All right all you truck mechanics, Wrenches, & Grease Monkey's

Do you know the exact model number of the 10 speed you have now? There are different final overdrive ratios, and if yours is like a .7 overdrive, giving you the huge rpm drop into the last gear, a tranny with a different final could help. I know the 13's have a couple different options.

 

Turning it up would help the lower range gears on a 13, but unless it improves your sweet spot you won't see a mileage gain.

That RPM does not sound like you currently have an overdriven setup.

Where is your motors sweet spot and what is your favorite cruising speed?

I think you want your top gear to put you in that range, especially if you run long miles in that range. Might pay for it's self or even make bank.

 

Hi Redd: Didnt read the complete thread, so maybe has been said, already? If you haul heavy or go off road, imo go for an 18 spd. I would never have anything else in a truck i own. Just because there are 18 doesnt mean they have to be used. When running light, skip gears, drive as a 9 speed, etc. When hauling heavy, or even when getting started on an uphill it is nice to be able to split the bottom gears...im sure most will argue, but my foolish way of looking at it...

 

Top is .73 and drop to .85.

 

RTL..Roadranger

O-overdrive

18-1800 ft. lbs. torque rating

9-9th design change

13-13 speed

A-A gear set

 

When I had my transmission rebuilt I asked the same thing, keep 10 speed or change to a 13 or 18. It would of been another $1000/$1500 all said and done to go to a 13 speed and I can't remember how much more it was going to be to go to an 18 speed so I just kept the 10 speed.

Keep in mind that some of the 13 speeds first gear is higher then what you have so that will have an affect on your clutch life in a negative way.

Truck Parts Specialist out of Memphis, Tn. is who replaced my transmission about 5 years ago. I think the final bill was around $3500 with a 12 month/ 100k warranty. They did mess up and forgot to put a key chuck in the clutch linkage so the clutch arm slipped once but they reimbursed me to have a mechanic come out with a key chuck. Nice folks and had the work done in about 1.5 days. Also Percission Gear out of Kansas City is really good at doing transmission work and have pretty good prices.

My advice, take it or leave it. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Save the few thousand bucks for when it really does need it, for buying a new truck, or paying down a currant loan. Like posted above, next time if weight and cost are not such an issue go with an 18 speed.

 

what about having your ecm reprogrammed to run to 2100 rpm's instead of 1850? that would give you the extra rpms needed to upshift without lugging engine.

 

I do not know what a ten speed low gear ratio is but an 18 it is 14.4 to one, I also recomend going all the way if you are going to change it.

 

FR 10-Speed Models

FRO-14210C, FRO-15210C
FRO-16210C

Gear
Ratio
Tenth
0.74
Ninth
1.00
Eighth
1.38
Seventh
1.90
Sixth
2.59
Fifth
3.62
Fourth
4.90
Third
6.75
Second
9.29
First
12.69




RTLO-18718B, RTLO-14918B
RTLO-16918B, RTLO-18918B
RTLO-20918B, RTLO-22918B
Gear
Ratio
Eighth H
0.73
Eighth L
0.86
Seventh H
1.00
Seventh L
1.17
Sixth H
1.38
Sixth L
1.62
Fifth H
1.95
Fifth L
2.29
Fourth H
2.73
Fourth L
3.20
Third H
3.74
Third L
4.38
Second H
5.16
Second L
6.05
First H
7.30
First L
8.56
Lo H
12.29
Lo L
14.40




RTLO-16713A, RTLO-18713A
RTLO-12913A, RTLO-14913A
RTLO-16913A, RTLO-18913A
RTLO-20913A
Gear
Ratio
Eighth H
0.73
Eighth L
0.86
Seventh H
1.00
Seventh L
1.17
Sixth H
1.38
Sixth L
1.62
Fifth H
1.95
Fifth L
2.29
Fourth
3.23
Third
4.43
Second
6.11
First
8.64
Low 1
12.31