whitehorse
Full Access Member
How rare is a sterling dually axle with 3:55 gears? All the ones I've seen have 4:10 gears...
sterling axle question...
- Thread starter whitehorse
- Start date
They are more rare than the 4.10's but they are out there. I know of one out there, it came out of a 2 Wheel Drive Cure Cab Dually diesel. It is in the process of being installed to replace a failed 4:10 rear.
Just have to keep a lookout and check the tags.....
Just have to keep a lookout and check the tags.....
whitehorse
Full Access Member
Just wondering cause I found a sweet deal on a 86 cew cab dually with ATS turbo and the Dana 70s are a pain in some areas...and its a 4 spd
http://gadsden.craigslist.org/cto/4826815531.html
http://gadsden.craigslist.org/cto/4826815531.html
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ToughOldFord
The Cold Glow-Plug
Kinda unusual to find a standard transmission in a CC DRW Ford. Paint job's kinda wild, but looks like a good price on a nice truck.
Waystro
No Class
Hmm didn't know they where Rare.
My 86 has 3.55 gears I wanted 4.10s for hauling but you get what ya get.
Why do you want 3.55s ?
My 86 has 3.55 gears I wanted 4.10s for hauling but you get what ya get.
Why do you want 3.55s ?
I've seen them, but most dually axles are 4.10:1. Not sure if there's a difference in housings/spindles or if you can swap your DRW hubs and so forth onto a SRW axle and call it a day. if you've got a short pinion axle and can't find a 3.55:1 long pinion DRW it may just be best to throw a 3.55:1 long pinion setup in yours.
As to why OP wants 3.55:1 gears instead of 4.10:1... Probably the same as me, keep a normal highway RPM and maintain MPG. I prefer to attack the problem with more power and torque. Given we don't have a simple drop in cost effective overdrive ratio of over .76:1, 3.55:1 is about it for maintaining a decent highway RPM unless you want the added expense of a Gearvendors or similar behind your ZF or cost/complexity/fab of an over/under intermediate box. For me I don't care how I get there but I want 2000 RPM or less at 70 MPH as primary goal and secondary goal is accelerate faster than everything else. All it takes it torque.
As to why OP wants 3.55:1 gears instead of 4.10:1... Probably the same as me, keep a normal highway RPM and maintain MPG. I prefer to attack the problem with more power and torque. Given we don't have a simple drop in cost effective overdrive ratio of over .76:1, 3.55:1 is about it for maintaining a decent highway RPM unless you want the added expense of a Gearvendors or similar behind your ZF or cost/complexity/fab of an over/under intermediate box. For me I don't care how I get there but I want 2000 RPM or less at 70 MPH as primary goal and secondary goal is accelerate faster than everything else. All it takes it torque.
Most of these trucks were originally non-turbo. And most people ordered or bought a dually because they were going to haul something. You didn't get a dually for "looks" and "being cool" like we do now. A 4.10 gear is going to pull a load a lot better than 3.55's.
86ford69jw
redneck
Jump on it! Nice ole truck. I paid $1700 for this outta Fl a few yrs ago.
97 F250 HD auto 4x4
3.55s turning 16.6!
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97 F250 HD auto 4x4
3.55s turning 16.6!
whitehorse
Full Access Member
I would love to find a old 4x4 excab bullnose truck like that....maybe some day.....
when talking pickup DRW axles (not cab n chassis) you could get the sterling first gen with 3.55's. once the 2nd gen sterling came along in '93 ford only offered them with 4.10's.i know this because i spent countless upon countless of days and hours on the phones with salvage yards all across the US looking for one.loads of yards list having them,but when actually verifying they always had 4.10's.
i had to use a 1st gen/pre '93/short pinion DRW pickup axle to keep my 3.55's this was important as i run short tires to keep the truck sitting as low as possible to load the bed,and this reduces the gearing already.would be to ******* fuel w/ 4.10s plus the short tires i run.plus i didn't want to have to change the front either being a 4wd.
so,yeah kinda rare even in the 1st gen sterling era.most of those where 4.10 too.
my suggestion is,don't buy that dually if you don't need it.the DRW is harder on fuel,more tires to buy,the ride is much firmer,the traction really suffers.if you haul heavy loads or tow a lot,it's all worth it and then some.if not,it's a lot of extra expense.
i had to use a 1st gen/pre '93/short pinion DRW pickup axle to keep my 3.55's this was important as i run short tires to keep the truck sitting as low as possible to load the bed,and this reduces the gearing already.would be to ******* fuel w/ 4.10s plus the short tires i run.plus i didn't want to have to change the front either being a 4wd.
so,yeah kinda rare even in the 1st gen sterling era.most of those where 4.10 too.
my suggestion is,don't buy that dually if you don't need it.the DRW is harder on fuel,more tires to buy,the ride is much firmer,the traction really suffers.if you haul heavy loads or tow a lot,it's all worth it and then some.if not,it's a lot of extra expense.
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02x72
Full Access Member
I have one, but the truck was originally a C&C truck, not sure if they ere maybe optioned differently?
not too sure on that one but if your talking about your '89 in your sig,that would be pre- 93 making it a 1st gen sterling anyway,so in that case there is for sure the 3.55 option.
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