Changing Gears

[Teach]

I have the stock 3.07 gearing in the beast. I'm thinking of changing tire size to 31's and am wondering if I should take the plunge and change gearing to either 3.54 or 3.73, which are the largest I can go to with the D44s I have now...Whats the cheapest/best way to do this?

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Teach
'76 Wagoneer
360,Q-T,Edlebrock Intake/carb, D44's, 3.07, really big after market gas tank!
"If it ain't one thing, it's another...."

[trickc]

If your changing from 235's to 31's the gear change is really not necessary,you wont notice much of "seat of the pants" difference.I went from 3.07 to 3.73 with 33's
and wish i had gone more.I believe 3.73 or ?3.89 is as high as you can go without changing the carrier,but with a carrier change you can go 4.56 or more

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74 cherokee nt,4"lift,
33's,lockers,winch,custom bumpers,what else is there?

[Teach]

Welcome to the club, trickc!

Would a "simple" ring and pinion kit change the gears, or would I have to go more extreme measures? Would it be more simple to change axles or gears?

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Teach
'76 Wagoneer
360,Q-T,Edlebrock Intake/carb, D44's, 3.07, really big after market gas tank!
"If it ain't one thing, it's another...."

[trickc]

unless you have the technical expertise to set up a ring and pinion swap,it is neither simple nor inexpensive-$1000 range more or less to have it done.However if you can pick up used axles for cheap and swap them. cheap being the operative term here,last axle i bought used was $250. so your looking at 500+ if brakes,bearings,hubs etc are in working order. When I swapped the front axle I changed out bearings, new rotors,calipers etc. but the old ones were borderline to begin with. Either way its still gonna cost you.

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74 cherokee nt,4"lift,
33's,lockers,winch,custom bumpers,what else is there?

[River Beast]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by trickc:
unless you have the technical expertise to set up a ring and pinion swap,it is neither simple nor inexpensive-$1000 range more or less to have it done.However if you can pick up used axles for cheap and swap them. cheap being the operative term here,last axle i bought used was $250. so your looking at 500+ if brakes,bearings,hubs etc are in working order. When I swapped the front axle I changed out bearings, new rotors,calipers etc. but the old ones were borderline to begin with. Either way its still gonna cost you.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Welcome Trickc....

I agree it will cost you...but if you shop around.. you can find GREAT prices at machine shops... I had my dana44's COMPLETLY built with new bearings, shims, seals, Detroit Locker carriers and 4.89 R&P's for $209 and axle (I had brought them all the new parts).

for the record... the cut-off for carrier changes:
3.73 and down
3.92 and up

Parts should be the brunt of the $$$ not the install...You can get a "power package" like I did... 2 complete sets of R&P's of choice and 2 master overhaul kits... which includes bearings, seals, gaskets, marking compound, shims and GREAT instructions to review...I used them to match the patterns when I picked the axle up from the shop.

the "package deal" was $419!!! http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/eek.gif then you have to get your carriers...about $500 for a Detroit Locker... yes (1) Locker....

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Todd
78 Wagoneer, "River Beast"
360/TH400/QT
Dana 44's locked w/ 4.89's
39.50x15x15 Super Swamper TSL's
7" SOA in front-7" Rear Shackle Inversion Mods
4" Skyjacker Softride
3" Trailmaster Bodylift
My FSJ site: http://www.geocities.com/spazz4life (http://www.geocities.com/spazz4life)
My E-mail: monster_fsj@hotmail.com
"If you can't stop...SMILE as you go under!"

'93 3/4 ton 4x4 Suburban...a.k.a. "FSJ Hauler"

[Ralphp]

trickc, not to get off the intended subject, but I see that you have a '74 Cherokee with a 4" lift. Which lift did you use? I'm having a heck of a time trying to fing rear springs for my '74.

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'74 Cherokee NT
360, Motorcraft 4-Brl
TH 400/QT with Low Range
Factory A.C/PS/PB
Awaiting Complete Rebuild
and New Paint

[trickc]

I have 4" rough country springs in front and blocks in rear.The springs were an older set i stole off my dear departed 79 chief.Bought new in about '92.I've tried getting rear springs and I'm told skyjacker is supposed to have some in stock but haven't had the $$ to replace the blocks.

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74 cherokee nt,4"lift,
33's,lockers,winch,custom bumpers,what else is there?

[Teach]

Gulp, If, and when I do change, which gearing should I go for? My gut says 3.73, to get the highest available, but what would that do to gasmilage? is it that big a difference between 3.73 and 3.07?

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Teach
'76 Wagoneer
360,Q-T,Edlebrock Intake/carb, D44's, 3.07, really big after market gas tank!
"If it ain't one thing, it's another...."

[JeepFreak]

Hey RB, where did you get your parts from? Those sound like good prices and I am looking to rebuild mine.

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JeepFreak