Regear or wait for a 4.0L

[micfly83]

Hey I was wonderin what you guys think I should do...I have a 94 4 popper with a 3" lift with 31s. I'd like to put some 33s on and a 1" BL in the future but I really don't want the performance issues that go along with it. Do you think I should keep the Jeep I have now and regear to 4.88 or wait to put on the big meats until I get a Jeep with a bigger engine? How do the 4 banger guys like 33s and the 4.88 setup?

:rockz:

Here it is now:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/753000-753999/753987_74_full.jpg

[trailblazer95]

4.88's with 33's here. It's as close to stock RPM range as you can get with 33's.

Here's a cost comparison.

Keep existing YJ:
Regear - $700-$1200
Tires -$700
New Speedo Gear - $20

4.0L YJ:
At least $4k initial investment
Regear to 4.10 - $700-$1200
Tires - $700
Lift kit to accomodate 33's - $700
New Speedo Gear - $20

IMHO, i think the choice should present itself in those figures.

[YJbogey]

If it were me, I would keep your 4.10's and run 33x10.50 BFG MT tires. Less weight to turn, so it isn't as bad as the 12.50's, and plus they perform great.

The 4.88 ring gear is on the thin end of things. I haven't read too much about people breaking them, but with 4.10's you are much better off not breaking it.

Also you live in Florida so you don't do many hill climbs. I ran 4.10's with the 33x10.50's and a crappy 4 banger.. I could still use 5th on flat ground.

I still run the 33x10.50's with my I6 and love 'em. Here are some pics..
http://www.chrr.ohio-state.edu/~bogrees/image/Jeep/20050130/DSC04170.JPG
http://www.chrr.ohio-state.edu/~bogrees/image/Jeep/20050212/DSC04336.JPG

[wallysheata]

if you can afford it :) I would buy a 4.0L YJ for say $4,000 then swap axles so you have 4.10 gears, and turn around and sell your 4cly YJ for $3,500. The general public wont know the difference in gear ratio's, so you'd be fine :) I ran a 4.0L 5spd with 4.10's and 31's, that was sweet, when i put the 33's on it started to bog down quite a bit. I like having the engine rev at 2,700 down the highway so i can keep speed on inclines


Wally

[Rock WoRM]

What are your plans for the rig? If your gona do any hard wheel'en, you might consider an axle swap. i.e. toy,8.8, D44. I would'nt spend money on regearing if you might possibley need a heavier axle down the road. Then you're cool for 33's or bigger. Just my .02.

WoRM :bsod:

[kowalsy]

-=- originally posted by trailblazer95 -=-
4.88's with 33's here. It's as close to stock RPM range as you can get with 33's.

Hey i'm running 33x12.50 on my 2.5L currently and I am debating the whole 4.88 gear swap thing. Did you find that your gas millage improved doing the swap? I'm sure around town it's fine on gas, but what about on the highway? turning 3,000RPM's for any amount of time at highway speeds has me worried about killing my already brutil gas millage..

[micfly83]

I hit the trail about once or twice a month, no rocks, just sand and mud. I'm mainly just concerned about the onroad performance at this point. With the 4 banger, couldn't I just run the 33s on the D35 without swapin axels? I know with the 4.0L, 33s and above require a new one (if your smart :slapz: ), so I was thinkin I could save some money there. I live in Florida so I wont have to be battling any hills, but I will have to hit the highway to and from college. Right now I can get up to about 60-65mph with the 31" setup. How fast can I expect to go with the 33s? I may consider goin 32s and not regear, but then I'll be even more miserable with the performance and always wished I would have gone to 33s :D

[TCnKY]

Do a 8.8 and 4:88's. You will love it!!!

[kowalsy]

anybody have any experience related to MPG differences? i know it's a great swap if your serious about offroading and such, but many people like myself use there jeep as a daily driver and dont need to be burning up the gas for a little better trail performance.. there's always 4-low. with 33's and 4.10's on the 2.5L it has plently of jam to get you where you need to go.

[jaxjeeper]

Depending on where you live and how you drive. I have a 2.5 4.10's and 33X12.50 on 15 X 9" wheels. I can go down the Hwy in fifth gear all day.... Gotta love the florida geography though. I have had some work done in the engine for a little pep, and header, THB cat back and so forth. Wheeling it is fine as well. Im going to hit 35-36" tires next but doing an 8.8 swap with 4.88's. Also...the cute little light bar does create drag....It might have to go....even with a V8 swap:avid: Other than that its up to you. I would not throw money into the D35 regear... I have bashed the hell out of mine for 13 years....A lot of air time and several trips in to GA,AL,TN and NC mountains....It has had zero problems....Knock on wood. I have a friend that years back prior to the 4.88 got 4.56 in the 4 popper and is on 35...its ok but he hea popped a few shafts. Just listen to the vets of the board...they'll steer you right.

[micfly83]

-=- originally posted by jaxjeeper -=-
Depending on where you live and how you drive. I have a 2.5 4.10's and 33X12.50 on 15 X 9" wheels. I can go down the Hwy in fifth gear all day.... Gotta love the florida geography though. I have had some work done in the engine for a little pep, and header, THB cat back and so forth. Wheeling it is fine as well. Im going to hit 35-36" tires next but doing an 8.8 swap with 4.88's. Also...the cute little light bar does create drag....It might have to go....even with a V8 swap:avid: Other than that its up to you. I would not throw money into the D35 regear... I have bashed the hell out of mine for 13 years....A lot of air time and several trips in to GA,AL,TN and NC mountains....It has had zero problems....Knock on wood. I have a friend that years back prior to the 4.88 got 4.56 in the 4 popper and is on 35...its ok but he hea popped a few shafts. Just listen to the vets of the board...they'll steer you right.

Well thats basically the opposite of what people recommend. Rather than trying to get more power out of a small engine, the best bang for your buck is regearing. My options are spending $1,000 + on engine upgrades or $800 on regearing and getting stock performance back. :rockz: