Is It Better To Be Under Geared Or Over Geared?

[ezskanken]

Hey all you guys who know more than I will ever know about this kind of stuff, got another question for ya. I'm pretty sure this exact question may have been tossed up a bit, but never really addressed. As some of you may know, I am planning on getting a 6" lift with 35" tires. And I know the favorable gear ratio for that would be 4.56, so thus my question. Is it better to be under geared or over geared? Or should I put in the 4.56 gears in now with my current set up, so when I do get the lift on I'm ready to rock? Thanks again guys!

[green 788]

I would wait until you have all the money together, then do both at once.

 

If you go to 4:56 now, your truck will be geared like a tractor considering stock tire diameters. That would put a strain on the engine running at high rpm's just to make anything close to highway speed.

 

If you don't do the gears now, and go on with the lift and oversized tires, that will put a strain on the transmission clutches (or the manual clutch if it's a straight shift).

 

And who knows... by the time you save the coin for both mods, you might even change your mind, or even find a truck already set up that way that you can trade for and save big bucks.

 

Good luck...

 

Dan

[2000DV4.8]

I would wait until you have all the money together, then do both at once.

 

If you go to 4:56 now, your truck will be geared like a tractor considering stock tire diameters. That would put a strain on the engine running at high rpm's just to make anything close to highway speed.

 

If you don't do the gears now, and go on with the lift and oversized tires, that will put a strain on the transmission clutches (or the manual clutch if it's a straight shift).

 

And who knows... by the time you save the coin for both mods, you might even change your mind, or even find a truck already set up that way that you can trade for and save big bucks.

 

Good luck...

 

Dan

 

This Dan agrees with that ^ Dan.

[grampadirt]

''find a truck already set up that way that you can trade for and save big bucks. ''

 

Good luck...

 

Dan

 

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I bought my '95 Burb with a lift,4:56 gears,Detroit Locker and 33s already on it.It's a real smooth vehicle to drive and will pull a house...check my sig

[MarkD]

+1 with everything so far. At least if you follow Gramps idea, you get to test out the combo.

 

To answer the specific question you posed, I believe it would be better to run stock height 4.56 gears for a week rather than 35" tires with 3.73's .

 

Stated another way, I would rather rev a motor than lug it. You would put more stress on every drivetrain component.

[Zembonez]

4.56 gears are going to equal GODZILLA rpms on the highway. I sure would not do it unless all of your other mods are done and you need them. I'd think 4.11 gears would be plenty for a 35 inch tire...