[88Racing]

Here is some food for thought.

The 3.55 gear is the fords economy gear. Its not a bad gear used in stock configuration. A little light towing or hauling stuff from here to there.

The manufactors produce this vehicle gearing(a tall gear) to get better mpg ratings. So that the epa is happy. From year to year the epa and mfgs get together and negociate a percentage for these economy vehicles of how many need to be sold. The dealers are given great incentives to sell them. They also put in teaser upgrades like a 6 disc cd instead of a single, power seat, and or cruise. Just some examples.

The more they sell of these the better incentives they get from the mfgs. So in turn if a lot of them are sold then they also get their special ordering options increased. This usually takes place in the big city markets or in high polution markets.

What I know is going on is that people who don't know of what to look for when they are buying a vehicle are not getting the full truth when an economy one is sold to them. This even gets worse in the used car market.

The only reasons I found this info out was when the original 3.08 gearing on my jeep yj was going out. Went to the local dealer and was flat out told me it was an economy jeep. This info was also verified by the owner of the car sales company I work pt for now.

Your dealer was right that is against epa law to change the gear while under warranty. That is for the dealer to do it. Now for the owner to do it ya sadly to say the dt warranty might be most likely voided. But look at Magnuson-Moss act to be sure.

The car lot owner I work for will not buy the economy vehicles for the used vehicle side of the business he has been burned to many times on tranny issues and repairs.
Hey its South Dakota if its a truck/suv it can pull a trailer, no matter what size right? Just kidding. But that's what I see alot of in public and at the dealers.

Lars