Subject: Purchasing new Truck - Need Advise!
Hi, My 91 f250 is slowly in the process of Bite-ing the big one...
So I'm looking to replace it, so far here are the things I can't live
without , 4 wheel drive with limited slip differential, Camper or towing
package, 40-20-40 split seats, and of course it will be a HD 3/4 ton. I
also have certain mirrors that I like the low-mount swing away type. Now
here's the question, I currently have a 351 Windsor engine with a 3:55
rear end. I'm thinking of replacing my truck with the same engine/rear end
configuration or a 460 and a 3:55 rear end. I know that a 460 usually
comes with the 4:10 rear end. I really don't want this combination because
this will be my only vehicle and I hate to lose the gas mileage.
Lucie Hess
Columbia, Missouri
Chief Black Arrow -retired Appy
Moonhill Dandi -current mount- 7/8 Arab
-
Lucie,
I also am looking into new trucks (yeah, dream on). To me, the 460
sounds like a huge gas-guzzler anyway, regardless of changing the
rear end.
Actually, I wandered into our local Dodge dealer today to get a
"ballpark" figure on the truck I want. He claimed that switching to
the 410 rear end would not make that much impact on gas mileage, and
that if the combined tow/carry weight was approaching 10,000 lbs,
that it really made sense to get that gearing.
The 351 engine on our ford 3/4 ton was rebuilt and upgraded to a
410 or something like that, and I still feel it is underpowered at
times even pulling a light slant load and 3 horses, never mind about
adding a camper.
My dream truck (which would fulfill all requirements for towing and
also reasonable gas efficiency ) is a 5 sp. Dodge Ram 3500, club cab
1 ton with the Cummins Diesel engine! 4 wheel drive and probably
410 rear end.
After dealing with this ford for 4 years or so, I am NOT impressed.
However, my neighbor with 300,000 plus miles on her cummmins keeps
trucking along.....
Karen
To: ridecamp@endurance.net