX!

 

[BlackMark8Li]

Hey guys, I'm gonna need all the input I can get...

Alright, for once in my life I have a job where I make money, enough to spend a bunch on the 94' Mark VIII and still have enough for 2000 Calories a day. Anyway, my next upgrade is going to be on my rear end... addco 1/4 sway bar, polyurethane bushings, and 3.55 or 3.73 gear ratio for my pumpkin.

-Which ratio gives me the best price/performance/highway-fuel efficiency?
-Where can I get a fully made pumpkin or at least all the parts to rebuild mine in the new ratio for a the best deal?
-What part would I need to make sure my speedo and the cops' radars agree with each other?
-Is this something I can do (I consider myself a very capable amatuer with the 1994 shop repair manual and the EVTC manual), or should I have a real mechanic do this for me, and what would be a reasonable price?

Lots of questions, I just want to be sure to make the right decisions, and I know a bunch of you out there are very knowledgable about this or have done it before me and know what to expect. All feedback is hugely appreciated guys, THANX!

to be honist i made another post about 4.10's. you really don't loose that much gas mileage and you accel much faster. you probally won't be totally happy if you spend all that money to get gears and you only get 3.73's. might as well go with 4.10's. keep it at around 80 and you'll be under 3000 rpm's. alls I wish is ford had a better tranny, but who doesn't.

 

[Lugi20]

to be honist i made another post about 4.10's. you really don't loose that much gas mileage and you accel much faster. you probally won't be totally happy if you spend all that money to get gears and you only get 3.73's. might as well go with 4.10's. keep it at around 80 and you'll be under 3000 rpm's. alls I wish is ford had a better tranny, but who doesn't.

4.10's are diffinetly too much for me, I'm going with something more mild, still gets nice 2100-2300 RPM at 75-80mph on the highway.

 

[driller]

4.10's are diffinetly too much for me, I'm going with something more mild, still gets nice 2100-2300 RPM at 75-80mph on the highway.

That's rare.

Most people who go with 3.73s wish they went with the 4.10s.

Almost no one who goes with 4.10s wish they had went with 3.73s.

THAT and 50 cents will get you a small coffee at McDonalds.

 

[MonsterMark]

4.10's are diffinetly too much for me, I'm going with something more mild, still gets nice 2100-2300 RPM at 75-80mph on the highway.

Just get the 3.73 pumpkin new from max @ five Star if he still has them. Then you get posi to boot and everything is set to go. No screwing around with setting gears.

 

[Lugi20]

Just get the 3.73 pumpkin new from max @ five Star if he still has them. Then you get posi to boot and everything is set to go. No screwing around with setting gears.

As far as I've heard, the 3.73 track-lok pumpkin is no longer available from Max... any other suggestions?

 

[big ed]

4.10's are diffinetly too much for me, I'm going with something more mild, still gets nice 2100-2300 RPM at 75-80mph on the highway.

Percentages are pretty straight foward. I have a set of 327's I plan to have put in, too critical, I'll have a trained axle mechanic do it. With 327's I'll be running 6.5% higher or about 2180 rpm's at 80, rather calm. Been thinking about 355's & may switch but I like the gas milage & my driving is long distance. Even with 355's the kick will not be anything like 410's or 430's but I would be running 15.6% or 2370 rpm's approx. at 80. 373's would be 21.5% or about 2490. I understand that the around town mpg's doesn't change that much with 373's or 410's (33.6% or 2740) but someone else can tell you that. It really depends on what your after. I will lose at every red light, but I don't care, I'll lope quietly down the highway with the windows open, the tunes up loud & smiling. It is what it is. Ed

 

[MonsterMark]

As far as I've heard, the 3.73 track-lok pumpkin is no longer available from Max... any other suggestions?

Just talked to Maxx.

3.73 gears are approx..........................$149
Main bearing set runs about....................$78
Pinion Bearings and Seal kit for the axles...$18
Trak-Loc Unit.....................................$184
So for a total of about.........................$429
You can build your own, which is what I would do now that the complete pumpkins are not available from Max.

 

[Lugi20]

Just talked to Maxx.

3.73 gears are approx..........................$149
Main bearing set runs about....................$78
Pinion Bearings and Seal kit for the axles...$18
Trak-Loc Unit.....................................$184
So for a total of about.........................$429
You can build your own, which is what I would do now that the complete pumpkins are not available from Max.

Thats not that bad... where can I find those things?

 

[MarkOfDeath]

any ford dealer, I can get all that for dirt cheap 5% over cost muhahahaha, sure great to get a employee discount

 

[MarkOfDeath]

oh I can sell ya a pumpkin so you can pack all the stuff then just swap rearends which makes it F-ing easy, your also very close to joliet so I can switch the pumpkins for you since I have done this plenty of times

 

[Lugi20]

oh I can sell ya a pumpkin so you can pack all the stuff then just swap rearends which makes it F-ing easy, your also very close to joliet so I can switch the pumpkins for you since I have done this plenty of times

I'm in Iowa City this summer, but I make frequent trips back to Wheaton, so I may take you up on the pumpkin offer! Whats your email?

 

[Dern Humpus]

There is a vendor on ebay that sells a lot of assembled rear ends with gear ratios ranging from 3.08s all the way up to 4.11's. All of their rear ends have posi too.

 

[Ricksquickviii]

i went with 3.73's and happy :0)

 

[MarkOfDeath]

i went with 3.73's and happy :0)

Are you sure Rick, Maybe you are lying to your self, maybe you wish you would of got 410s but now the money is spent and its to late. :N

 

[MrScalia]

Hey guys, I'm gonna need all the input I can get...

-Which ratio gives me the best highway-fuel efficiency?

Stock these gears would be called freeway gears.

I've had a car with 373, when I was younger and that would be as high I would go (but I would never think of NOS)

as for 410 that what came in Trucks.

changing gears will change you gas milage no way around it.
figure out if you want fast or quick.

 

[JoeyLincolnMK8]

i know this question has nothing to do with this thread, but i feel like starting a new one... but here goes. why are 3:55 more expensive than 3:73's??? should it be the other way around, im thinking cause the demand is more higher for 3:73's it should be more than the 3:55's IMO. if someone knows the reason, im just curious. thanks

 

[Jamler3]

There is a vendor on ebay that sells a lot of assembled rear ends with gear ratios ranging from 3.08s all the way up to 4.11's. All of their rear ends have posi too.

LINK PLEASE???????

 

[driller]

Are you sure Rick, Maybe you are lying to your self, maybe you wish you would of got 410s but now the money is spent and its to late. :N

ROTFLMAO! LOL!

Tell 'em Brad. 4.10s ROCK! :L

 

[Ricksquickviii]

I never driven in a car with 4.10's , maybe I would of like them, the reason I when with 3.73's are great deal from max @ 5 star, I own a 93 with one piece drive shaft that I have No troubles with 120mph still smooth, I drive on the highway , so the 3.73’s have been great for me very happy,

Are you sure Rick, Maybe you are lying to your self, maybe you wish you would of got 410s but now the money is spent and its to late. :N

 

[thamarkman]

I've had 4.10's and next time I'm going with 3.73's.

 

[MarkOfDeath]

the reason 373s are cheaper is because they are more mass produced, everyone makes them and if you make them more expensive people will go to another aftermarket supplier. I mean come on who the hell wants 355 gears unless your freakin supercharged or something crazy that you need the gear.

 

[driller]

I never driven in a car with 4.10's , maybe I would of like them, the reason I when with 3.73's are great deal from max @ 5 star, I own a 93 with one piece drive shaft that I have No troubles with 120mph still smooth, I drive on the highway , so the 3.73’s have been great for me very happy,

The key is you're happy.

But I'd bet if you had drove 4.10s you would've chosen them. :Beer

 

[Grifter]

i went with 3.73's and wish i would have gone higher.. but maybe my opinion would change if i had a higher stall.. dont know. I know that 3.73's are better than stock, but not as much get up and go off the line as i would like..