Is 2.73 Rear End too high for 2.9lL five speed ranger?

[Roadbird002]

I swapped my 1989 Ford Ranger OEM axle with a 1998 Ford Explorer 8.8.

Wanted the disk brakes. Works great, used the Ranger Station threads and how tos.

My new axle raised the axle ratio from 3.73 to 3.27.

I would like to put in a ring and pinion I have on hand. It is a 2.73.

The reason would be for highway milage and less wear on the re-built engine
on frequent long highway trips.

I don't do heavy hauling. Use the truck for hay, fertilizer, small bulky but not really heavy things.

Question.

Will a 2.73 gear be just too high?

I am thinking maybe the clutch not working well in first gear , chattering, or things like that.

Anyone have any thoughts or experience with a 2.73 in a 2.9 L Manual five speed?

 

[4.0B2]

Don't go any higher than what you have now... 3.27 is to high IMO EVEN for a dd highway truck lol. For you, maybe not....

I wouldn't go to the 2.73 tho seriously. Lower rpms is not always better.

What size tires are on it?

 

[Roadbird002]

Its been a long time since I looked at them, but they are stock size tires.
I think you are right. Just was looking for someone to tell me to not be stupid.
Thanks.
Roadbird

 

[Captain Ledd]

Unless you have the smallest of tires for a 14" rim don't bother. Like compact/sub compact tire sizes.

I'd leave it and run it.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Will a 2.73 gear be just too high?

Does the pope shit in the woods?


I would not go any higher than what you have now, and depending on the tire size I'd be going down to 3.55s or 3.73s. 2.9s like a little RPM. My 4.0 5spd Explorer had 3.27s, it would get nearly 2MPG better if I never used 5th gear, this was with stock 27" tires.

 

[88_Eddie]

Does the pope shit in the woods?

only when he's camping

 

[Roadbird002]

Thanks guys.

I will be keeping it as it is. Running good now. I was probably just looking for a solution to a problem that didn't exist. By the way, the thread on Ranger Station for swapping in an Explorer rear end was dead on accurate. It swapped out perfectly.

 

[AllanD]

The best mileage I ever got out of a 2.9 was on a 2.9 powered ranger supercab
with 4.10 gears running on 235/75-15 tires.

Throttle position (and avoiding full throttle) is everything on a 2.9 actual
rpm is less important.

all of my 2.9's liked to cruise on the highway within a 450rpm window centered on 3000rpm.

spinning one slower will NOT get you better mileage.

The "Spin it slower" works REAL well if you have an oversized engine.

I've been wanting to try a combination of an EFI5.8 and 3.27 gears in a ranger, but I've had other priorities


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