The first time I was an o/o I knew nothing and lost my a--, I have 10 grand now and constantly saving and need to gather an education along the way .--- My favorite tranny is an 13 speed and engine is a 12.7 500 h.p., I live in new mexico and plan on running the 11 western. # 1; what is the story on gears in the rear end. the difference between 3:56, and 2:73 rears. # 2 with a 500 and a 13, running the west what would be a good combination for the hills and open flats.

 

OK, don't ask me why I stated things that don't relate to my question, I must have been on some brain trip or something. My question is; what would be a good tranny and rear end gearing combination for running the west, I-40, I-10 ca. to texas. I plan on buying a used truck and the h.p. would be 430-500, thinking about fuel and hill pulling power. Maybe I can't have both, I don,t know, maybe I should not worry about the hills since they would only be the grapevine, cajon, tehapchapi(sp), flag from phoenix, and maybe raton.

 

The locals here run mostly 3.90s & 4.11s (OTR)... 2.73s are pretty short? --- are you looking to go fast? Keep in mind the recommended highway rpm the power plant wants... that'll select your axle ratio for you.

 

I hear a whole lot of talk about engines and gear ratios. I've got an N-14 with a 10-speed (I'd rather a 13, but the truck only came with a 10) and 3:42 rears. Here's what my stats look like from the last week of Nov to present.

Total miles: 7923
Total gallons: 1165.008
Total cost: 2895.31
Average miles/gallon: 6.80
Average cost/gallon: 2.485
Average cost/mile: 0.365

And, I get to run the mountains at BOTH ends of the country. With that ratio, I have NO PROBLEM pulling grades when grossing up to 79,320. Do you need to go any heavier than that? I also run at 70 mph most of the time. That's only 1,400 on my tach. If you're getting into HEAVY HAUL, then go with 3:90 or 4:11 gears.

 

I obviously will have to change my driving habits, because now driving for a small co. hauling produce back to albuquerque, I can't get there fast enough. The schedule is more than tight, I run 80 on cruise all the time and as fast as I can get away with in ca. When I buy my own I guess 75 would be fast enough and after I pay my own fuel that will probably drop, also. I appreciate the reply's, I am after more knowledge than I have, I remember driving a 470 with a 10 sp. with I think it was 3.53's and with 79 thou. it ran up the hills. Thanks for the reply's.