95 f150 5 speed I6
 

I bought this truck 3 months ago and love it, but it is geared soooo low. This is going to be kind of a toy so I would like it to be kinda fast with maybe a small lift and upgraded tires. I'm mechanically natured but new to car stuff. What do I need to upgrade as far as rear differential or engine? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

That engine is a truk engine. It can be made fast, but its not really designed to be. For someone with your experience, I'd concentrate on cosmetic stuff, and not worry about the engine

I'm assuming you probably have 3.08s like me. You can get a shop to do it or you could buy the ring and pinion gear pretty cheap and do it yourself if you have the tools and know how. And keep that 4.9 its fine!

You mean it has a low numerical ratio rear? That would give you slow off the line performance but a lot of highway top speed. Mine came with a 2.7. The clutch was difficult with that ratio, and it was painfully slow to drive around. I swapped to a 3.31 when I had bad bearings. It is such an improvement in both areas. For my open driving needs, I can comfortably reach 50 in 3rd, 65 in fourth at that ratio and in 5th higher than I need. I would probably like 3.5's even more. Depends on what you need on the interstate, but 3.3-3.5 seems like a good compromise.

I had a 96 with the 4.9 and 5 speed. I have no idea what the ratio was. I know I used it as a work truck with tool boxes and a rack, and regularly loaded it down. I would guess I had the 3:08 or 3:31, I would agree the 3.55 would probably be a good ratio. That engine does rev very high. If you go to low. you might run out of top end.

Swap in the 460 ;)

My '95 had a 2.73 rear end that was going bad(making noise and leaking gear oil) so I swapped in a 3.55; much better on take offs and highway mileage wasn't any worse than what I was getting with that 2.73 rear.

Bigger tires = higher gear ratio
 

Don't change your gear ratio until you've tried it with bigger tires. By putting bigger tires on it you will increase your rear ratio.:whistling2:

You'd be happy swapping in some 3.55 gears. You likely have the 2.73... The truck probably can't even get itself out of the way. You won't be able to tow worth a darn either. You can run up to 31's on a 3.55 gear set and still be fine.

Most every truck I've seen with a 4.9 5 speed came with 3:08 rear end gears (unless it was 4x4). Going to 3:55 (found in most 4x4's) would give you a lot more oomph off the line without having to redline it to get to highway speed. That's an exaggeration.