gear change

[Paul1967]

hello everyone. I have a gear change question. I have a 95 range 2.3L with a 5 speed manuel trans. I'm running 26" tall tires and I want to go to ether 3.55s or 3.73 gears and I need to know what kind of computer issues I will have. I'm assuming that I can't change the speedo gear becauses its electronic? do the computers used in these cover several gear ratios or just the original gear ratio.

 

[DieselTech07]

hello everyone. I have a gear change question. I have a 95 range 2.3L with a 5 speed manuel trans. I'm running 26" tall tires and I want to go to ether 3.55s or 3.73 gears and I need to know what kind of computer issues I will have. I'm assuming that I can't change the speedo gear becauses its electronic? do the computers used in these cover several gear ratios or just the original gear ratio.

When I was working on newer semi trucks we could plug in and change all kinds of parameters.
The ford dealer or any shop that can plug into the truck with a scan tool or a computer should be able to reprogram the values in the computer for tire size and gear ratio or the revolutions per mile, to fix the speedo/odometer it should only take them five or ten minutes. I don't know how much they would charge. Or you could just find out how many mph you are off and not mess with the computer it shouldn't really affect anything except the speedo/odometer.

I have a 97 ranger with the 2.3L auto tranny and 4.10 gears it had ok power on 26" tires before I went to 29". For your 26" tires with the 5 speed I think you would be happier with the 3.73 gears if you are buying a used axle and have a choice between gear ratios. do you know what gears are in the truck now? you might already have 3.73s if you don't know check this page out http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Axles.html

on my 94 3.0 5 speed 3.73 gears on stock tires fifth gear is almost unusable until I get on the highway I do live in hill country however.

 

[feellnfroggy]

If you were to change your gear ratio from say 3.27 to 4.10 you should have a max 5th gear rpm difference of 500 rpms. SO moving to 3.73's should not be an issue for you. If you dont already have them.

 

[Mac]

Well going from a 3.27 to a 3.73 gears is a 14% change. That's going to throw the spedo way off. It's just a matter of having the change programed in.
Dave

 

[Hahnsb2]

What gears do you have now?

I would want 3.73s with those tires..

 

[PlumCrazy]

What gears do you have now?

I would want 3.73s with those tires..

I would want 4.10s. I had a 2.3 5 speed and it was gutless with 4.10's turning 28's.

95's still have a speedo gear on the end of the speed sensor.

-PlumCrazy

 

[Paul1967]

Thanks for the reply. I was pretty sure I could reprogam the computer I just wanted to know if there was anything else to consider. I just got the truck a week ago drove it from California back to Arizona, not to many hills but I would like to get the truck to a point in which it will pull fairly well without coming down to 3rd. I understand that the 2.3L is no barn burner but I would like to be able to cruise at between 65 and 75 without it sounding like its lugging the engine when I start going up long grades.

 

[Paul1967]

I guess to some extent I would like my ranger to perform almost as well as my 08 lancer. They weigh almost the same, yes I know I'm talking apples and oranges but in my way of thinking if a 2.0L car with a 5 speed has no issues pulling long grades at 80 mph or better in 5th gear then my ranger should do the same. Yep I know theres 13 years of technology between the two, and the lancer has variable valve timing but its not a real barn burner ether although it loves high rpms from 4 grand to 6 grand pulls hard. Yep I know still comparing apples to oranges. It makes for lots of fun.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Again, what gears does it have now?

I would want 4.10s. I had a 2.3 5 speed and it was gutless with 4.10's turning 28's.

Yeah 4.10s would be best, brain fart.

 

[Paul1967]

It has 3.45 gears right now. I also found out it has california emissions so theres some work do be done there to get it to breath better and make the exhaust free flowing. I'll take a look at where the rpms will be with 4.10s and make a choice from there. Thanks for your help.

 

[Hahnsb2]

70MPH is 2900 RPMs with 4.10s, that's ideal IMO...