Gears help

[killj0y]

Ok so I have a 7.5 rear end and running 31s on my 2.3 96. I have the 3.73s and 5th gear is useless therefore on the highway I can barely do 65/70.

I'm considering changing then out for 4.10s but I'm worried about losing even more top end. Basically the get up and go at the low end is acceptable right now, not great but not looking to race.

What would be my option since it used to do 90 easy before the tire change. Just wanting opinions.

Ps I am looking into a swap but not until this engine blows lol. So that's out for now

 

[straycat]

Ok so I have a 7.5 rear end and running 31s on my 2.3 96. I have the 3.73s and 5th gear is useless therefore on the highway I can barely do 65/70.

I'm considering changing then out for 4.10s but I'm worried about losing even more top end. Basically the get up and go at the low end is acceptable right now, not great but not looking to race.

What would be my option since it used to do 90 easy before the tire change. Just wanting opinions.

Ps I am looking into a swap but not until this engine blows lol. So that's out for now

Do you really need to run at 90 mph? I run a 4.10 with 33x12.5 tires. Lots of pep and top speed...but Ihave a 4.0 motor so plenty of power. If you are going to do a motor swap later, go ahead on and get an 8.8 rear set up with a 4.10. You will have to swap out the front to match...not cheap of course but it has to be done. 33's are not really that tall of a tire. 4.10 ratio will give a bit more 'power' back to the 2.3 motor. Don't worry about trying to do 90+ mph when you don't need to.

 

[dangerranger83]

No need to do 90 let alone in a ranger.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

You'll get some top back but with a taller truck [because of tires] you have more air friction so you won't get it all back.

 

[RangerSVT]

4.10s in a 2.3l ranger are ok, the limas like rpms anyway, it will give you better take off and allow overdrive use, just keep it to a legal speed...

SVT

 

[killj0y]

Not saying I want to go 90 guys lol. I guess that came off wrong. I had no problem hitting 90 if I wanted to, I never want to go that fast. But right now it's like I'm pedal to the medal just to do highway speeds. So passing is an issue. I do want to be able to use overdrive and not have it still drop down to 55 on hills with nothing loaded.

Just want some of my top end back. I was just worried because as I understood it bigger gears help the low end, but hurt the high end. I want to improve the high end the low end is fine I'm not trying to take off like a sports car or top out like one. I just want to be able to keep up with traffic

 

[Captain Ledd]

I have 4.56 and 29's. 3,000rpm @70mph in 5th. Honestly, it's perfectly fine.

As for loosing top end by going deep, the 4 cylinders are ALL top end. Power really doesn't come into it's prime until at least 2,500-2,800 RPM.

Do not fear the gear!

 

[brokemechanic3000]

You definitely need a re gear the 31's are a lot bigger than O.E. It is a lot harder for the motor to turn that much more tire with the stock gear ratio. So to get your performance back you need at least 4.10 gears or lower. You are actually going faster than what the speedo is telling you (bigger tire goes farther in one turn).

And to straycat 33's are not that big today but only a short time ago they were huge. To have 33s on a truck was rare.

 

[killj0y]

Awesome I'm gonna go for it. I was planning to put in a locker anyways this next week I'm doing the camo headliner. Any ideas how to take off the door accents so I can do those too?

I found some 410s for about 150.does that seem reasonable?

 

[bigmark303]

55mph is all you are going to get out of 4.10 gears, 31s, and the 2.3L. I have two 2.5L with 4.10s, and 31s. They are pedal to the metal to stay anywhere above 55mph. The second you let off the gas you lose 15mph in a few seconds.

I had a 1995 2.3L with 32s and 3.73s for a while. It was far better at cruising 55mph-60mph but even that I couldn't push over 60mph without the pedal to the metal my entire trip.

Passing with a 4 cyl forget about it. Put the pedal all the way down 30 seconds in advance to the pass.

These trucks are all 4 speed automatics so you might be able to push just a tad more with the 5spd but I still don't see you using overdrive frequently if you want to keep up with traffic on a highway. Stay in the right lane and let everyone pass you is more whats going to happen if you want to make use of 5th gear.

 

[FritzTKatt]

I picked up a 8.8 ring and pinion for $75. Ford Racing parts too.

 

[Haywire6000]

Is yours a 4x4? My 93 2.3l 4x4 came with 4.10's stock. Even with the 225/75/R15 she still has a hard time hitting 75