Gears vs. Mileage

I travel between locations in south Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas, and Alabama. The stretch in Texas is mostly 75 mph, but 75 will get you run over. 80-85 steady cruising is my goal, and doing it in comfort and style is important.

Thanks for the input.
 
bodabdan said:
I travel between locations in south Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas, and Alabama. The stretch in Texas is mostly 75 mph, but 75 will get you run over. 80-85 steady cruising is my goal, and doing it in comfort and style is important.

Thanks for the input.
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If you are going to be on the highway mostly doing 80+, then, IMO, the 4.10's might be a little much. I don't do a lot of highway driving, so the gears don't bother me. When I am on the highway, I keep it under 75mph and the gas mileage is pretty much what everyone else has said. I just wouldn't like the engine running 2800+ rpm for long trips.

Like 1 Bad Merc said, stay with the 3.55's and see how you like it. If you need some more SOTP thrill, then look at a gear swap. I don't think going up 1 gear size would make a huge difference. Maybe a 3.90 gear swap would be a good compromise?
 
I lost almost 2-3mpg in my commute. In my 04, stock gears, averaged 18-19mpg. In my 03, with 4.10's, I a stage around 16. Straight highway I only get a out 21 at 72-75mph. I do drive with California gas .... Which I know means I get less per gallon than anywhere else in this country.

The 4.10's are phenomenal. I like the off the line get up and go.
 
@bodabdan
Just do the damn gear swap.
You WONT regret it, makes it feel like the car just woke up from hibernation. If the swap wasnt worth it there would not be so many ppl telling u to do it..... DO YOU TRUST US?......
 
Keep the 3.55s for highway and install long tube headers with a SW exhaust and a tune for that SOTP Improvement while improving economy, power and engine life.
 
FYI I did a high speed cruise at 90mph for a few hours 2 years ago through the Nevada/Utah deserts and nailed 23mpg on the dot. Its around 3000rpm.

While RPM has a factor in MPG, LOAD has a more significant factor.

These cars have HUGE tires and soak up 4.10's. I had 3.73's once and felt like they weren't enough gear. So next car I did 4.10's. If my Marauder was my gofast/toy car It would have 4.30's without a doubt. We had 4.30's in our 01' Cobra (shorter tires too) and my wife daily drove that for 3 years. Before the E10 fuel came out that car would get around 26mpg highway even buzzing along at 3k @ 75.

I don't get how people say they LOST MPG in the city? I picked up a ton going to 4.10's. Are you guys driving at 2000+RPM with OD locked out?
 
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I don't think there is one person who regretted installing 4.10's.

Your RPM's will increase by about 200 when you are at cruising speed. The extra RPM's will not affect the wear in the engine.

You will not need a new drive shaft with the 4.10's unless you do sustained speeds at 120+.

You will lose 1-2 MPG.

The Marauder was designed to run 4.10's but had to go with 3.55's the help meet CAFE.

JUST DO IT!!!
 
Not to be funny but will 4:10's in my 2v 2002 GMQ be worth it and will it need a tune.. What gear is in my 2002
 
How can u tell if u have 4.10s. Picked up my MM in Nov last year. In great shape came with flo-masters. Dont no if this will help but cruising bout 75 my rpm are at 2600
 
redmercy04 said:
How can u tell if u have 4.10s. Picked up my MM in Nov last year. In great shape came with flo-masters. Dont no if this will help but cruising bout 75 my rpm are at 2600
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Turn the rear tire by hand one complete turn, if you have 4:10s the drive shaft will turn 4.1 times.
 
redmercy04 said:
How can u tell if u have 4.10s. Picked up my MM in Nov last year. In great shape came with flo-masters. Dont no if this will help but cruising bout 75 my rpm are at 2600
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That is right for 4.10's. You can either move the wheels and look the drive shaft or use a GPS and compare your mph and RPM using a gear calculator.
 
When I was automatic I got 19.8 w/4.30's driving very easy at 80 except for 2 or 3 WOT blasts. Don't recall the RPMS.


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"
 
GODFATHER said:
Not to be funny but will 4:10's in my 2v 2002 GMQ be worth it and will it need a tune.. What gear is in my 2002
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Your GMQ has either 2.73 or 3.27...look on the door sticker for the axle code, or check the tag on the differential cover.

The 2V doesn't respond to higher gear ratios as well as the 4V...installing 4.10s in a stock GMQ is not ideal...3.73 is about as high as you should go and is equivalent to 4.10s in a Marauder, but I would only install 3.73s if most of your driving is around town. Also, your fuel economy will suck on the highway. 3.55 is considered the best all-around ratio for a CV or GM.
 
RF Overlord said:
Your GMQ has either 2.73 or 3.27...look on the door sticker for the axle code, or check the tag on the differential cover.

The 2V doesn't respond to higher gear ratios as well as the 4V...installing 4.10s in a stock GMQ is not ideal...3.73 is about as high as you should go and is equivalent to 4.10s in a Marauder, but I would only install 3.73s if most of your driving is around town. Also, your fuel economy will suck on the highway. 3.55 is considered the best all-around ratio for a CV or GM.
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I had 3:73 's in my 03 v8 [p code 2v eight ] mountaineer /the wagon was quick and it delivered 15 city and 18 Hi way ; it later had transfer case issues and was sold .138;000 miles ,it will be missed [marauder pipes included ] correction [ magna flo marauder knock off pipes ]
 
Alright, new guy here. Seriously looking into a MM with 62k miles for around 11.5k. It's had a few things done to it. When current owner bought from previous owner, it had 4.10 gears in it. Current owner is an older guy that didn't want off the line kick, so he had 3.23 gears installed instead of stock 3.55 :(
He also said that the speedo is off which means it was never tuned for 3.23s. It also has 255 rear tires which further messes with odometer readings (I think?).

Well, he said he would give me the 4.10 gears with the purchase, and another positive is that he said he had the axles replaced during the swap. Now I'm just stuck wondering if I should go find/trade for 3.55s, install and get a lidio tune OR just use the 4.10s I have, install them and get the lidio tune for that ratio. I KNOW I KNOW, most of you will tell me to go with 4.10 and never look back ;)
But, I'm lookin for better fuel economy and since I will be puttin the good juice in it (89-93), I need to make sure I'm makin the right choice with the greenbacks. I don't wanna drop the dime for one swap and then figure out it wasn't the best choice.

This would be a DD with a 60 mile round trip commute, highway 65%/city 35%. I have no problem with being a lightweight on the pedal. I usually go 65 on the highway and around 40-50 in city driving.

I'm sorry for the long winded post. Any/all help is appreciated. This would be so much easier if it had the stock 3.55s in it :(
 
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