[JUeckert]

Originally Posted by CTD12V

Well, that's true. I had forgotten about that aspect. The company truck I drive for work is an F-550 7.3L with the 6-speed, but it has a 4.88 axle ratio, so that makes a big difference. I agree about the pathetic lack of low end torque with higher axle ratios. I remember when the Ford 6-speed first came out, the ranch I used to work at got one in an F-350 PSD, and the foreman was always killing it in the driveway because he was used to driving the ranch truck with the Cummins. Another rancher I talked to said his guys were always having to put them in 4-Low out in the pasture because they would stall out trying to cross ditches, etc.

with the 4.88 gears and the tall 19.5 rubber the trucks running[likely], you are loosing some of the 4.88 ratio. the biggest issue i have seen with folks driveing the 6spd equipped fords, was the gear they chose to take off in. most take off in the gear marked as second[ 2] , this is actually 3rd gear. this is generally ok to do, unless the truck is trailering, or just plain heavy. i launch very heavy trailers on a weekly basis useing first [ marked as low] and second [marked as 1] , with zero issues. early powerstrokes and other ford diesels with 5spd's[ pre 96] had crappy manuals , which did not have low granny type gears, gm and dodge manuals did. i hear talk about no low end trq on the v8 diesel's, this is hog wash! if the low end trq is so much better on the dodge, then why do i [ and many others] have/had so many issues backing heavy trailers with them. i have had little or no issues with the manual equipped fords/gm's. it's not the engine folks, it the tranny's gear ratio's.......