3.55 gears sooo much better

[Dave7.3]

I was curious, did you guys all do the gear swaps yourselves or have a shop do it? I've been tempted to drop my 4.10LS due to rarely towing much anymore...but don't want to pay out for a shop to do it. A few years ago I was quoted about $800 to have it done.

-Dave

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

I was curious, did you guys all do the gear swaps yourselves or have a shop do it? I've been tempted to drop my 4.10LS due to rarely towing much anymore...but don't want to pay out for a shop to do it. A few years ago I was quoted about $800 to have it done.

-Dave

you have it real easy with 2wd.
just head to the local salvage yard and score a whole used rear axle with 3.55's.
buy new U-bolts and swap in the axle.its quite easy and can be done before lunch if you go right along (and have a torch.)no point in keeping 4.10's if your not hauling.heck even with hauling large loads i wouldn't want 'em unless i hooked onto a large tailor/5th wheel often,then i wouldn't want to be without 'em.
should set ya back around $2-300 and a half a day.sell your current axle latter and gain half it back quick and easy.

 

[Diesel_brad]

Rob. Is that the rear i swapped out with you? Does the LS work?

 

[idipwr]

Yep Brad its the one. It seems to work ok. Any Idea of the miles on the truck it came out of?

 

[Diesel_brad]

Yep Brad its the one. It seems to work ok. Any Idea of the miles on the truck it came out of?

Believe it or not title says 199,217 in 09 so it is prob over 200k

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

How about dually? Can I still just swap out any rear end in place of my 4.10 or is there a difference in SRW and DRW?

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

How about dually? Can I still just swap out any rear end in place of my 4.10 or is there a difference in SRW and DRW?

you would need a DRW PICKUP axle.
avoid:
SRW
DRW C&C (cab and chassis)

you'll need to price both a shop price for a gear swap and an axle to see which way you would want to go.
keeping in mind,you could likely sell the current DRW pickup axle close to salvage yard price.
but at the same time keeping in mind,you may want to have (or maintain) a LS/locker installed since your 2wd dually for extra traction,unless you can score a LS 3.55 DRW pickup axle-happy hunting lol.

however,if you no need for a dually,you could convert it to a SRW.
DRW is extra tire drag too.imho,if this is the case though,it would be a shame to convert such a nice rig.would be better to sell it to someone who needs it and buy a SRW truck.
still.you could make $ by selling that bed/rims/front dually hubs,and buying standard rims/hubs/bed.but that sure would be a shame.

 

[Brianedwardss]

I was curious, did you guys all do the gear swaps yourselves or have a shop do it? I've been tempted to drop my 4.10LS due to rarely towing much anymore...but don't want to pay out for a shop to do it. A few years ago I was quoted about $800 to have it done.

-Dave

Took a good day and swapped in a complete rear. Installed new wheel bearings, axle & pinion seals, & brakes while it was out and am very satisfied.

$800 tho is right about retail price for a ratio swap w/new bearing kit. Most shops won't do a ratio swap on an older truck without a bearing kit.

 

[f-two-fiddy]

If You can find a shop that'll let You buy Your own R&P/Bearings/Seals, You can save some monies. I found My parts online, and paid a shop $200 for the swap.

 

[sassyrel]

you have it real easy with 2wd.
just head to the local salvage yard and score a whole used rear axle with 3.55's.
buy new U-bolts and swap in the axle.its quite easy and can be done before lunch if you go right along (and have a torch.)no point in keeping 4.10's if your not hauling.heck even with hauling large loads i wouldn't want 'em unless i hooked onto a large tailor/5th wheel often,then i wouldn't want to be without 'em.
should set ya back around $2-300 and a half a day.sell your current axle latter and gain half it back quick and easy.

esp since his 4.10 is ls--

 

[Shadetreemechanic]

Reviving this thread with a related question. With the 92+ trucks with the speed sensor in the rear, do you need to recalibrate the speedo after an axle swap or is the sensor ratio specific?
I am going to put 3.55s in my dad's 95 with 4.10s

 

[bghnkinf350]

You would need to recalibrate the speedo. The sensor is only a magnetic pick up and the tone ring in the rear is not ratio specific.

 

[f-two-fiddy]

No need to recalibrate.

 

[Simp5782]

Do not need to recalibrate.

 

[88IDImattman]

ok so my 88 CC DRW LB it wouldnt be a problem swapping it over to a 355 rear i got 410 in it now an will not be towing with it like i had planned so the wifey has said either sell it or do something to make it affordable to drive ......