Ring And Pinion

[rangerbum]

My 97 2.3 2 wheel drive has the factory 3.45 gears and its a SLUG in first! I need a new gear ratio but still havent made the choice what to run. I'm tossing it up between 3.73 and 4.10. But im leaning toward 4.10 because i know i'll pfobably be running 31s or even 33s eventually. I just need a little imput from folks that have either one to assist my decision. And i do spend a lot of time on the highway to work and back as this is my only rig currently.

Thanks for your imput.

 

[KELLY88]

3.73 if you keep the stock tires, 4.10 with 31s and might want to go with 4.56 for 33s. The 2.3 is a good reliable motor but not very strong. If you want to turn 33s on the highway and not take 3 miles to get up to speed then you'll need to go lower (numerically higher) in the gears.

 

[Dishtowel]

3.73 if you keep the stock tires, 4.10 with 31s and might want to go with 4.56 for 33s. The 2.3 is a good reliable motor but not very strong. If you want to turn 33s on the highway and not take 3 miles to get up to speed then you'll need to go lower (numerically higher) in the gears.

+1

 

[Maverick]

If you think your gonna go 31 or 33, I'd go ahead and drop 4.56's in it. Switching to 3.73 isn't a big enough change to even justify a gear swap. 4.10's would be OK for 31's but with 33's you'd be wanting 4.56's. With 4.10's and 31's your truck would be right back to stock. If want more power than stock, going with 4.56's will do that as well as still being able to accomodate a 33" tire if you ever decide to upgrade.

 

[colinrmitchell]

This is good info. I've got a 2.3L with 33x12.50 tires at 3.73s now, it's a DOG. I'm going 4.56, too. A calculator said closest to 4.80, but I guess they don't have 4.88s for the 7.5" (from what I've been told).

 

[rangerbum]

Thanks guys. I think ill go with the 4.56 but wait untill i get new tires. So it'll be a while. i got new skins about a month and a half ago.

 

[Ranger44]

A 2.3 with 33's you WILL want 4.88's.

4.56's are actually better suited for 31's. You could get away with 4.10's.

Just the same you may be able to swing 33's with 4.56's. It'll be a little doggish.

I can't seem to find 4.88's for the 7.5, but they are 5.13's??????

 

[colinrmitchell]

Yeah, Ranger44, I had the same problem finding them. I could find 5.13s, too, but no 4.88s.