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so a word on gears and power. within the last 2 weeks I've driven my truck over 15k feet 4 times. i have not had any issues with pinging or lugging. about 15,5 I've needed to shift to low range to have the power to go. honestly i have been very happy with the amount of power I've been able to generate at such high elevation. i am running 285s with 4.88s so I'm about 12% under driven. i debated quite a bit 4.56s vs 4.88s before the install. i can say with my heavy truck and the roads I'm driving that i made the right decision without a doubt. in the last few months I've driven I-5 down at sea level and 80mph, 4low and crawling at 16k feet, climbed insanely steep grades and battles hours of continuous hairpins and everything in between and not ONCE have i thought, 'i am geared too low.' I'm pretty sure had I gone 4.56s i would have wanted more power.
something I never thought about until it was staring me in the face for turn after turn is the lack of brake assistance you get above 12k feet. it makes sense now that I'm faced with it and recognize it but habitually I'm still startled when i put my foot on the brake and the pedal drops to the floor. feels like my pads are gone then i get down below about 9 k feet and all feels fine again.
one more thing i thought about adding to this thread, but it will require pics, is bumpstops. i don't see many people going the route i went, or if they do, like me, they don't think it that grand of a mod. i see a lot of people lowering their bumpstops or making custom stops. i used fj80 bumpstops and pulled my later style bumpstops off. it will make more sense and i'll explain the reasoning why later tonight or maybe tomorrow.
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