So I currently have 3.55 gears in my 2008 4.7L Club Cab Dakota. I installed a superchips tuner and a K&N Cold Air Intake with Flowmaster Super 44s on their way this week. To make a long story short my buddy beat me pretty easily in a quarter mile drag in his 2012 Toyota Tacoma. My pride took a beating that day! I did some research and the Tacomas are geared very well which would explain why this happened. We did a rolling start and I was able to beat him by over a truck length. Anyways, I am seeking retribution and am contemplating whether to install 4.10 or 4.56 gears? The first gear in our truck are very long and would benefit greatly from 4.56 gears. However, I am worried that they will hinder 2nd, 3rd, 4th and OD. I don't want to lose power between shifts because the 4.56s arent allowing the engine to use its entire power band. I will be running 285-50-20 tires. I did the math and I would be revving at 2087 rpm at 100km/h with the 4.56s vs. 1877rmp with the 4.10s. Anybody with experience going from 3.55 to 4.56 or 4.10s would be greatly appreciated. I understand fuel economy may drop slightly going from 3.55 to 4.56 gears. What I am most concerned with is obtaining the most productive power increase. I refuse to lose to this Tacome again!

 

Get 4.10s

 

I went from 3.55 to 4.10 primarily for better towing power.
City fuel mileage and power improved and towing mileage and power improved as well. You lose some fuel mileage cruising on the highway. If you have a 9.25" rear end, you won't need to do anything to correct the speedo, I don't know if that's true with the 8.25" rear end.

 

Thanks guys. Ya I've got a 9.25" rearend so it shouldn't be a problem. Is it insane to even consider 4.56 gears?

 

If you plan on going the highway for long intervals I wouldn't do 4.56. I'm looking to do 4.10 this fall with posi if I can get the cash together.

 

Has anybody on this forum gone from 3.55 to 4.56 gears? I can barely get my tires to chirp with my 3.55 gears (with 30.2" tires). Im trying to improve my holeshot and bring the old girl to life.

 

one guy with the v6 has 4.56 gears

 

Was his Tacoma a 4x4? Is Yours?

Even if they were evenly matched in options (he had the V6, you and he are both 4x2s or are both 4x4s), the Tacoma is at least 500 lbs lighter than our Dakotas. That right there can make a difference, not just the gearing. Those foreign V6s will also rev up quicker than our V8s.

If you only have a 4x2, doing the rear end gear isn't bad. Only about $400 or a little less in labor (not including parts).

 

Both of our trucks are 4x4 Club Cabs. The tacoma is a V6 with a VVT 236HP 266Ft/lbs of torque, with 2.73 gears. There are so many other variables to consider but at the end of the day the tacoma comes with a better setup (especially the transmission) However, If I had of had the 3.92 gears it could have been a different story. The dakota is a powerhouse in its midrange, I would just like the open up the bottom end because it is brutal as it stands.

 

What tune were you running on the Superchips? Even in factory testing, the Dakota had the same or slightly better 0-60 MPH times than the Tacoma. What has he done to his truck for upgrades?

I believe your story... just trying to understand how it came to be.