Gears are Ordered

[FlatbedHemi]

I just got off the phone with the off-road shop and they are ordering my gears today. Looks like Im actually going through with this 4.88 swap.

I put a few hundred miles on her this weekend and according to the EVIC I got 16.3 MPG at 70-75mph. On a normal week driving back and forth to work, I average about 14 driving the same speeds, but thats not just cruising and the terrain is a little more rolling than I was on this weekend. I know I can get 14mph easily around here, because I ran it in 5th gear for a while and got the same milage in 5th as I did in 6th. I know I dont drive a Prius, but I still like the idea of getting in the high teens on long tips. Im a little concerned about what its gonna do to my fuel mileage on trips like what I took over the weekend, but obviously not enough to keep me from doing the swap.

It is what it is I guess. Looking forward to seeing what she'll do when I get it back. She is scheduled to go in for the swap first thing Wednesday morning, and I should get it back Friday evening. Just had to share.

 

[S0CAL]

Very nice. Where in TX are ya, and which shop is going to do the work?

 

[FlatbedHemi]

Very nice. Where in TX are ya, and which shop is going to do the work?

I am having Dynamic Customs in Lufkin do the swap for me. I have some friends that have had them do swaps on Jeeps and stuff and they highly recommended them.

 

[Ribtipram]

If you dont mind me asking whats the price on the swap. Im looking to do something like this. Gonna be bad ass with 4.88's for ya

 

[FlatbedHemi]

$3138 and some change for the swap, out the door. After 500 miles I have to bring it back for an inspection and fluid change, which should run $60+ depending if I go with conventional gear oil or synthetic.

The labor on the invoice is only $550 per axel for the install and setup. They also do the initial 20 mile breakin cycles for me, so all I have to do is get in and drive it home.

 

[Ribtipram]

Kick ass keep us posted. You should be able to tow anything and run some big **** over.

 

[FlatbedHemi]

Dropped off today, and she goes under the wrench tomorrow. Should have it back by Friday afternoon.

 

[22hemi13]

. <<<< that’s me saving a spot lol

 

[RoadRamblerNJ]

I'm Jealous!
Can't do mine while unemployed. Waiting for Soc Sec to make a determination = NO $$.

 

[68PowerWagon]

Tell us how it goes. I am planning on doing 4.56 to mine with my Christmas bonus. Only have the 3.73's now so this should really help me pull my new to me 5th wheel. I ordered my truck & when I speced it out I was only pulling a 4,500lb boat & the occasional 4-5,000 lbs. on my utility trailer. Really didn't even need a 2500 but I wanted to have a little more than I really needed. 3 years later & here I am ordering tow mirrors, air bags, & re-gearing. Still kicking myself in the rear for not at least getting the 4.10's. For just over a $100 it should have been a no brainer! I doubt I would be re-gearing if I already had those but as everyone says on here, if you are going to go through the hassle of re-gearing you might as well do the 4.56 or 4.88's. Moving up to a Cummins would be the ideal situation but trucks have gone up so much since I bought mine that I can't afford to do that right now.

 

[FlatbedHemi]

Tell us how it goes. I am planning on doing 4.56 to mine with my Christmas bonus. Only have the 3.73's now so this should really help me pull my new to me 5th wheel. I ordered my truck & when I speced it out I was only pulling a 4,500lb boat & the occasional 4-5,000 lbs. on my utility trailer. Really didn't even need a 2500 but I wanted to have a little more than I really needed. 3 years later & here I am ordering tow mirrors, air bags, & re-gearing. Still kicking myself in the rear for not at least getting the 4.10's. For just over a $100 it should have been a no brainer! I doubt I would be re-gearing if I already had those but as everyone says on here, if you are going to go through the hassle of re-gearing you might as well do the 4.56 or 4.88's. Moving up to a Cummins would be the ideal situation but trucks have gone up so much since I bought mine that I can't afford to do that right now.

I dont tow much, and when I do the 3.73s are adequate for most of what I tow (20-24' cattle trailer, 40hp tractor, etc). Adequate being the key word as many times I find myself towing in 4th gear rolling 3K RPM, but where I live the 3.73s are also constantly causing the truck to downshift when trying to maintain highway speeds unloaded. I also did a lot of driving in 5th just to see what the 4.88s would feel like cruising, and I think the RPM and MPG according to the EVIC is acceptable. I never hand calculate any more so EVIC is good enough for comparison. I could have probably gotten away with the 4.56s, and I debated long and hard about 4.56s, but ultimately decided that the 150 RPM difference wouldnt matter much in the grand scheme of fuel mileage, so I ordered the 4.88s. I have been second guessing myself ever since, but Im past the point of no return so it is what it is. The extra power will be nice, and since Im on track to have it paid off by the end of the year, then it wont really matter what the mileage is because Ill have and extra $400 each month to pay for fuel.

 

[FlatbedHemi]

Well, DAMN!

Just got an email from my mechanic stating that when they cracked my diff cover off, the oil was full of water. WTH!!! Kinda wondering now how long its bee like that. Waiting to hear back on how much thats gonna tack on and how far back its gonna set me.

 

[FlatbedHemi]

Mechanic says it will be another $288 to strip and clean the rear axel, and replace the seals. I guess its a good thing they caught it before it failed on me from overheating.

 

[allenmp]

I have about 10k miles on my 4.88's now
Very happy i did the swap

 

[FlatbedHemi]

Ive got it figured out that I can get the 500 mile breaking done next week, have the inspection and fluid change on Friday, and then Saturday I have to haul a heifer home from the breeder (about 200 miles round trip), so I will get an opportunity to see what she will do with some weight behind her. Getting excited about getting her back today. So tired of driving this Kia.

 

[FlatbedHemi]

I have about 10k miles on my 4.88's now
Very happy i did the swap

Did you ever have to do anything to the programming to compensate for the gears? I know the speedo works, but what about the transmission? Does it need to be reprogrammed to adjust the shift points?

 

[allenmp]

Did you ever have to do anything to the programming to compensate for the gears? I know the speedo works, but what about the transmission? Does it need to be reprogrammed to adjust the shift points?

Nope no programming just dropped it off and picked it up when they were done.
Curious. What gears you using i used nitro

 

[FlatbedHemi]

Nope no programming just dropped it off and picked it up when they were done.
Curious. What gears you using i used nitro

Picked mine up this evening. The shop I used went with Yukons. They’re specifically AAM cut and run smooth as butter. Cant hear anything over the tires. The pickup seems a little slower and steadier than the 3.73s, but Im taking it easier than normal to adjust to the new characteristics and for break-in. I have noticed that it just moves so much easier. The ride home was about 60 miles and it never once downshifted out of 6th while cruising, even on hills. The EVIC fuel mileage readout says I got 15 on the drive home with some mixed highway (70-75) and small town (45-55) driving. I figure it should get around 14 on my daily commute, which is what I got with the 3.73s, but only time will tell.

Did you notice any difference in mileage as the gears started wearing in more?

Did you get standard 80-140 or did you go synthetic?

 

[S0CAL]

Picked mine up this evening. The shop I used went with Yukons. They’re specifically AAM cut and run smooth as butter. Cant hear anything over the tires. The pickup seems a little slower and steadier than the 3.73s, but Im taking it easier than normal to adjust to the new characteristics and for break-in. I have noticed that it just moves so much easier. The ride home was about 60 miles and it never once downshifted out of 6th while cruising, even on hills. The EVIC fuel mileage readout says I got 15 on the drive home with some mixed highway (70-75) and small town (45-55) driving. I figure it should get around 14 on my daily commute, which is what I got with the 3.73s, but only time will tell.

Did you notice any difference in mileage as the gears started wearing in more?

Did you get standard 80-140 or did you go synthetic?

I think you nailed it. It's like a new truck, amiright? Regearing is the gift that keeps on giving. Looking forward to hearing your post-500 mile update.

 

[allenmp]

Picked mine up this evening. The shop I used went with Yukons. They’re specifically AAM cut and run smooth as butter. Cant hear anything over the tires. The pickup seems a little slower and steadier than the 3.73s, but Im taking it easier than normal to adjust to the new characteristics and for break-in. I have noticed that it just moves so much easier. The ride home was about 60 miles and it never once downshifted out of 6th while cruising, even on hills. The EVIC fuel mileage readout says I got 15 on the drive home with some mixed highway (70-75) and small town (45-55) driving. I figure it should get around 14 on my daily commute, which is what I got with the 3.73s, but only time will tell.

Did you notice any difference in mileage as the gears started wearing in more?

Did you get standard 80-140 or did you go synthetic?

With the 4.88 i see about the same mileage maybe a touch better. It seems like about 70 to 75 it starts declining big time but most of my driving is 65 to 70 in town is where it really seems to help its not constantly shifting
I bought a case of the nitro synthetic gear oil and they put it in after the swap and at the break in.
I thought the same when mine was done almost didn't feel a difference but i was taking it very easy. On the nitro gears there was also a trailer pulling break in.
Once i was completely done and not taking it easy anymore i really noticed the difference. A lot
Now I'm used to them and not testing them lol my fuel mileage is anywhere from 14.5 to 16
Pending off if i stay at or below that 70mph
I pull a 24 foot enclosed trailer and noticed small things like it will move it into my driveway now with little to no throttle input which is really nice when backing in.
With the 3.73 i would have to give it a little then slam on the breaks lol
If your experience is like mine and your getting used to then and not afraid of breaking new gears
You'll really notice the difference after break in
I took it exactly by procedure from nitro in order not to void the warranty