The 4.88 mega thread!!

Thanks! Just drove up to Fairplay yesterday and gears were great. Truck felt much better on the steeper stuff even 10k plus in elevation. Popped it into 4 low for a bit and she really crawls slow now. Slee’s diff guy has a ton of experience. I forgot the number they told me he’s done. Gears are nice and quiet.

 

I put in my order for my 4.88 last week. Ordered mine from East Coast Gear Supply. But the lead time is 1 to 3 weeks.

 

East Coast Gear Supply is in Raleigh, NC about 2+ hours from Richmond, Virginia.

 

Well, they finally arrived. REM took longer than expected, but worth it. Just look at that mirror finish.







Now I just have to order the Lucas 85W-140 oil (non-syn)...6 quarts should do it

 

Those looks nice! you are going to like those and the way your truck will perform, especially when OVTune drops the new tune with 4.88 option. As for additional fluid - no need. should be fine. I changed mine after 1000 miles and it looked like new. Went with Lucas non-syn on it too and dropped to stock viscosity (which I got from my local AutoZone store). Congrats!

 

Thank you sir!

 

Truck gets dropped off for the re-gear on Wednesday. Anything I should expect shift-wise (behavior, etc.) so I’m not alarmed when driving home?

I will be getting the 4.88 tune when OVtune releases it, but in the meantime just curious what to watch for/expect.

 

You should be golden. I didn’t notice anything erratic or unusual.

However, if they would’ve had the 5.29’s at the time I got my gears, I would’ve gotten them.

 

What I see with OV tune and 4.88 gears is when the truck needs to downshift, it will sometimes drop all the way to 3rd when it really only needs 4th or 5th and then immediately upshifts to 4th. It's weird. I've noticed ECT tends to lesson this annoying trait and I also tend to shift if over to sport mode and will downshift to 4th or 5th myself to keep the weird trans logic from doing that. I end up just leaving it in sport S6 and it seems to help reduce that quirk. Still loving the gears with 33 even at altitude. I've just learned the workarounds while waiting for 2.0 and the 4.88 tune to release. I'm on 1.05 91 base FYI.

 

Is this when pulling a load or carrying a lot of weight, or all the time?

Any reason you would have chosen not to regear, or is it one of the best things you’ve done for the truck regardless?

 

gears are the best thing you can do for this truck. It is hard to describe but the truck just drives so much better. I would absolutely do it again. I debated on the 5.29 vs. 4.88 but 4.88 is still so much better than 3.91 and I still wanted to be able to cruise at 80+ without spinning too high RPM. the trans logic happens with normal driving. My workarounds keep it from happening almost 90% of the time until the new tune is released. I am not sure it would do it on the stock tune as I haven't ran stock for a long time.

 

Good to hear. Getting me pumped. Thanks sir!

 

How much did you pay all said and done for parts+labor?

 

$2800-2900 if I remember correctly. Including ECGS bushing parts and 1st oil change around 500 miles. Seems you can expect 1/2 for parts and 1/2 for install.

 

Just got a quote for $3200. Too rich for my blood.

 

My gears REM polished with Master seal kits were $1432
Install (literally picking truck up now): $1300

 

I really don't want to drop $3k in gears. Was hoping to stay around 2300.

 

Might get lucky with an install, but gears are $1300-$1500 typically with the master kits

 

If this modification in addition with the Ovtune 4.88 tune makes me keep my truck till I pay it off, it saves me thousands on money I would lose trading it or selling it. I’m on 1.05 91 base with no serious modifications besides sliders and a frontrunner cab rack. Ovtune made a big difference but the truck is still lacking and struggling for strength. Just need the funds and a good shop in Ventura CA area.

 

I get ~15.5mpg on 33's (heavy KM3's) and drive like an asshole.

I've seen ~18mpg with more highway

Let me add that if it wasn't for the gears and OVTune this sh!tbox would have been gone with the ink still wet, $3500 in gears and software make it tolerable.