2014 Ultimate 1 Ton Challenge results

AH64ID wrote:
Typo on power, should have said torque.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:


Next time dyno your car in 2nd or 3rd gear and then 1 to 1 and see which makes more "power" then come back here and tell all of us of your results. Read post #10 if you want to know the story without doing anything.

Finding a dyno that allows for full power in 2nd or 3rd is very difficult, even the loaded dyno's don't generally have enough load. This is why higher gears make more power, especially on turbo motors.

I am well aware of how it works, but nonetheless your link doesn't work.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
My point being of all of this is:
In the old days of 3 speed autos and 4 speed manuals with 200 HP at the rear wheels it made a BIG difference in the rear gear we chose. Now days with 6 speeds+ and huge HP, rear end gear picking is almost out of the equation.

It still makes a difference, look at tow ratings in 3.42 vs 4.10.

Anyway you cut it gear for gear there is more available rear wheel torque with lower gearing.

Yes more gears will help, i.e. 9812V and his 3.42's, but he is also going with 4.10's on his next truck.

Most older 4 speed manuals did not have an OD, so 1-4 where similar to 1-4 on a modern 6 speed diesel. 3 speed auto's also didn't have OD, but the 1 extra gear between 1 and direct is great for towing.

Low speed is where the lower gearing really shines, the added wheel torque does get the load moving easier. In these tests from a stop that would have improved any of the trucks times, and one reason the Ford did so well (lowest overall gearing).

Ram's 0-60 and 1/4 mile times would certainly have been noticeably better with 4.10's over 3.73's. It's hard to say that it would be negligible.

These trucks are not designed for drag racing. 4.10 rear gears would put more torque to the rear axle but if the tires lack the traction to turn that into acceleration it's not going to buy you anything anyway. Chevy understands how different rear end ratio's are not all that important anymore, now that we have 6 speed transmissions. So, they save their customers all the confusion. Ford decides for you with their F450 and F350 dually. The idea is this: You are towing your trailer down the highway at 60 mph and hit a hill; say the hill is that steep that your engine only has enough power to pull it at 50 mph. The truck will slow down. If at 50 mph your engine can run at the rpm where it makes peak HP you had the perfect gears for that hill. Next hill maybe a little different gear ratio would have been better.