4.10 and 3.55 comparison.

[Goofyexponent]

Well, I had a chance to copare 3.55's AND 4.10's in the SAME truck and thought I would answer a few questions. The truck is N/A and has a ZF in it to be clear right off the bat.

Ok, let's start with the 4.10's.

Running at 55 MPH, I was turning 2000 RPM. First gear was USELESS unless you were pulling something or on a STEEP hill.

I could lug down to 30 MPH and accelerate down the ramp tot eh highway without downshifting. It wasn't exactly a slow acceleration either...LOTS of power.

I could run upto a maximum of about 95 MPH at 3000 RPM-ish.

I averaged 17 MPG with the winter fuel, winter tires and some mixed city driving. On the highway only, I could get closer to 19 MPG.

Tomorrow, I am going to check the numbers at these speeds (NOT the top speed though!!) and report back the RPM at those speeds. I am reinstalling my 3.55's right now (waiting for the silicone to harden up so I can tighten the bolts in the cover all the way down and then finish up.)

 

[bike-maker]

First gear useless? I use first gear for about 5 feet before shifting to second......
But, I wouldn't even use first gear if I didn't care about burning my clutch up quicker. The time that low first gear makes a difference is when you strap a whole bunch of weight behind your truck. If you just run around empty, you don't really need it.
That being said, I had 3.55's in my truck before I switched to 4.10's. I liked the 3.55's better for driving unloaded, BUT, I never strapped my fifth wheel onto the truck with the 3.55's.

 

[icanfixall]

My truck will pull fine with 3.55 gear loaded down to around 16,000 lbs. The GV has really changed how I haul now too. Before I had one it still towed fine. I don't get any quick strats but I can move out too...

 

[TWeatherford]

Didn't I read you have a later model ZF with a lower 1st gear? My Dad's PSD is a 97 and 1st is fairly useless in his, but I always use 1st in mine unless I'm headed down hill. I have to ride the clutch too much for a 2nd start from stopped. I have 4.10 rear too, as does my Dad.

 

[Diesel JD]

Hey thanks for doing the comparison for us. Are we talking US mpg or Imperial?

 

[Goofyexponent]

Imperial gallons....

US gallons would be 14 average or 16 on the highway in the winter. Not the best, but my winter tires are like tank treads.

I found first gear WAY too low for anything useful. I would simply almost dump the clutch in second gear without any fuel and when teh clutch was fully engaged, away she'd go. I find we have too many retards and impatient **** holes here that don't like to wait for you to use first gear. If you don't prett much hammer it down when that light turns green, you are getting passed then cut off BAD in my parts.....too many "imports" from other countries living here.

Now, with the 3.55's I DO use first gear. 2nd gear starts with 3.55' are WAY too ******* the clutch.

 

[BigRigTech]

Try 4.10's with a BBF ZF, farm tractor useless in 1st.......Helps a lot with 3 ton in the box though.....I hauled 2 cord of softwood up a very steep driveway last weekend in 4LO, she had no problem doing it but I was passed by a fart in the breeze....My pintle plate was kissing the grass as I started up the incline and I was not having fun in the cab staring at the sky.....I had 3.55's in the 91, I do prefer the 4.10's over all.

 

[Jbevs]

What size tires are you running goofy?

 

[gatorman21218]

how about 4 low? You can start off in 4th.

 

[gonecrazyi]

Heck. You can drop the clutch in 5th with the tcase in low.

 

[Goofyexponent]

All done with stock tire size....235/85R16's. I can't afford to run big rubber with the fuel prices!!

 

[BigRigTech]

Diesel is $1.29/L here right now, gas is $1.30/L....I only run the big truck when necessary otherwise my 06 B2300 gets loaded........I can only get 14MPG imperial with my truck, she's 8000lbs empty and 8500lbs with the plow gear on.

 

[Goofyexponent]

What it costs to run my truck a month is UNREAL compared to what it was when I first started driving.

Insurance is peeling me for $180 a MONTH!

I am running about $350 a MONTH through the truck in fuel.

Not to mention the little "surprises" it hands me once in a while....so say $50 - $100 in repairs an oil changes.

$20 a month in Howes fuel conditioner.

$650 a MONTH for me to travel back and forth to work with everything accounted for.

But take Vicki's car...2004 Grand Am. 4 cylinder automatic, TOTALLY stock.

$230 a month in fuel.

$80 a month for insurance.

I run a conditioner in it's fuel too $30 a month.

Gotta love the $25 oil changes though.

$365 a month to run that thing.

That's $1015 right off the top off our pay JUST to get to work. We do go other places and do things, so add that on there as well.

When I FIRST started driving, I remember paying $0.40 cents a liter!! and sometimes $0.35 cents!!!!....That's like $1.32 a GALLON!!

My insurance was higher $291 a month

I would only burn $30 a week going to work ( IF THAT!)

Tha truck had some issues (1984 S10 carbed 2.8 with a 5 speed) but it only needed a ew small repairs....say $40 a month

Mind you I only made $12 an hour back then.

That's $451 a month back then. Stuff was cheaper, rent was cheaper, food prices wer lower....now that I am upto $16 an hour.....and EVERYTHING has gone up, I might as well be 17 years old and working for $12 an hour again!!

 

[BigRigTech]

I think the world shoves the big finger up your **** a little more each day....

 

[CESMITH]

That can get uncomfortable