looking to change my axle ratio

Our point exactly. Reason? because they don't believe it. Im guessing your being sarcastic, but what your saying is right. Aside from the fact that an 18 speed would do better on hills then a 10. If they made an 18 speed where the top gear was direct it would be a good setup. Unfortunately they don't. (which is why we keep comparing 10 to 10, since they do make a 10 speed with a direct top gear) You can however run an 18 and cruise in 16th, but then you loose startability. this is what cowpie does and it works well for him. if they made a dirrect 18, it would be just as good as a taller gear with an OD trans.

 

But all of the good "history" is already in this thread. I suppose I can move all these posts over there, but there are unintended consequences to doing that.

 

WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG!!! They need to spin SLOWER in direct. OD spins the output shaft faster. Direct lets it maintain its input speed.

 

But if an 18 running in direct (16th) is the same as a 10 direct running in 10th, whats the difference? Get the 18B, which has the lower initial gears for getting moving, and still have the top two for hauling the mail when needed.

And yes, I was being VERY sarcastic.

 

It can, but it competes exactly the same as a 10 speed overdrive. Simply having the choice between gears can make a huge difference with a heavy setup, you know that. With a 10 speed it can be a ##### finding the right gear, or grabbing the next one even on a slight incline. If you're a patient person a 10 speed is just fine.

 

Thats the problem, no one makes a 18 or 13 with a top gear of direct.

but, you can use a 13 or 18 in a direct setup. You just wont use the top 2 gears. this means you loose the bottom end and thus have a harder time getting off the line. Once off the line though, its all the same.

 

he just wants to absorb some of the glory power! one thing I have noticed is the circles in the talking say one thing one way then a little later it goes the other way. never drove on paper just asphalt. i'll keep doing it the asphalt way.

 

that set up would certainly work, but your low gear would still be higher then that same trans coupled with a taller rear. How often do you use low? In an 18 with a 2.64, your low becomes 1st and you loose low

 

It's not about engineering, it's about customer demand. Wal-Mart, Schneider, and Maverick spec their trucks almost exclusively with direct setups.

Also many O/Os want big power and 13/18 speeds. That means 2.64s are out of the window.

 

cowpie specked his with an 18...you can do it, just need to understand you use low as first gear and you have no super low gear.