2.9L pushing 33s?

[Daven]

Ok so i am lifting my truck and wanting 33" tires. Any one think that the little 2.9 could push it with the stock gearing? Truck is a 5-speed. Lol i know its a bit doubtful, but money isnt exactly coming all at once

 

[strvger]

if you have the 3.45 gears, it won't be easy or fun. marginally better if you have 3.73's. you'll be needing (imho) 4.56 gears, at least, to get decent acceleration, power for hills, and your 5th gear back when on the freeway.
also expect your gas mileage to suffer as you'll be keeping your foot pretty close to the floor getting those meats to turn.
so, check to see what gears you have in it now. then start searching for the gears you need. a really good set of used gears would do you well at a fraction of the cost of new. good luck for sure!

 

[4.0B2]

it's possible... lol, not ideal tho........
4.56's, at least...

 

[7.5L_STX]

is it do-able? yes
is it practical? no

 

[derailed]

I believe I have the stock 3.73 and it turns my 32x11.5 just fine. I run about 1700rpm at 55 in 5th gear.

 

[juggalomania92]

my friend had a 92 ranger extra cab with a 2.9 auto with a 3inch body lift 6inch suspension lift 7.5 rear end, stock gears and it had 35" super swampers on it, it took a while but it would get up to speed lol

 

[mhughes165]

i ran 33" boggers on a ranger with a 2.9 5spd and 33's, truck was a extended cab, aslong as u drive like a sane human being mileage wont be too bad, and neither is power, i always had enough to roast up the 33's no problem in 2wd if i wanted to, then again my 2.9's have always seemed to be very kind to me(ran better then most)
it had 3.73's
a GOOD cltuch is a must, nothing stock, ull be replacing stock clutches as fast as ur head will spin.

i got 15-20 mpg depending on how i was driving, but never below 14

 

[Daven]

How do i find out what tranny i have? I heard my truck is 3.73s? I am going to get 4.54s i think, but overall it will be the combo thats best for use with 33s and a 302. lol

 

[mhughes165]

How do i find out what tranny i have? I heard my truck is 3.73s? I am going to get 4.54s i think, but overall it will be the combo thats best for use with 33s and a 302. lol

with a 302, id run 3.73's and 35's and still have tons of power to spare

thats what im doing

 

[Surrey]

How do i find out what tranny i have? I heard my truck is 3.73s? I am going to get 4.54s i think, but overall it will be the combo thats best for use with 33s and a 302. lol

If you have an auto, you have the a4dl, if you have a manual, you should have the fm146.

Check the sticker on the inside of your door. The axle codes are...
42/d2= 3.45
44/d4= 3.73
47/d7=4.10
If you have a d code, you have a a limited slip in the back.

I run 31s on the 4.10s, and they have plenty of power, so I would think 33s wouldn't be unreasonable...

But your axles wont like 33s.

 

[strvger]

I believe I have the stock 3.73 and it turns my 32x11.5 just fine. I run about 1700rpm at 55 in 5th gear.

is that high enough into your torque range? seems kinda low rpms to me and i'd be afraid of lugging the engine. i can pull from about 1500 with my 2.8, but i've got 4.56 gears turning 31 inch tires. just curious.

 

[mhughes165]

always seemed fine to me, i could cruise highway speeds, with 33s and 3.73's and pull pretty decent in every gear

 

[spdcrazy]

Ive got 3.73's, and 2.9. on 33's it was fine! usually never used 5th gear, but nothing horrible. i just threw 35's on it, and it honestly isn't too bad. highway speeds are a bit sketchy, but its doable for sure!

 

[Daven]

Ok so i should be fine for now runing something around 31-33" tires on stock? Its hard to plan everything out perfectly (and realisticaly). I am gettign a 4" suspension lift now, and want to get a 3" BL as well. But later on i want to do the 302 swap and put in a new tranny and t-case while i do that since my truck has 292k on it now. So if im going to be doing that, theres alot of things i will want to wait untill after that so im not doing it twice lol.

Reason i wasnt going to do the re-gearing right after is because i've been told i basically will need D35 swap or my stock axle will break... *Offtopic question*... What are the limits for the stock D28 axle? Like, if im not going to be ramping off stuff or doing crazy rock climbing or anything real hardcore. Its basically my winter beast is all for now, not a dedicated rig... So do i reall need a D35? lol

 

[strvger]

longevity on the d28/7.5 is the same as most any other axles you'd use: you can break any of them if you don't treat them right.
4.56's in my d28/7.5 x 2 years and no problems or complaints at all. i don't bash them up off road. i don't go looking for the biggest pothole on the roads. i don't chirp my tires. i don't burn rubber. i don't mash the gas pedal to the floor half way through a turn.
i take care of my truck and it takes care of me. sort a symbiotic relationship.