Towing camper will 4:10 gears be better?

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shovelbill

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You will strain your entire drivetrain more with taller tires every time you take off from a stop. Running a taller tire effectively raises your final drive ratio, to where you're close to a 3.42 gear anyways. The engine will take more abuse from this than sustaining a few hundred more rpm's down the highway.

If you only change the rear tires for shorter height, you could be in trouble if you need 4wd, because you have different drive ratios front to back. Not good.

I have a half ton 4x4 suburban with a warmed up 350. I run 34" tires and 4.56 gears. This big beast of a SOB finally has some low end grunt with this combination. The truck gets moving sooo much easier than it did with 3.73's. The engine is much happier now. I drove this truck loaded with people and luggage from louisiana to NY all the way through the Appalachian mountains a couple months ago. Safe to say the minimum highway rpms were 2500, and at times sustained 2800+ for good distances. The engine is fine. Your imaginary not to exceed rpm limit is too low. Heck, the engine probably doesn't make peak torque until you're over 2500 anyways.

I say leave it be. Yes, you'll consume more fuel, but wouldn't that be the case with a 6.0 or a bigblock anyways? Look at it like this...how many tanks of fuel for towing in 3rd at 2500+ rpm's does a pair of gear swaps at $1800+ buy you? Or transmission rebuild by towing in OD?


look at the supposed torque curve of my HT383E.........this thing will pull overdrive at 40mph, it's barely at 2K. 2500 rpms is just fine.....hell, the 6.2 diesels like to run at 2600......and i'm going to 4:10's and a 285.......for how i drive it should be perfect.......remember......before the 700R4 in '82 there was no overdrive......and nobody blew **** up back then......if fuel economy is your primary prerequisite, buy a oil burner. remember also, piston speed translates to heat.....and a stroker will develope more heat than a corrosponding 350 because of the longer rod....the piston has to trael FARTHER in the same revolution. if 2500 is just dandy in a 383 there is absolutely no issue for you.........here;s my motors dyno chart for reference.

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find a good chart for your motor and gear it to ride the cam........the lowest rpm you can pull in OD without lugging or switching back and forth betwixt 3rd and 4th is your best mileage........gearing is king. in all applications you have to gear for the purpose of said vehicle.

here's another good piece of material:


[img id="yui_3_10_0_1_1464579446023_1742" src="http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/gallery/data/500/Gearing-Chart2.jpg" alt="Tire Ratio RPM Chart">
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remember to calculate the 70% overdrive if you use it.
 
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Supercharged111

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Where can I buy a good single pillar transmission temp guage and how hard are they to install?

I snagged an autometer 2 gauge A pillar pod from Summit for my wideband and trans temp gauge. Was super easy to install, I snagged some random Duplicolor interior paint from Napa that ended up being a perfect match. Just paint it and screw it to the existing trim piece, pop a couple of wiring holes and that's it.
 

kwslvdo96

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I ended up installing an autometer cobalt transmission gauge, I wasn't fond of drilling a hole in my pillar so I found a billet universal pod that worked great for me. And as far as rpm ive been towing my camper in 3rd gear running 65mph im around 2600rpm and it pulls it very well. My next upgrade will probably be installing a bigger transmission cooler because it seems to run 185 to 200 degrees while towing. And id like to get it down in the 170 to 180 range.
 

Supercharged111

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If you already have an auxiliary cooler stock, it shouldn't run that hot. Where'd you install the sensor? Does the converter unlock a lot?
 

Chewy1576

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My understanding is that an unlocked torque converter is what generates most of the heat because it is basically a fluid clutch. When the torque converter is unlocked, friction of the fluid flowing through the converter is where the heat is generated.

The reason for towing in third gear and not overdrive is to increase engine RPM so that there is sufficient power output from the motor to tow the load in a gear that will allow the torque converter to lock. If you can regear so that engine RPM increases to supply sufficient power output that will allow the torque converter to lock in OD, then theoretically that should work.
 

Supercharged111

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That's not why I regeared. We have yet to hear from the OP whether or not his TCC stays locked. Down at sea level with the 4L60, I had plenty of torque to pull open deck in OD.
 
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