SM105K's SHO BIBLE/BUILDS/LIFE

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SM105K

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So it is done and dusted. For what came out of me, looked like pepper. I feel 100% better and the exit wasn't too bad. -10 of 10, would not recommend. I have a ton of stuff to catch up, including all of the stuff with the truck. Let me get back on my feet, and I will start posting again soon.
 

kryptto

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Good to hear but yiu
So it is done and dusted. For what came out of me, looked like pepper. I feel 100% better and the exit wasn't too bad. -10 of 10, would not recommend. I have a ton of stuff to catch up, including all of the stuff with the truck. Let me get back on my feet, and I will start posting again soon.
Great to hear but you will be feeling it for a while for sure. The nerve being triggered constantly causes ghost pain for a spell. Take your time and drink lots of reverse osmosis, distilled water for a while like 48-64 oz
 

SM105K

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Thinking we need to change this threads name. "SM105Ks ownership and maintenance thread for SHOs and life" or "SM105Ks SHO Bible and coffee talk"

Haven't had kidney stones yet, had a gallbladder removed that the surgeon said "was completely full of spikey marbles" day later got hit with a hurricane and ripped my stitches doing a carb swap on my generator in 50mph winds lol.

When are we getting the captains log tapes?!? Or at least a nasty burn out video from Betty.
Took what you said, and did it.
 

SM105K

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So I am pretty much healthy again. I have a ton of past information and posts about installs and other stuff. I will get to those soon.

F450 Update: However, I have made a pretty big modification. I have been driving the truck quite a bit, and it is amazing around town. However, when you get on the freeway it is terrible. The 4.88 rear gear on the highway is terrible. The 7.3 Powerstroke has a redline of 3200 rpm. At 65 miles per hour, the truck is turning 2400 rpm. At 65 mph, I am getting passed by fully loaded semis. To run 75 mph I have to spin her up to 2800 rpm. When my Uncle bought the truck as a cab and chassis, he needed a truck that could pull a house. It never really left his business area, so there wasn't a need for freeway gearing. Even when he added the camper, the most he would drive would be about 4 hours. So it didn't bother him. It bothers me.


488spicerpartscom

So yesterday I took Betty to Arizona Differential. After talking to my buddies with diesels, looking at future travel plans, and what my plans for the truck....I decided that I wanted to switch the 4.88's for a more freeway friendly 3.73. I did dwell on a 4.10's as well, but with all the freeway miles I am going to put on the truck I think the 3.73's will be better in the long run. A couple of reasons for this. Now I can run 75 mph on the freeway at 2100 rpm. So I will have gained 10 mph, and dropped 300 rpm. Sounds great in my book. Probably get a bit better gas mileage on the freeway as well.
373spicerpartscom
I do realize around town, it could be a bit slower stop light to stop light...but I don't care. I don't really hot dog it anyway, considering the size of the truck, there really isn't any need to actually do it. I do realize that my absolute max towing will now decrease as well down from 26,000 lbs. However to be honest, I don't believe I would ever pull 26k behind this truck anyway. I think I figured fully loaded with all my equipment it would be under 20K. So yeah, this should be interesting to say the least.
 

SM105K

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Now I did flirt with a getting a Gear Vendors Overdrive. The price, the concept, and the install really perked my interest. It would have actually been my first choice instead of doing a rear gear swap. However, Gear Vendors are adamant that you cannot tow anything while the unit is in overdrive, and I am pretty sure they would know if you did.

Gratiogearvendorscom

That 100% completely negates the whole reason why I would install the Gear Vendors. I would not be able use it loaded or towing. Which would be the whole reason why would need one. I could run it Double Over on the freeway unloaded/not towing and it would be really close to the actual 3.73 O/D verse the 4.88 Double Over.

So 5k for the GV with limited use, or $1250-1450 for a rear gear swap that I can use all the time. It really wasn't a hard decision.
 

SM105K

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F450 Update: Just got the truck back from Arizona Differential. Wow what a difference. The truck is completely different. Going down the freeway is actually really nice now. Lower rpm, higher speed.

I did do some mixed driving before the swap and with the 4.88's and it was averaging right at 11 mpg. So it should be interesting to see how the new gears effect MPG.

Overall, super happy with the new gearing.
 

Texas Marauder

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F450 Update: Just got the truck back from Arizona Differential. Wow what a difference. The truck is completely different. Going down the freeway is actually really nice now. Lower rpm, higher speed.

I did do some mixed driving before the swap and with the 4.88's and it was averaging right at 11 mpg. So it should be interesting to see how the new gears effect MPG.

Overall, super happy with the new gearing.
IMO, 3.73 is the perfect gear for your application. Your MPG should increase by 40-50% or more.
 
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IMO, 3.73 is the perfect gear for your application. Your MPG should increase by 40-50% or more.
I think a 3.73 is pretty well rounded for most applications, my mustang and my truck both have 3.73s and im getting 14 combined and 18 on the highway in the truck(5.4 3 valve) but my mustang was getting close to 25 when it was on the road (swapped in 3.73 from a 2.73, talk about lonnnnng legs)

Im gonna guess you average 13 and can squeeze out 17 on the highway
 

SM105K

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F450 Update - Well......I was driving down the freeway and something wasn't right. At 2000 rpm my truck was sitting at 65 miles per hour.......buy my calculations and by the transmission Ratio RPM Calculator, it says 4.10's were put in my truck.

410spicerpartscom

I double checked it, and put the truck into 3rd gear (1:1 ratio) and at @2400 rpm the calculator says I should be doing 55 mph.....

410 2400 spicerpartscom

The truck was doing 55 mph. Two confirmed speeds, two different gear ratios, different rpms.

I called the place that did the gear swap, and they said the tech opened and used a 3.73 box. However, they said he did not confirm that the gears were actually 3.73's. I have installed gears in a couple of my cars. Every gear set I have installed has been stamped what gear ratio it was, and I have confirmed by counting.

I will not speculate what happened in this case. They offered to pull the rear cover, and confirm what gear is in there. He also said they would order another set of 3.73's, and if the wrong gear was put in, they would make it right. So yeah.......
 
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Probably someone swapped 4.10s for 3.73s and someone stuffed it in the box to reuse later, could've been an honest mistake, or an attempt to swindle someone. At least you caught it and they offered to make it right.
 

SM105K

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Probably someone swapped 4.10s for 3.73s and someone stuffed it in the box to reuse later, could've been an honest mistake, or an attempt to swindle someone. At least you caught it and they offered to make it right.
I agree, I would like to think it was a mistake. If they make it right, then all will be good. Either way, the gear change was amazing and I am really excited for the 3.73's when they are put in.
 
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Taking a second look 2k rpm isn't bad for 65mph, that's about what my f150 does. But for a diesel getting it down a bit more aught to be very beneficial
 

SM105K

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Taking a second look 2k rpm isn't bad for 65mph, that's about what my f150 does. But for a diesel getting it down a bit more aught to be very beneficial
Yeah, I really want the ability to roll down the freeway at 70 mph to 75 mph in that 2000 to 2100 rpm range. The southwest is huge, and I plan on driving it a lot. Plus the 3.73's will get me a top speed of 114 mph which will be more than enough mph to run that 13 second pass.....
 

SM105K

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Ford F450 Update: So I finally have some time. Here are some of the things that I have done to the truck since I have owned it. First was the Edge CTS 3 install. That was literally plug and pay, plus adding the other sensors (EGT & IATS) where really simple. I am also receiving a promotional a second EGT probe sensor from Edge as well. That is pretty cool because now I can monitor both banks EGT temps.

I installed the driver side EGT probe. We drilled and tapped the manifold, and then installed the probe. It was super easy.
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Adding the the EGT sensor to the CTS was a breeze as well. Literally plug, discover, name, and play. Once I get the second EGT probe, I will install it and we will be in the money.
 

SM105K

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Here is the picture of the IAT2 sensor. We drilled an tapped the spider intake.



Screenshot 20250818 090449 Photo Editor
 
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SM105K

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Ford F450 Upate: I have been working on little things with the truck. First was getting the camper off and getting a good look at the truck. Arizona also forced me to removed the camper if I was going to register it as a commercial vehicle. They need to actually see the truck, with the utility bed, before they would sign off on it. I took the camper off and put it in my back yard. My back yard is a mess, between storms, and clutter. I have since, moved the camper to level ground, and properly put bases under the lift jacks. The camper is in great condition. I do need to go in and clean and detail it, but it is too damn hot.

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I believe this is the first time in 9 years that the truck was camper less. This picture was taken at the DMV when I was registering it.
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The camper has a bluetooth rear camera, so that is super helpful. However, with the camper off, the head ache box still blocks the rear window. I really don't have any use for it, so I removed it, and now it is storage locker in my house lol. Also, I was able to get some new old stock hats from my Uncle's Landscaping Company. These hats are 30 years old, and literally brand new.

20250704 090437
The fishing poles were his as well. They were in the box.
 
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