33's w/ 2.5L re-gear or not?

[Ratman]

I have a '93 Wrangler w/ 2.5L engine. I run 31's with a 2" body lift. I want to go to 33's and lift higher, but am worried about power loss. Has anyone out there not re-geared? Or is it a must?

------------------

[GO 4LO]

It's not a must for everyone. I ran 32/11.50's for awhile with the stock 4.10's and didn't find it nearly as bad as everyone always said. If I were sticking with those 32's and didn't already have a D44 waiting to go in the rearend, I probably wouldn't have regeared. Now that I have regeared though, I'm much happier with my performance. My suggestion would be to get the tires and try it out for awhile to see what you think. It all comes down to driving style. I found that acceleration from a stop was a little weaker, and fifth wasn't as strong on the highway (but still useable). HTH.
Chris

------------------
1999 Gunmetal Blue TJ SE 5-spd., Hardtop, Supertop
Performance: TB-Mounted K&N, Cherry Bomb, 4" RE/Tera/Rusty's, JKS QD's, 32" Bias TSL's, Sun Perf. Light Guards, Con-ferr front, OYR Corners, TC Bars, Kilby skid, Runck rear, D44 Rear, 4.88's, Dual Lockrights
Audio: Pioneer DIN & 1/2, Polk 4x6's, 300-watt sub
On the Way: Bar Offroad Rocker Protection, Hella 500's

[OverTech]

2.5L Jeep come with 4.10 gears which is OK for 33" tires. I ran BFG 33x12.50 MTs on stock 4.10 gears in my 2.5L for about 6 months.
Don't expect to use 5th gear very often if at all. You will not have to ride the clutch to take off and it's not that bad off road. But you will want to add 4.56 or 4.88 gears to your list of things to do eventually... I went with 4.56 gears and it feels like stock again...

[Nick Scribner]

I ran like that for a little over a year. It is tolerable, but like they said, add it to your list. When you do eventually change, go for the 4.88's they are perfect, the numbers also work out to suggest the 4.88's.

[Ratman]

I was told by a local shop that re-gearing my jeep would be about $1,300.00 does that sound about right?
Also...Would you guys get rid of the body lift and go to a 4" suspension lift or keep it and add a 2.5" suspension lift?

[Kung Pow Chicken]

I was also told $1300--whether that is fair or not it sounds like it must be somewhat standard.

go with the 4" suspension lift.

[This message has been edited by Kung Pow Chicken (edited 04-24-2001).]

[TJx2]

Keep in mind, the 4" lift will be considerably more money.... not just for the lift, but for everything that needs to go with it (new driveshafts if needed, et)

[Ratman]

If I added 2.5" suspension will I still need to add those things?

[GO 4LO]

$1300 seems awful high for simply regearing. I would think lockers would be included in that price too. You could just add a 2" spacer lift instead of switching to the 4" susp. lift. This would allow you to save a significant amount of money to put toward regearing. I also second the 4.88's over the 4.56's. HTH.
Chris

------------------
1999 Gunmetal Blue TJ SE 5-spd., Hardtop, Supertop
Performance: TB-Mounted K&N, Cherry Bomb, 4" RE/Tera/Rusty's, JKS QD's, 32" Bias TSL's, Sun Perf. Light Guards, Con-ferr front, OYR Corners, TC Bars, Kilby skid, Runck rear, D44 Rear, 4.88's, Dual Lockrights
Audio: Pioneer DIN & 1/2, Polk 4x6's, 300-watt sub
On the Way: Bar Offroad Rocker Protection, Hella 500's

[Ratman]

The 2" spacer...Is that a body lift? I already have a 2" body lift on this jeep.

[GO 4LO]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Ratman:
The 2" spacer...Is that a body lift? I already have a 2" body lift on this jeep. </font>

I'm sorry. I was referring to a set of 2" poly spring spacers. They fit above the coil springs of your Jeep instead of using new coil springs. This is less expensive and does not sacrifice your stock ride quality. A set of 2" spacers with shocks and rear bumstop extensions runs $200 from Rubicon Express. HTH.
Chris

[FLiP]

since you have a YJ, a spacer lift won't work. you could just get lift shackles (YJ equiv. of a spacer lift). those are fairly inexpensive. you could always go w/ revolver shackles to increase your flex. i believe those give a few inches of lift.

edit: btw, i'm running 33's w/ a 4 banger and stock gears. it goes fine. it's not a tire-burner, but it gets me there.

[This message has been edited by FLiP (edited 04-24-2001).]

[GO 4LO]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by FLiP:
since you have a YJ, a spacer lift won't work.

[This message has been edited by FLiP (edited 04-24-2001).]</font>

Good point. Sorry I didn't notice that you had a YJ above. http://forums.jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif I second the lift shackles. I'd suggest looking at www.rustysoffroad.com (http://www.rustysoffroad.com) for more ideas on budget lifts, too. HTH.
Chris

[chicagor]

$1300 sounds a bit high. I just bought Superior 4.88s, master install kits w/timekin bearings, and trutracks from Drivetrain Warehouse for $1180 to my door with lifetime guarantee, they are being installed tomorrow at local 4wd shop for $550, so total $1730. About $700 of that is the trutracks, so should be closer to about $1000 - $1100 for just a regear to 4.88s.

[GO 4LO]

Just as another reference point, my 4.88's and lockrights front and rear with install labor ran to $1600. Without lockrights, that'd be around $1100 too. HTH.
Chris

------------------
1999 Gunmetal Blue TJ SE 5-spd., Hardtop, Supertop
Performance: TB-Mounted K&N, Cherry Bomb, 4" RE/Tera/Rusty's, JKS QD's, 32" Bias TSL's, Sun Perf. Light Guards, Con-ferr front, OYR Corners, TC Bars, Kilby skid, Runck rear, D44 Rear, 4.88's, Dual Lockrights
Audio: Pioneer DIN & 1/2, Polk 4x6's, 300-watt sub
On the Way: Bar Offroad Rocker Protection, Hella 500's

[OverTech]

I got quotes ranging from $780 to $1100 around Atlanta. Some places around Charlotte I hear do it for $200 per axle, so it depends on where you live.

In the end, I decided to do my own gear swap. I spent about $445 in tools and did it all myself (after much research).

Dave

[TheGrimJeeper]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Ratman:
I have a '93 Wrangler w/ 2.5L engine. I run 31's with a 2" body lift. I want to go to 33's and lift higher, but am worried about power loss. Has anyone out there not re-geared? Or is it a must?
</font>

If this were my Jeep, and not too wild on the budget, here's what I'd do...

4.88 gears with LockRights front and rear
- Get a Ford 8.8 out of a 95-00 Explorer with disc brakes and 4.10s, get the 4.88s and Lockrights installed in your D30 as well as the Ford 8.8, have someone weld on the spring perches and shock mounts onto the Ford 8.8 and you will be done with gearing.

Get a 2.5" lift kit from whomever (Pro-comp, etc), open up the clips on the springs so they will flex more, remove your front sway bar and rear track bar, put on some greasable boomerang shackles (3/8" lift), keep the 2" body, put on 1" Motor Mount lift, and put on TJ fender flares. This will give you reasonable flex, and plenty of clearance for true 33" tires, and with the shims and Motor Mount lift should alleviate any driveline issues.

[EZRiderDude]

I just regeared to 4:88 3 weeks ago on my 2.5L TJ. I run 33" BFG's and 4" lift. The differance was amazing. It cost me $1300 for parts and labor. See the string below for more details:

http://forums.jeepsunlimited.coom/ubb/Forum23/HTML/001982.html

------------------
97 TJ 4" lift 33" BFG's 4:88's etc...

[Duh]

im running 35s and didnt regear. not that bad on the freeway in 4th. i can use 5th when the wind is low and no hills.

------------------
<A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/duhjeep/" TARGET=_blank>4 Banger With 35s, Lift, Lockers, and much more.
To See My TJ's Mod List/Setup, Pictures, and Trail Runs Click Here!</A>

[beachjeeper]

i have a 93 yj with the 2.5. i run 33x12.50 bfg mudds with the stock gears. its not too bad. i wouldn't recommend if you gonna spend all the money you have to upgade on that. yes, it is damn slow, but when was the last time a true 4wd machine was fast? you can foget about using fifth gear though, unless you're goin down a long hill on the freeway. one thing that i'm doing this summer is adding an airtube, throttle body spacer, and exhaust. and when my current tires wear out, i'm going to go with 33x10.50.

[tunafreedolphin]

Go with 4.88's that is what I have and have been very happy with them.

[Ezra]

WOW!!! Talk about night of the living dead!!

[JeeperDon]

With 33's and 4.88 gears, you use the same speedo gear as with 4.10's and stock tires, meaning the motor rev range per mile is normal. Though that seems to make the tires a 'no big deal', you will definitely see a perf hit on both motor and brakes due to the rotational mass of the larger tires. There will also be a fuel hit, if that matters to you. I was fine at 2.5L+33"+4.88 for a long time, then I went to 35's and the motor took a perf nose dive, couldn't handle the extra size/weight. I then swapped to a 4.3L GM.