gear options

[colohoopty]

Ok,
1. once I get the rest of my parts for the rear end, and since I'll have it torn apart anyway, I want to put some new gears in as well. The question is, what would be a good choice if I'm eventually gonna put another 2" on the suspension and run probably 42" tires? Also, how much is the fact that I'm still sitting on 35s going to affect things? It'll still be a daily driver but not for very long, maybe a couple of months. Would it just be better to buy more gears later, once I have the 42s on?

2. I'm looking at getting a new high output alternator that puts out 170amps. Will I need to buy any other upgrades, or is everything gonna run ok? I don't know jack about vehicle electronics, except positive and ground :roll: I plan on going to a dual battery setup with this, but other than that, should it just hook up like a normal alternator?

thanks, rick

[Warrlord]

Well, 5.13's are the steepest gears made for your front diff (if it's the stock Dana 44) So that's what I'd recommend for your plans. For the 9" though, you can get a ratio as low as 7.00:1 but that's too steep. But I'm sure you know, both diffs have to be the same ratio.

The 5.80 to 6.20 range would be optimum for 42's but it's not offered for a D44.

I have 5.13's with 38's. I'd go steeper if they made 'em steeper for my axles & yes, mine's a daily driver also & no problems running down the "I" at 75-80 mph. In fact, my speedo is only 3 mph off so the final ratio is real close to what it was when it was stock..............235/75R-15's with 3.73's. My next set of tires are going to be 36" IROK's.

Running 35's with 5.13's is a good choice. The increased rolling resistance & added weight from tires that size, slow ya down so even if you matched your ratio & tire size to get back to what the stock ratio was when it had stock tires on, it would seem sluggish compared to stock. So..........it's ALWAYS better to go a tad steeper in the gear ratio to try & bring back some of the acceleration that's lost with big tires.

Contrary to popular belief, 5.13's are not too low of a gear ratio once you start approaching the 35" tire sizes.

[Burg460]

I agree with Warrlord. I have 4.56's in my truck and I am running 38's and it still seems a little poochy going up a hill and I have the 351. I think I will be redoing them in the future and I was thinking of running 5.13's also. I got a smokin deal on my 4.56's.

Warrlord, don't they make those 5.80's and 6.20's for a Dana 60?

[Warrlord]

They make a
5.38
5.86
6.17
7.17
for a standard gear (rear or low pinion front) D60 but for the Reverse cut (high pinion) front D60, all they go up to is 5.38.

[cd75hors]

Does this help?
http://www.manoian.net/jeep/gear_ratio_calculator.html
It's a gear ratio calculator.

Sorry, I can't figure out how to do hyper-links

[cd75hors]

Oh, it automatically does the link thing, kick-ass!

[rino351]

I will be running 5.13's with my 35s but eventually they'll turn 36's
and I don't really foresee a problem with that

[colohoopty]

So then I have to ask................how sluggish will the truck be with 44s and 5.13? Right now I don't think, or don't want to think about an SAS yet, but I know it'll probably happen down the road, and it seems like that's the only way to go steeper gear-wise. Also, I plan on an Atlas II case, so, that'll help turning them on trails while pulling off some of the torque to the axles, right?

[Warrlord]

It'll most likely seem purty darn sluggish that way.
Maybe I overlooked it........What engine, tranny, gear ratio, & tire size do you have at this time?

The only way you'll be able to get the ratio in the 6.00:1 range (if that is what you desire) will be to go with a Low Pinion Front D60 & a regular Rear D60.

Here's the ratios avail.........

D60 ratios for a rear & a low pinon front (http://www.reiderracing.com/dana60.htm)

[colohoopty]

I couldn't even begin to tell you what I have gear-wise right now......stock? :D The engine/tranny is the 351 coupled to the c-6, and I'm running 35s

[bassdude]

so whats your total lift? with 42's your going to have to get friendly with the sawzall :mrgreen:

[colohoopty]

Right now 4"..........but I'm gonna get another 2" later, then I know, I'll be sawzall happy on the fenders. Thats not so much a problem considering the cancer on the back fenders.