Please don't ban the newbie for the gear question

[JustRight]

At risk of irritating some, I have a rear gear question. First, I've determined the slight noise coming out of the rear is an axle bearing starting it's downward journey. Because there is also a little ring & pinion whine at a certain speed, I've decided to have the rear gone through.

My question is: Has anyone replaced their 3.55 gear with a 3.31? The car has never been hotrodded and I have no intention of rawhiding it either. I finally got that out of my system and sold my hotrod a few years ago.

We live in a very rural place that requires at least 20 miles to hit the first town. So, almost all of my driving is of the highway type. The reason for thinking of 3.31 gears is my experience from 40+ years ago is the more teeth a ring and pinion have on them, the quieter they run. The 3.31 has the most ring and pinion teeth in that range.

Your thoughts or comments will be appreciated.

I wish Mo's shop was a little closer because there is no shop in my area I would trust to do the job correctly. I'm thinking of going to Pensacola to XXX Motorsports. I've heard a lot of good talk about the shop.

[justbob]

$10 and my left nut says you are hearing a bad axle.

As for quietness, I've never once heard of quieter gears, just worn or bad install dictates noise.

As for gear choice, whatever floats your boat.


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[03Merc]

I have an open 2.73 gear kit if You want.


#1618 of 3214

[RubberCtyRauder]

You would be lucky to gain half mpg. Plus you would need a tune and sct xcal to download. So $425 for tune and sct + gears and install $ 700. Tune corrects speedometer and trans shifting from the 3.55. $1100 buys a bunch of gas at the even say 1 mpg gets you. It'll cost like $1.14 extra . Better sell and buy a 2 .73 geared crown Vic if you can't afford $2.00 gal premium.

[Bad_S55]

I just switched from 2.73s to 3.55s and so far haven't noticed a change in gas milage.

[JustRight]

I knew someone was going to do it, just didn't expect it this quickly. Lost 10 bucks on this one.;)

I'm not concerned about gas mileage or the cost of gas on any of our cars except on our Outback traveling machine. I can change speedometer readings on Ford OBDII cars so that's not an issue. The transmission would probably shift better as it currently short shifts from the factory because of the CAFE standards. My years of hotrodding have self-proven that correctly set up gears with more teeth to mesh always run quieter, but that is only my humble opinion.

I've seen it all. From not knowing a darn thing, to attempting to learn, to thinking you know something, to thinking you know it all and finally to knowing so much you can't possibly learn anything new. It has always been this way and will always be this way. It's a shame people can't just give an opinion without trying to impress you with their stage of knowledge or trying to shame you for what they perceive to be ignorance.

Though, I still appreciate the reply. I'm guessing no one has used 3.31 gears here.

[O's Fan Rich]

PI. Sport and other CV's run 3:27's alot, Mine does. I'm going up to the 3:55's.
Awhile back I knew of one SC'd MM owner running 3:27's and he loved them.
This is one of those 'It's your car do what you think is best for you." things.

[JustRight]

PI. Sport and other CV's run 3:27's alot, Mine does. I'm going up to the 3:55's.
Awhile back I knew of one SC'd MM owner running 3:27's and he loved them.
This is one of those 'It's your car do what you think is best for you." things.

Thanks a million. That's exactly what I was looking for. I'll probably choose the 3.31 over the 3.27 because of the extra teeth. They cost the same in aftermarket.

[Spectragod]

I knew someone was going to do it, just didn't expect it this quickly. Lost 10 bucks on this one.;)

I'm not concerned about gas mileage or the cost of gas on any of our cars except on our Outback traveling machine. I can change speedometer readings on Ford OBDII cars so that's not an issue. The transmission would probably shift better as it currently short shifts from the factory because of the CAFE standards. My years of hotrodding have self-proven that correctly set up gears with more teeth to mesh always run quieter, but that is only my humble opinion.

I've seen it all. From not knowing a darn thing, to attempting to learn, to thinking you know something, to thinking you know it all and finally to knowing so much you can't possibly learn anything new. It has always been this way and will always be this way. It's a shame people can't just give an opinion without trying to impress you with their stage of knowledge or trying to shame you for what they perceive to be ignorance.

Though, I still appreciate the reply. I'm guessing no one has used 3.31 gears here.

I just want to know what you change the speedo reading with? As far a a gear change, I'd say go with 6:14's and a gear vendor overdrive, but since you have no hot rod bug, 2:73's would make it a highway cruiser.

[RubberCtyRauder]

Your gears are not the noise. And a tune will improve the crappy factory shift schedule with 3.55. Just ask anyone with a tune here in a factory car. The reason nobody responded nobody would go backwards with a numerically lower gear in a marauder, most go to 4.10. You prolly have a bad bearing as suggested. These cars are not the hot rods of yesteryear. The ford dealer will not change your PCM for a gear swap speedo correction. Think of me as you will. You asked what the thoughts were.

[justbob]

Your gears are not the noise. And a tune will improve the crappy factory shift schedule with 3.55. Just ask anyone with a tune here in a factory car. The reason nobody responded nobody would go backwards with a numerically lower gear in a marauder, most go to 4.10. You prolly have a bad bearing as suggested. These cars are not the hot rods of yesteryear. The ford dealer will not change your PCM for a gear swap speedo correction. Think of me as you will. You asked what the thoughts were.


We have another one of "them". [emoji6]


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[SOSA03]

^^^ http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160213/983810981e22b26ced97ca0693930c 1c.jpg

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[Mebot]

No one has ever put 3.31 gears in a Marauder.

Ever

Can't stop the signal...

[RubberCtyRauder]

At least you mentioned MO's..I live 688 miles; away from them and have been there twice for services..

Let me guess, you have a DTR marauder and you want to make it slower

[martyo]

I wish Mo's shop was a little closer because there is no shop in my area I would trust to do the job correctly. I'm thinking of going to Pensacola to XXX Motorsports. I've heard a lot of good talk about the shop.

Feel free to call me to discuss. It will be with the trip no matter what you decide.

Here's my cell phone: 914-582-6262. You can reach me 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Outside of those hours email me at marty@mosspeedshop.com

[03Merc]

I just switched from 2.73s to 3.55s and so far haven't noticed a change in gas milage.


That's what I did in My old MGM as well.


#1618 of 3214

[03blackvegas]

I have a 1:1 gear set, talk about a lot teeth, it'll but you to sleep.

[Bluerauder]

My question is: Has anyone replaced their 3.55 gear with a 3.31?.


No .... Next question.

[RF Overlord]

This car was originally meant to have 3.73 or 4.10 from the factory, but that was shot down by the gas-guzzler tax and the NVH people at Ford. (Source: Steve Babcock)

If you drop to 3.31, you will only reduce the already poor off-the-line acceleration and get nothing else in return. You said you don't want to hot-rod the car; that's fine, but for God's sake don't make it any worse.

[Bradley G]

Don't fear the gear!
Heaven's sake get the OP a drive in a Marauder with a gear and a tune!


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[1Marauder]

Agreed. I've compared both tuned 4.10 and tuned 3.55 side by side.

IMHO: Love the 4.10 in town, and the 3.55 for long faster freeway drives (in CA on I5, 75 will get you run over by every single 18 wheeler, and most Prius's). I've noted a 300 to 400 RPM difference between the two at 85+MPH. And since I only drive my Rauds out of the freeway to meets and car shows--I've stuck with the 3.55's as 2,200rpms vs 2,600rpms for 6 hours at a time appeals to me. That said, I really love the 1,2,3 gears in the 4.10 for in town--they are soooo much better! I am now toying with doing one with 4.10's for in town, and leaving the other 3.55 for Freeway -- just impossible for me to chose which for which.

OP not being snarky at all, every one above is correct. Anything less than 3.55 would be sluggish at best in town, and I'd bet wouldn't net you any advantage at 85 mph -- gas savings wise. In fact, I'd bet you'd hot foot it more from each stand still, as it would feel so slow from each start, and I'd bet this would negate any possible increase /advantage you might gain (if any).

Understand you desire for more teeth (I too thought you had this reversed--I thought higher numbers had more teeth, lower numbers had less teeth -- But I do not know for sure) but at 3.55 there is no rear end noise to speak of anyway.

This said-- and from what you indicated... 3.55 seems to be your sweet spot gear wise.

[JustRight]

I'll stick with the 3.55. Thanks for all the replys.

Also, how far are the foot pedals suppose to travel using the switch? I get about 1/2 inch.

P.S. If someone would like to place a bet about it having a rear axle bearing noise AND a separate ring & pinion whine, I'll take that bet. Just let me know before next week and make it at least a thousand so I can use it to pay for the rebuild.;)

[1Marauder]

Sounds Like you need the Curless Cure Pedal Fix...

You are not alone, many of us do!

[JustRight]

Has anyone done a pictorial on the pedal fix?

[BAD MERC]

The search function is your friend here. EVERYTHING on these cars has been covered from bumper to bumper. Hell, you can even find the torque sequence for your valve stem caps.

[JustRight]

The search fuction hasn't befriended me as of yet, 'cause I can't find it. Link?

[BAD MERC]

The parts are sold by a member here named Curless and he hand makes them on a CNC. The parts are available through him because Ford doesn't sell individual build parts for assemblies like this and if they did, you'd still get the plastic junk we're already replacing. It's an involved job and the pedals on both my '04 Marauders are limited to 1/2" movement and will need the repair.

http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=100294&highlight=curless

[Hadamustang1]

GOOGLE WORKS BEST

https://www.google.com/search?q=Curless+Cure+Pedal+Fi x&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

[JustRight]

GOOGLE WORKS BEST

https://www.google.com/search?q=Curless+Cure+Pedal+Fi x&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8


Thanks for the effort, but I'm still looking for an R&R pictorial.

[Bluerauder]

Thanks for the effort, but I'm still looking for an R&R pictorial.

Right here >>>>> http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=82699

[babbage]

my suggestion would be to get a high stall aftermarket converter --something from precision industries or circle D then you have nice acceleration around town and still have decent RPMs on the highway

you should probably get an aftermarket transmission cooler and a tune if you go with aftermarket converter

[RubberCtyRauder]

A tune from Marty at Mos Speed Shop will correct the shifting you feel always hunting for a gear . It really wakens up a stock car. You'll wish you did it long ago

[Bad_S55]

After getting tuned by Lidio for the 3.55s, this is amazing. Just get a tune for your car man, you'll be driving around with a smile all day long!

[JustRight]

Took the car to XXX Performance in Pensacola a couple of weeks ago and got the differential completely overhauled with bearings, axles, clutches, ring & pinion, etc.. Sorry Marty, just too far to drive with my buggered up leg. After twisting wrenches as an avid hobbyist for 46 of my years, it is always such a rare pleasure to find someone that is mechanically sharp as a tack, honest, professional and courteous to do the work I no longer care to do. The rear is super quiet now (the backlash and pattern was set perfectly) with the added bonus of fixing a problem I had yet to home in on. There was a roughness in the drivetrain through the seats that is gone now. He believes it was in the ring gear because the axle bearings weren't bad.

There were several Ford invoices from axle and pinion seals leaking since new in the folder that I got with the car, so I assume it was also run low of fluid a few times. It was 3/4 qt low when I first checked it and had a pinion seal leak again. The ring gear looked as though it was not true from the factory. We'll assume that's what caused the roughness/vibration in the drivetrain.

It's amazing how much more enjoyable the car is to drive with that mess fixed. She's super quiet and super smooth now. I'm falling in love with this thing and my leg hasn't bothered me at all like it does in our other cars. :D

P.S. All the work had been performed at the Ford dealer before we got the car. Looks like bad mechanics are every/anywhere, even the dealer. They stripped the pinion shaft lock bolt off in the rear end and left it that way; never cleaned the clutch dust, magnet and other crap out of the housing, charged a high price to clean the throttle body (wasn't idling down from too much build up) and didn't clean it----just put a super stiff return spring on it. You couldn't take off without jarring your head back; charged to replace all COP-s and only replaced two; charged to change the sparkplugs and didn't do it; charged $2500 to replace the a/c compressor, climate control unit (looks like they were guessing) and the belt tensioner. They left the belt tensioner loose and it raised cain as it rubbed against the front cover, then told them it needed a new motor. That's why I got the car so cheap. I took a shot on it because it didn't sound internal to me. I was a little worried it wouldn't make it home, but it did. Once I figured out the problem, it took longer to go to the shop to get the tool than it did to tighten it back up. Nice and quiet right after that. The d##n oil filter was soooo tight, I had to drop the sway bar and power steering off the car to get a good hold of it. Still broke two oil filter wrenches off on it before I got it off---never, ever had one that tight before. It took all my strength a full half of turn before it started coming off easily. :eek:

She's in good hands now and showing me her appreciation by running better and better every time she gets driven.

[Red Rum]

Hey Hey RubberCtyRauder. I have a DTR. That was a low blow. Lol but a Marty tune. Would fix that problem. And give you more power. And the + is more MPG. And if you don't have a SCT. He will sell you one. At a fair price. With a sweet tune in it. But changing the gears to lower. Is a waist of time. And money in my and others here book.

[MOTOWN]

If your referring to 4:10 gears it's one of the best mods you can do to the Marauder.

[RubberCtyRauder]

Hey Hey RubberCtyRauder. I have a DTR. That was a low blow. Lol but a Marty tune. Would fix that problem. And give you more power. And the + is more MPG. And if you don't have a SCT. He will sell you one. At a fair price. With a sweet tune in it. But changing the gears to lower. Is a waist of time. And money in my and others here book.


I told you before that around here the long standing joke was that DTR
ones are the slowest color. it was a joke here long before I joined

[Spectragod]

I told you before that around here the long standing joke was that DTR
ones are the slowest color. it was a joke here long before I joined

^^^Truth^^^ mine's even slower "after" mods.............:rolleyes:

[L.Mark]

I have a 60 mile commute per day...90% is highway, when I had noise issues I had the 4.10's installed instead of going back with stock gearing. I worried that with all that highway travel that it would start to get old with MPG drop. The only drop I saw and see is because I get into the petal more because of the gears and tune as MANY have said before, REEEEALLY wake the car up. I drove very lightly at first to see what MPG I lost. I lost nothing...so I would say if the bug does decide to show it's face again, the 4.10, CAI, tune, and rear cat delete are the cheapest first steps, at least they were for me...

[JustRight]

Went back with the 3:55 gears---it suits me fine for what I'm doing with the car. It still feels peppy for such a heavy car, but I only drive it part throttle. I guess I'm still a little spoiled from my last hotrod I sold a couple of years ago. It weighed a thousand pounds less and had two stages of nitrous. It just sat in the shop after the local drag strip closed. I think I started it once the last year I owned it and there was no place to exercise it on the street without getting free room and board at the metal bar hotel. Of course, now the track is opening back up.

I wouldn't mind taking one of those 10 sec Marauders down the track once, though.

[fastblackmerc]

Went back with the 3:55 gears---it suits me fine for what I'm doing with the car. It still feels peppy for such a heavy car, but I only drive it part throttle. I guess I'm still a little spoiled from my last hotrod I sold a couple of years ago. It weighed a thousand pounds less and had two stages of nitrous. It just sat in the shop after the local speed shop closed. I think I started it once the last year I owned it and there was no place to exercise it on the street without getting free room and board at the metal bar hotel. Of course, now the track is opening back up.

I wouldn't mind taking one of those 10 sec Marauders down the track once, though.

You should really drive one with a tune and 4.10's........... just sayin'......... :banana2:
:burnout:

[JustRight]

You should really drive one with a tune and 4.10's........... just sayin'......... :banana2:
:burnout:


I keep hearing that. Maybe, I'll get lucky and someone will give me a ride in a modified car one day.

[fastblackmerc]

I keep hearing that. Maybe, I'll get lucking and someone will give me a ride in a modified car one day.

There has to be someone in NW Fla..................

[JustRight]

I never saw another Marauder around here until I got this one. Now, I've seen three running around locally.

[fastblackmerc]

I never saw another Marauder around here until I got this one. Now, I've seen three running around locally.

Time to make 3 new friends!

[345HP87SSAC]

Florida to GA no big deal. My 12 year old and drove to MO's last year and it was totally worth it. Also found I had bad axles also that were making noise.

[JustRight]

It's not the buggered up leg with all the high dollar titanium in it that's the problem with traveling. It's the (what may be a world record) three foot blood clot that ony allows 20% blood flow. It requires elevation quite often.

Don't even start to feel sorry for me. I made my peace a long time ago when they tried to kill me with those d##n blood thinners. I had a long, private talk with God, got off the thinners and made my peace. As fortune would have it, he shortly afterward directed me to the path of a special, natural herb. Even though a half dozen doctors said I would be dead in three weeks if I didn't continue their treatment, the same treatment that was slowing killing me, I'm still here almost 5 years later. I still hang out with Rufus, my blood clot buddy, on a daily basis. He's a pain in the arse sometimes but has become a valued, close friend.

He's shown me that every day is a gift and I am thankful for each one. My daily goal is to improve or help someone, something or myself every single day.

Still a lot of work to do on the last one, so I need to hang around a little while longer.:)