just got new rear end 5.57?

[adamanderr]

so i just delivered my new wheels and axle housing. and it turned out to be a spicer witha 5.57 ratio. i had an old 6.5 or 650:1. did i just buy the same problem over again? or is this a good ratio? we had been talking about how a 4.44 would be most desireable
thanks

[lapeer20m]

if you had a 6.5 before, then a 5.57 is a step in the right direction, but still not that desirable. I've had that rear end in 2 buses, and really wish i had a better rear, like a 4.44. i don't think you would want to go any more conservative than 4.10.....if you had a 3.73 for intance, depending on the powertrain your engien probably wouldn't produce enough torque to drive the bus down the road in top gear.

if i were gonna change out a rear end, i'd work hard to find a ratio between 4.10 and 4.44.

my bus with 5.56 was getting 6.5 mpg when phill with 4.44 ratio and the same size bus and same size engine was getting 10-12 mpg when we went on a trip together. It wouldn't take long to pay for the better gear ratio....especially with fuel above $4/gallon

[sportyrick]

That ratio will be better than you think. Give it a try and let us know what you think. You don't want to go too high or you will lose power to the point that you won't be able to climb a hill and do 100 MPH down the other side. Your 6.5 would be better than my 6.83, is it a spicer? I am not interested in changing my whole housing, just the pumpkin. Everything is a compromise. sportyrick

[wmah]

I had mine changed from 5.57 to 4.33. I gained about 2 mpg. If I wanted to gain more I think I would need a turbo on this 7.3 to give it more kick. On the flats it does alright right now but once I hit a steep hill going up it does slow down to the point where people pass me to get in front of me and then I have to re pass them on the down side. I can run 75 down hill without my foot to the floor. Ideally I like it at around 55 to help safe fuel money. My top speed before was around 57.