Hi all, long time prowler, first time really posting! I own a 1959 ford F250 flatbed and had some question about the gearing. currently my top speed is around 50 and that's pushing it. i've been reading around and it seems i can change my axle gears to get a little more speed and drop the rpm's. i had a few specific questions i cant find.

First off, my rig has a DANA 60 rear end and 4 speed tranny connected to an original un-modified 292 y-block. It seems i can find gear ratios all the way down to 3:54, but my question is, will they all fit? they made these axles for quite a while so will any DANA 60 ring gear and pinion bolt in to any year axle? My axle seems to have never been touched, it still has the metal tag bolted to the cover. What have you guys done in your rigs? what can i expect going down to a 3:54? can i still take off in 2nd? will i be able to cruise comfortably at highway speeds (65-70)? Thanks a bunch guys!!! and heres a picture of my baby, i'm 17 and started restoring her over the summer. She's my first vehicle ever, and i did all the work my self, including body and paint. Maybe i'll do a write up on it as i have a ton of pictures

 

Shane,welcome to FTE.I did exactly as you're proposing,going from the 4.56: 1 to 3.54:1.It made a world of difference for highway driving,though I lost a bit of low-end torque.I had mine done ,did not do it myself.It should be the very next upgrade you do,in my opinion,you will not regret it.Again,I'm impressed that you painted your truck yourself,wish I had the skills (and a place to do it).

You will still be able to take off in 2nd.However,after the change,I now have to pull many more hills in 3rd as opposed to staying in 4th, than with the old gearing.

 

Wow, That's a beautiful truck! I'm sure your family is very proud of your accomplishment. I put a sterling 10 1/4" axle under my 59 F350. It's a 4:11 and with my little 223 six, I can't really start off in second, ok maybe downhill. I can however go 70. The axle came from a 92 f350 dually pickup and we can assume that did 70 quite well. So to give my .02, I would say with your 292 that the 4:11 ratio would be a good choice if you still want to haul heavy stuff on that flatbed. Tire diameter affects things too and I had a formula in a book once that gave rpm @60 mph. It takes things like tire dia x 3.14 x axle ratio divided by 5280 or something , anyways I was terribly bored with math as a kid so am challenged by it at 58. I'm sure someone can direct you to a site that has it. You will then know what your rpms will be at 60 mph. Good luck and welcome to the fridge community.

 

I dont plan on hauling anything to heavy, a couple dirt bikes now and then, some garbage, furniture, stuff like that. I'd like to get it so i can do freeway speeds comfortably (not reving the heck out of the motor) and get a little more fuel economy out of it. I'm going to college soon and this is my only vehicle so i'd like to be able to drive to and from college on the highway. ibuzzard, so you're able to do freeway speeds with that change? pretty comfortably? do you have a little extra power (for passing big rigs and such)? How much did you pay to have it done? probably more then i can afford haha. I plan on tackling it myself.... What about your spedometer? changing the axle ratios changes the spedo ratios right?

 

Assuming your motor is not too tired,you'll have all the power you'll need for your stated purposes.I normally drive like a grandpa,but that's because I'm after max MPG.I can easily do whatever is necessarily at highway speeds.Cost me under 400.00 3-4 years ago ,done by a reputable truck repair shop who does many of these jobs.Will likely be less in your area.I advise having it done by someone who does that type of work on a daily basis.

 

is that labor? because the parts seem to be around 200-300 alone.... Am i just able to swap out the gears without having to deal with the bearings and chanaging the shims and adjusting backlash and what not? pull it out, replace gears and put back in? that would be ideal haha

 

That was parts and labor, but 3-4 years ago.Those type of shops have shelves of gear-sets they buy in bulk.I would never dream of trying to do it myself at those prices.In and out in less than a day,an easy job for them.Drive down this way ,let San Jose Truck do the job.Bring your spray equipment,you can take care of my truck while you wait!

 

To change the gears its more than just unbolting them and putting new ones in. When you have the reared pulled apart you should replace all the bearings anyway plus theyou axle bearingsor and a standard rebuild kit come with all of them ans the shims you need. But in order to do the bearings you need a press plus you change the pinion gear which does come with the bearing on it. Im building a nine inch right now to put in my 59

 

Sorry for some of the spelling im using my phone

 

i still havnt got around to hitting up the local shops yet for a price quote, but ill probably do that eventually. I was hoping i could by a used ring set and just throw it on the carrier i have and bolt it back together. Does anyone have specs on dana60 from this era? looking online theres many different options for splines numbers, carriers, etc. I installed a tach and this thing is way too low geared. At 40mph im running 2500 rpm. Yikes! 2nds good till 20, 3rd till 30, and 4th likes the south side of 50mph. Given my budget, it may be easier to buy a dana 60 with lower gears in it and swap it out. What years can i just bolt up another dana? apparently they used the dana 60 up into the 90's but im sure the brakets are different. Also, are the 3/4 leaf springs the same for any other years? its 2wd. I have broken ones on the front that ive been driving on and i should replace them soon. I can order leafs for the f100, but cant find anything on an f250. thanks.

 

3.54-1 Dana 60 ratio not available until 1966. Everyone wants one, few find them. Most Dana 60's have either the 3.73-1 or 4.10-1 ratios. 3.07-1 & 3.23-1 ratios introduced in 1980. Lotsa luck finding either used.