[hawkrider]

Experienced opinions please.

Spec's:

82 CJ7, 258ci, T-18 and Dana 300 case, 2.5" lift with 32" tires, Dana 30 front and AMC 20 rear with 1 peice axles. Currently open diff's and 3.31 gears.

I want to put an ARB in the rear and change the gears too. It has been suggested to go with 4.56, but this sounds too extreme to me. But I have no experience here. How low should I go?

NOTE: I have no truck/trailer, so I need to be able to drive the Jeep to wherever I go wheeling; sometimes hours.

Lou

[BillyPilgrim]

How does it feel for you when wheeling now? What kind of wheeling do you do? Are you riding the clutch a lot? Do you like the engine speed when you are driving down the road at speed?

There are a lot of factors, most of them subjective, that go into what gears you will want.

Here is a gear calculator that you can play around with.

If it were me I would not want very short gears at all if I were doing a lot of road driving, especially without the option of overdrive.

[bkeese]

With 4.56 gears you will be spinning that 258 over 3100 rpm @ 65. Forget passing on the freeway. Alot of Jeeps came with 2.70 - 2.90 gears and with your 3.31 and 32" you are turning about the same rpms as many stockers. I don't think I would spend the money to re-gear both axles, since you have 3.31s. I also would not spend the money for an ARB in an AMC20 rear. Go with a spool or an Aussie locker for half the money or less. If you really get into wheeling, that AMC20 will not remain very long and the re-sale of an AMC20 with 1 piece axles and an ARB is probably not very good. Stay with the stock gears and invest in a spool or lunch box locker. I just save you a $1000. I accept PayPal.

[nacheswheelin]

Originally Posted by bkeese

With 4.56 gears you will be spinning that 258 over 3100 rpm @ 65. Forget passing on the freeway. Alot of Jeeps came with 2.70 - 2.90 gears and with your 3.31 and 32" you are turning about the same rpms as many stockers. I don't think I would spend the money to re-gear both axles, since you have 3.31s. I also would not spend the money for an ARB in an AMC20 rear. Go with a spool or an Aussie locker for half the money or less. If you really get into wheeling, that AMC20 will not remain very long and the re-sale of an AMC20 with 1 piece axles and an ARB is probably not very good. Stay with the stock gears and invest in a spool or lunch box locker. I just save you a $1000. I accept PayPal.

X2 except the spool part. If your driving on the road for hours a good Aussie will work, if you don't mind a little clicking. I have a softlocker in both my axles. If you plan on staying with your amc and 32s go Detroit.

[lucdog]

Check the rpm's on the gear chart for 4.10's

Bill

[Viencent]

Wish you were in Texas, I've got 4.56's and looking to go to 3.31's. Im running 33's and like has been said, over 60 is hard on the motor, 3000k plus on the highway, was told by a local shop 4.56 you really need 35's at a min

[DropeTine99]

For 32s I wouldn't go anything lower then 3.73s, I got 33s and 4,10s with a Detroit in the rear. Can't tell a big difference with the Detroit on the highway but i am pushing 2700 rpm at 55-60 with the 258. I would recommend 3.54s with the 32s and a Detroit. Like what everyone else is saying: with the 32s and 4.56 you will be pushing major RPMs and correct me if i'm wrong but you're MPG on the highway will go down a lot. If you're looking at getting 33s someday you should go for 3.73s or 4.10s.

[hawkrider]

Thx all for the great input. These are my thoughts as well; that the 4.56 would ahve the motor running way too high.

The granny low in the T-18 works for crawling. But, on the road 3rd and 4th really bog down. Its really slow going up hill on the highway is a B---h. So thought gears may help here.

Mostly I want a locker in the rear, and figured while it was opened up might as well change out the gears.

I will ck the ratios for the trans and calculate the driving speeds and RPM's with the chart to see where I should go.

Lou

[hawkrider]

Originally Posted by DropeTine99

For 32s I wouldn't go anything lower then 3.73s, I got 33s and 4,10s with a Detroit in the rear. Can't tell a big difference with the Detroit on the highway but i am pushing 2700 rpm at 55-60 with the 258. I would recommend 3.54s with the 32s and a Detroit. Like what everyone else is saying: with the 32s and 4.56 you will be pushing major RPMs and correct me if i'm wrong but you're MPG on the highway will go down a lot. If you're looking at getting 33s someday you should go for 3.73s or 4.10s.

How does that Detroit handle on the road, highway? I've heard they are great off road but BRUTAL on the highway for a short wheel base rig. Heard you could end up swerving all over the road.

Lou

[BillyPilgrim]

Originally Posted by hawkrider

How does that Detroit handle on the road, highway? I've heard they are great off road but BRUTAL on the highway for a short wheel base rig. Heard you could end up swerving all over the road.

Lou

I purchased a D44 rear with Detroit and had the same concerns. Figured I would give it a whirl before tearing it out for a select-able.

I have tested it on/off road and have had zero issues. Sometimes it binds up after a power-on turn and makes a loud clank when it disengages but it has never pushed me around on the road.

[lockedcj7]

I think 4.56 is too low with 32s given your situation. Here is my setup and I am totally happy with it on the road.

258 w/mpfi, T-176, D300, 4.10s, ARB and 33" tires.

It has plenty of pep off the line (yours will be even better with the T-18) and I can still cruise at 65 on the interstate. My transmission is living on borrowed time so I'm thinking of swapping in a NV3550 or AX-15 to get the 5th gear. That should make cruising up to 70 pretty comfortable. I might also put a 4:1 kit in the t-case for a better crawl ratio. Other than that, it's perfect.

[DropeTine99]

Originally Posted by hawkrider

How does that Detroit handle on the road, highway? I've heard they are great off road but BRUTAL on the highway for a short wheel base rig. Heard you could end up swerving all over the road.

Lou

I can't tell a difference with the Detroit on the highway and i got some really loose steering, but off road the thing is a beast. But feels fine going 60 on the highway!

[diddy2003]

If you stay with 32 inch tires I think I would go with 3.73s

3.73s. 2350 rpm at 60 mph. 61.7:1 Crawl Ratio.

4.10s 2584 rpm at 60 mph. 67.84:1 Crawl Ratio.

3.54s 2231 rpm at 60 mph. 58.61:1 Crawl Ratio.

If you are staying at 32s, I would say going with 3.73s would be a good idea based on those numbers. If you plan on going with larger tires at some point then I think 4.10s would be a nice choice. 33s with 4.10s 2500 rpm at 60 and 67.88:1 crawl ratio. 35s with 4.10s 2362 rpm at 60 and 67.88:1 crawl ratio.

[mopar346]

Terra kit in the T-case and leave the axle gears alone.

[Viencent]

Originally Posted by mopar346

Terra kit in the T-case and leave the axle gears alone.

now this is a great idea