Swap 10spd to 13spd

[smorgan87]

Cant wait till i got some cash saved up to swap the one on my newer truck.

[Zinita]

(07-11-2019 )Warrior01 Wrote:  Hey Guys,

I read all of the time and never post, but I could not pass this up. I live in and go through the PA and surrounding mountains all of the time. I have an 871 tuned to 485 (was a 435 turd). My 2010 Lonestar was a 10 speed with 22.5 low pros and 3.58 rears. The 435 was horrible! My trans was trashed when I bought the truck and I thought that a 13 speed would maintain my top end while the extra splits would decrease the horrible lugging on the inclines, so I replaced with a 13 speed. It came at a cost. The 13 speed had a lower final drive ratio. It was supposed to only be .02 I think but I lost way more than that. It was not the shops fault as they only go by the trans serial number info. I had to goto 22.5 tall rubber to lower my rpms to a reasonable level at 65 to 70 mph (posted speeds). Rawze, I do have an amazing and very reasonable shop to recommend for your forum for trans or clutch work here in PA. Its all they have done since the 60's. My swap with new clutch and flywheel was $6700 and some change. They did it in a few hours and took me into town and picked me up so I could grab a bite to eat. Thank you all for your input and for what you all do every day and Rawze for your dedication to our industry!!

Brendan
Warrior Logistics

U still have the number for the shop that did the work on your transmission?tia

[Precisionw900]

I swapped a terrible shifting meritor 10 speed out and went with a brand new Eaton 18918b 18speed. With 3.42 rears it was the best thing I ever did. Not that a 10 speed is bad it’s just the 18 helps you keep in a 250 rpm window loaded. Much easier to keep
Engine in a nice range (15-18 rpm) and keep that boost low. Unloaded still just drive like a 9 speed.
They didn’t even want the meritor for a core so I was forced to buy new at the price tag of 8k and I did the install and was still one of the best improvements I made.

My opinion is if you have higher rears then more gears will help but if you stay with a 10 then correct rear end ratios setups play a major factor. Hard to beat a 10 speed with 3.55 or 3.73 rears for all around use.

[Rawze]

(09-30-2021 )Precisionw900 Wrote:  I swapped a terrible shifting meritor 10 speed out and went with a brand new Eaton 18918b 18speed. With 3.42 rears it was the best thing I ever did. Not that a 10 speed is bad it’s just the 18 helps you keep in a 250 rpm window loaded. Much easier to keep
Engine in a nice range (15-18 rpm) and keep that boost low. Unloaded still just drive like a 9 speed.
They didn’t even want the meritor for a core so I was forced to buy new at the price tag of 8k and I did the install and was still one of the best improvements I made.

My opinion is if you have higher rears then more gears will help but if you stay with a 10 then correct rear end ratios setups play a major factor. Hard to beat a 10 speed with 3.55 or 3.73 rears for all around use.

your next investment should be a set of 3.79's on the back end or better. That way it will get out of its own way when its fully loaded.

[Precisionw900]

It actually works out pretty well as is with the 18, being a gravel hauler it’s either fully loaded or empty so I stay out of the high hole most of the time or the low side of it. But empty I can roll along at 65mph at 1400 rpm and keep boost pretty low. It works well enough that I wouldn’t change it until I need to go into the rear but at that point it will probably get at least 3.55-3.73,

What ratio do you prefer with your 10 speed?

[Chamberpains]

The purpose of the rear change is to take the stress of a full load off the Engine AND the little transmission gears.

3:55 are nice 48 state general freight hauler gears but if you see any of the 2 major mountain ranges or those God awful Ozarks for the majority of your operation 3:73 or better will do better.