I want more! How would I go about doing this. Iwas thinking about the Keg Mod but it mostly increases top end, right? What would be some good, fairly inexpensive ways to increasing the low-end.

 

Gears, Cam?

 

Are those fairly cheap, I've never looked into a cam. I know gears will run me round $300 a diff right?


The thing is, I live in the mountains and so I rarely get over 65, and thats going down to two lane highway for about twenty minutes. Mostly, I'm on twisting turning roads where its hard to get over 40; but, then you get to the long steep hills coming out of the canyons and the truck barely wants to do it!

 

gears would probably be your best and cheapest way to go. if you dont go very fast you will see some good gains in low end torque and mpg with throwing some lower gears in

 

Alright well I just did a little shopping at four wheel pats.com and I can get get either 4.10 or 4.56 front and rear for the same prices, just over $500! They come in this nifty little care package so that you don't forget anything. I'm running 285/75/16 tires and I do quite a bit of wheeling and crawling around in my truck. Which set would be the most beneficial to me? Are the 4.56's a little overkill!


Sorry 'bout all the questions, but I just don't understand the whole gear ratio deal. Tried figuring it out a while ago but to no avail!

 

I had 285's on my truck. In your case, 4:56'sshould be perfect. At 40 mph this should put you right in your engines power range (which for me is over the 2000 rpm mark). Anything less is lugging the motor.

 

With a 285/75/16 adding gears will change your final drive ratio to;

4.56 = 4.23 (would be my choice)
4.10 = 3.81
3.55 = 3.29 (your current final ratio)

Seeing your in the mountains and like to wheel/crawl, Id say go with the 4.56.If you decide to go to a 35" tire later on your still covered. 35s would give a 4.02 final drive ratio with the 4.56gears.
Like the hemi guys say, dont fear the gear

 

Not for the application you describe. The motor will be screaming at 75 MPH, but since you say you're mostly on mountain roads at in-town speeds, they'll give you a good deal more grunt. Assuming you drive a half ton, it probably has 3.55's in it, so you're talking a 28% mechanical advantage.

 

Well that may very well be what I'll end up doing. Just gotta save the $500+ for parts and install.What about the keg mod? I've got the 1/2 ton 4x4, obviously, with the 5.9. I've got my boses house and shop for a week in Augustwhile he's in Hawaii so I'm thinking that'll be the perfect time for my plenum repair, and since I was in there I guess I should put the die grinder to work! I know on the 5.2's that you can't cut too much of the runners down before loosing the low-end, but I've got 5.9. How much of the runner could I cut down, or can I go all the way and not loose too much of the low side?


Thanks guys, I needed a little kick in the a** to get something moving on my truck.
I did just pick a "CAI" off of ebay for $80 last night, it only took me about two years of looking untill I found one that I liked!

 

A cam is THE BEST way to make power, and is reasonably inexpensive, cheaper than gears.