Another Gearing Post
#1
08-25-2021, 10:25 AM
Another Gearing Post
So I have read like 20 threads now about gearing for our trucks and I still cannot make up my mind as no one had a similar situation, so here goes.
2000 dodge dakota 4x4 5.9l v8, 46re trans, 3.55 gears now.
Quite a few mods with many more coming, end game is to get around 450rwhp down on the ground. Currently have; 31x10.5r15 mud tires, hughes Air gap manifold, CAI, Exhaust, SCT, all new and synthetic (where applicable) fluids (coolant, oil, trans, rear diff & front diff), aftermarket trans cooler, all maintenance stuff (plugs, ignition, wires ect.), Bilstein shocks... and will be upgrading Cam, Headers, lifters, heads when I do the engine rebuild and am considering going to 33" tires. Also going to have a new trans soon, probably from PATC stage 3 viper rated for 700hp and will be adding heavy duty leafs to the rear for better tow capacity.
All that said I am torn between upgrading to 4.10 or 4.56 gears. Cost is the same or close to it. Driving for this truck is probably 25% off road/wheeling, 15% regular city driving and 60% towing a trailer that is around 6k lbs fully loaded. Highway speeds around here are 70 (I75) or 60-65 on smaller highways, however if your going under 80 people are running you over (Florida). Seems with OD off at 60mph my RPMs are already around 2200 or so (haven't taken on interstate as my current trans is acting up, hence the new one on the parts list) with OD on I've got essentially no power and sitting around 1900rpm at 58-60mph. Most flat driving in florida but do have plans for trips to northern florida/Georgia with some hilly areas. I want good pulling power (the 3.55s do OK but definitely feel sluggish) and don't want to completly wreck my MPG for long tows (300-500miles) with about 5500-6k lbs being pulled. Currently only getting 7-8mpg towing and like 12mpg not towing, part of that is my trans not being able to find 2nd gear, which again is being replaced.
Sooo long story short for what I'm planning on doing, I'm leaning towards 4.56 gears but worried about the mpg around 60-70mph, would all the performance upgrades make the 4.10s the better option as the added torque and HP I'm putting in it will make up for that extra half turn?
2000 dodge dakota 4x4 5.9l v8, 46re trans, 3.55 gears now.
Quite a few mods with many more coming, end game is to get around 450rwhp down on the ground. Currently have; 31x10.5r15 mud tires, hughes Air gap manifold, CAI, Exhaust, SCT, all new and synthetic (where applicable) fluids (coolant, oil, trans, rear diff & front diff), aftermarket trans cooler, all maintenance stuff (plugs, ignition, wires ect.), Bilstein shocks... and will be upgrading Cam, Headers, lifters, heads when I do the engine rebuild and am considering going to 33" tires. Also going to have a new trans soon, probably from PATC stage 3 viper rated for 700hp and will be adding heavy duty leafs to the rear for better tow capacity.
All that said I am torn between upgrading to 4.10 or 4.56 gears. Cost is the same or close to it. Driving for this truck is probably 25% off road/wheeling, 15% regular city driving and 60% towing a trailer that is around 6k lbs fully loaded. Highway speeds around here are 70 (I75) or 60-65 on smaller highways, however if your going under 80 people are running you over (Florida). Seems with OD off at 60mph my RPMs are already around 2200 or so (haven't taken on interstate as my current trans is acting up, hence the new one on the parts list) with OD on I've got essentially no power and sitting around 1900rpm at 58-60mph. Most flat driving in florida but do have plans for trips to northern florida/Georgia with some hilly areas. I want good pulling power (the 3.55s do OK but definitely feel sluggish) and don't want to completly wreck my MPG for long tows (300-500miles) with about 5500-6k lbs being pulled. Currently only getting 7-8mpg towing and like 12mpg not towing, part of that is my trans not being able to find 2nd gear, which again is being replaced.
Sooo long story short for what I'm planning on doing, I'm leaning towards 4.56 gears but worried about the mpg around 60-70mph, would all the performance upgrades make the 4.10s the better option as the added torque and HP I'm putting in it will make up for that extra half turn?
#2
08-25-2021, 09:13 PM
In my opinion, 4.56 gears are too much gear for 33" tires. ESPECIALLY if you plan on doing a lot of towing. (hence, O/D disengaged.) If you do a lot of towing on the freeway, you will hate the 4.56 gears. 4.10 really is the sweet spot for 33's.
I have a 2500, with 4.56 gears, and 33" tires. I want to bump my tires to 35's, to get my RPMs down a couple hundred at cruising speeds. I suspect that will also bump my gas mileage a point or two. (and considering I am averaging ten to eleven mpg, every little bit helps.
)
I have a 2500, with 4.56 gears, and 33" tires. I want to bump my tires to 35's, to get my RPMs down a couple hundred at cruising speeds. I suspect that will also bump my gas mileage a point or two. (and considering I am averaging ten to eleven mpg, every little bit helps.
)
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