benefits of regearing?

[rez624]

I have a 97 anger xlt 2wd 2.3l 5 speed. I always hear ppl talking about regearing the rear end in their cars/trucks but idk what it does. Could I benefit from doing this to my truck?

 

[brinker88]

If everything's stock, no

 

[AllanD]

The factory gearing is based on meeting Federal standards for mileage.

And the "test" mandated by the govt. (yes even the "new" version of the test) operates the vehicle in such a way that it gives a stilted version of what makes the engine "happy"

Generally speaking the standard gearing used on most Rangers is too tall to get best fuel economy or performance, because in the real world there are things called "hills" and "Traffic"

But to answer specifically to your question it would be necissary to know what gearing you have now.

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[daniel3507]

The main reason people do it is when they stray from the stock tire size. When you do that many times it becomes necessary in order to make the tires turn without burning up your motor and tranny and killing fuel economy. Chances are it wouldnt be worth it cost wise for you to do it unless you are planning on running larger tires.

Use this page so you can tell what gears you have in your truck now.
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Axles.html

 

[brinker88]

He can swap out axles from say a 3.27 to a 3.73 and would gain hp....You can pull the drum 8.8 from almost ANY ranger for under $200 around here. I'd say that's a fairly cheap upgrade. Plus probably gain a limited slip to boot.

 

[Explorin94]

He can swap out axles from say a 3.27 to a 3.73 and would gain hp....You can pull the drum 8.8 from almost ANY ranger for under $200 around here. I'd say that's a fairly cheap upgrade. Plus probably gain a limited slip to boot.

How do you gain HP from a gear change? You gain HP from engine modifications!

 

[brinker88]

"hp" = better acceleration....just didnt feel like typing it. Most people know what I mean

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yeah no hp is gained when you change gearing, gearing determines basically if you get better fuel economy or better power, the best gearing for a DD is usually somewhere inbetween.

And there is no need to swap up to an 8.8 especially when you only have the 4 cyl and commute with it. If you don't have an L/S diff and dont go off road or in snow your just fine, my friend has a 2wd 3.0L with non limted slip and he does just fine hunting and in the winter.

 

[4x4junkie]

He can swap out axles from say a 3.27 to a 3.73 and would gain hp....You can pull the drum 8.8 from almost ANY ranger for under $200 around here. I'd say that's a fairly cheap upgrade. Plus probably gain a limited slip to boot.

How do you gain HP from a gear change? You gain HP from engine modifications!

Yeah no hp is gained when you change gearing, gearing determines basically if you get better fuel economy or better power, the best gearing for a DD is usually somewhere inbetween.
.

Actually you all are correct.

The engine's peak HP is unchanged, however if your axle gears are better optimized to your tire size and/or driving conditions, you'll be able to lay out more HP to the ground because your engine is running closer to it's optimal RPM throughout each of your transmission's gears.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Actually the HP still remains the same and comes into play in the same place in the RPM range if all you do is change out the gears you haven't eliminated any parasitic drag out of the drivetrain. The amount of HP/TQ required to turn the tires has changed however. The engine will not have to work as hard to turn the tires, basically you sacrifice good mileage for good towing capacity.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The engine will not have to work as hard to turn the tires, basically you sacrifice good mileage for good towing capacity.

That depends on what Ford graced you with for gear ratios... they got really stupid IMO for a long time dishing out outragously high gear ratios.

 

[Heavyfire14]

i got factory 4.10s i love my ratio, its perfect for what i do (most of the time)

 

[dla]

If your 2.3 is rated for 140hp @4500rpm, you aren't producing 140hp when the engine is turning 2200rpm at 60mph. So hang with me here - but "yes" you can get more HP by regearing.

Changing the gear ratio is a great way to improve performance - but usually with a decrease in fuel economy. But, 99% of the fuel economy decrease is due to driver habits.

I did a 400 mile test with my 2.3/5spd - driving in 4th versus driving in 5th. 1 mpg difference. I did that to get an idea of the effect of what my regearing from 3.73 to 4.30 would have on gas mileage. Huge performance improvement for a small change in economy.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If your 2.3 is rated for 140hp @4500rpm, you aren't producing 140hp when the engine is turning 2200rpm at 60mph. So hang with me here - but "yes" you can get more HP by regearing.

Changing the gear ratio is a great way to improve performance - but usually with a decrease in fuel economy. But, 99% of the fuel economy decrease is due to driver habits.

I did a 400 mile test with my 2.3/5spd - driving in 4th versus driving in 5th. 1 mpg difference. I did that to get an idea of the effect of what my regearing from 3.73 to 4.30 would have on gas mileage. Huge performance improvement for a small change in economy.

140hp is 140hp, doesn't increase a thing. It may move your RPM into a better place in the powerband so you can use what little power you have better but at the end of the day you still have the same horsepower.

 

[4x4junkie]

An engine's rated HP and what HP it's allowed to produce are two very different things (dla wasn't referring to it changing the engine's ratings). An engine's peak HP occurs across a rather narrow range of RPM, if it can't spin within or near that range, you lose HP. Plain & simple.