Overall, 4.10's was a good choice I think. For performance though, I wish I had gone with 4.56 (yes, 4.56 even with 285's). These trucks are so heavy, 4.56 would have really made it nice off the line and towing. However, I also drive 16 miles one way to work, almost all highway, and I drive about 200 miles every few months to go to the inlaws - all highway. So though 4.56 would have been nice from a performance standpoint, I think I would have hated it these other times. So a comprimise of 4.10 is probably the best you can ask for. I wish someone made a 4.27 ratio for the Chrysler 9.25 like can be got for many other axle types. In my mind, that would have been the ideal ratio for 285's/33's. I definetly would not go any lower then 4.10's though.

The only other reason I wish I had gone to 4.56 is because i'm stepping up to 35's. I know I am going to lose some of that performance. So if you think you will go bigger at any point in the future, you may give the 4.56 a second thought. If I decide I really like the 35's, I may have to consider some 4.56's or even 4.88's.

 

Okay cool. I want to run 35's maybe 36s hopefully next summer so that would be perfect for me. I'm sure they'll be okay on the 33s in the mean time. They only have to last till I get the lift on

 

Well, now you've got me thinking larger ratio. Damnmy loss of ignorance!

That calculator states that if I had 4.56 gears with 33" tires, OD is 0.69 ratio, and I want to go 75mph than RPMs are right at 2400, which is about 500RPMs more than what I'm doing now (according to calculator). Anybody got a way to figure how much500RPMs equals in MPG given all other variables constant?

Bottom line is, will that Trutrac still fit in there with the smaller gears? I'm notscrapping that $500+200 labor part. Looks like it's time to give the gear and axle boys a call.

 

Go gears!

You'll get some bling factor with the exhaust and gears are not as "showy", but you will get far more "use" out of the gear change than the exhaust change.

I have 37's and 5.13 gearing right now and while a bit too low for most forum experts, I have found the ratio matches very well with my truck and tires. At 75 MPH I am about 2600RPM, so goint 120mph is probabaly not going to happen, but it begs the question:

Why in the world would you want to go 120mph in a Ram anyway?

 

LMFAO! That was perfectly said nhbill

 

lol, well I'm not really worried about it not doing 120 anymore, so long as I can still go 90 without having to worry about blowing my motor up.

from that chart aim4squirrels posted looks like 4.56s are ideal for what I want to do.

Looks like I gotta vote for new gears man. You can always get an exhaust later.

 

i dont care for headers personally i have had problems with everyset i have evr owned from constantly blowing gaskets and donut ring it was more a problem than not ...my next addition will be the super 44 with tru dual im just gonna keep the orig mopar header that came on it . i have conversed with many of my gearhead friends and they would agree with me dollar for dollar header give u maybe what 5-7horse....for $300+ screw it its not worth my time to cange gasket evry month or 2 just my 0.02 worth....j

 

Well, looks like gears might be the way to go.

On the current truck, the 4.10's look about right with the31.6" tires I'm running now. Going to have to really think about whether or not I'll do bigger tires.That'll be tires and alift to keep it from rubbing,can you reuse the stock hubs up to a certain point or do I need to think about those too?

 

oh by the way i think ur bride would be a lil upset to recieve performance parts as wedding gift i know mine would be....lmao @ that one smart thinking tho aim love it...j

 

I finished my gear swap last weekend. I went with 4.56's with 33x12.5x15 procomp M/T's and all I can say is WOW. The gears were by far the best mod I have done yet. about 70% of my driving is also highway. During the break in week I got 12mpg which is only .5 mpg less than what I usualy get. My father took it on a 150 mile round trip over the weekend and got 14.2 mpg mostly highway miles.When he got back I changed the rear diff fluid to get all the paint and crap out and the light shavings from breakin. Then over the last 3 days I have been running around back and forth to work which is 40 miles round trip. I stopped this morning and filled it up calculated my mileage and I was at 15.2mpg. This weekend and I going to run about 1000miles going to chatanooga camping this weekend pulling my little popup trail and that will be the true mpg test. Oh yeah and at 75mph I am setting right at 2500rpms.