Actually

A = rotations of the drive shaft
B = rotation of the wheel

3.42:1 equals 3.42 turns of the drive shaft to 1 turn of the wheel
4.10:1 equals 4.1 turns of the drive shaft to 1 turn of the wheel. It takes less engine torque to turn the wheels and therefore acceleration out of the hole is faster and you are into the engines power zone faster especially in first gear. You can tow higher loads more easily as well. Gas mileage may improve around town because it takes less power to accelerate and you will get to cruising speeds faster. Mileage on the highway will likely go down a little because you will be turning higher revs to maintain the same highway speed.

 

so by me getting 3.73's INSTEAD of my stock 3.42's I will make a huge difference in performance on the streets and gas mileage will go up in town.. at the sacrifice of performance/gas mileage on the highway correct?

 

I have never done a gear change so I cannot answer your specific questions but I don't think that your highway performance will go down but I think your mileage will suffer a little. I think I would look at 4.10s if it were me but I am already driving 3.73. Ask yourself what your goals are. There are tons of posts on gear changes so do a search and dig into it and the answers to your questions will come to light and you will be better informed to make a decision.

The increase from 3.42s to 3.73s is only 10% and I am sure that you will hardly be able to notice it through the seat of your pants. Maybe someone who has done a change will jump in with more personal experience.

Good luck with it.

 

I agree with Mort on both counts. Go for the 4.10's not the 3.73's as it will probably leave you wondering why you didn't do the 4.10's to begin with. And your highway performance I would think would be the same or better with higher gears it's just your top speed will be a lot less. They are geared for over 150mph, I heard once it's 170 if you just go by gearing and nothing else but our trucks have a limiter and if you take that off drag will come into effect. Going to a bigger gear will drop your top speed, something you'll never approach anyways.
Maybe someone can figure out what the new top speed would be with 4.10 gears??

 

AWESOME!!! I didn't take THAT into account..


ok so check it out... I had the limiter taken off but I'm probably gonna get it put back on. Cause I don't really care for going that fast. Not worth the trouble if you ask me..

so if I get that limiter (98) put back on... and get 4.10's put on in the back.. my performance all around will probably improve (especially on the streets/strip). But my gas mileage will go down by about how much? noticeably?? even if I only go between 65-75?

I don't really get on the highway all that much. Maybe.. once every few weeks I'll hit the highway to get somewhere..

 

I've heard 2-3 mpg, no actualy experience though. Figure, add another 300rpm's to your cruising speed right now.

 

I currently have 4.10's in my truck and love them. However, on the highway I only get around 18mpg at 70mph and 2200rpm and about 16mpg in town.

 

It's 143mph, then you driveshaft snaps.

 

 

At least you can have a sense of humor about all this! I'm getting some loops installed thanks to you. I have a drive shaft in the future planned but in case it happens before hand...!