Re-geared 80 series on 35's in central NC available for test drive?

[Raleighwood]

What's up ONSC's!

I'm seriously considering re-gearing my '96 LX. Already doggish, it's only gotten moreso since starting to run 35's. There are some hills in Raleigh that I literally lose speed on.

Before re-gearing I'd ideally find a gracious re-geared Mudder running 35's that would consider letting me take theirs out (on-road) to feel the difference. I'd be incredibly grateful; am willing to drive within 2-3 hours of Raleigh; and would bring with me a nice sampling of the finest bourbon/scotch/beer/wine/Vitamin Water of your choice as a token of my significant appreciation.

If anyone may be willing to consider this, please PM me. Thanks so very much in advance!!

 

[lumbee1]

What's up ONSC's!

I'm seriously considering re-gearing my '96 LX. Already doggish, it's only gotten moreso since starting to run 35's. There are some hills in Raleigh that I literally lose speed on.

Before re-gearing I'd ideally find a gracious re-geared Mudder running 35's that would consider letting me take theirs out (on-road) to feel the difference. I'd be incredibly grateful; am willing to drive within 2-3 hours of Raleigh; and would bring with me a nice sampling of the finest bourbon/scotch/beer/wine/Vitamin Water of your choice as a token of my significant appreciation.

If anyone may be willing to consider this, please PM me. Thanks so very much in advance!!

@Raleighwood are you coming to the dinner Wednesday night? We can talk and possibly drive then. I still have to button up some items on my Cruiser including adjusting the transmission throttle cable.

BTW, if you think driving around Raleigh is bad, try Arizona with 35's and 4.10's. It was a pretty awful experience with loaded dumptrucks passing us going 20mph more than us.

 

[fourtrax]

i don't know of anyone who wouldn't regear again after driving a regeared 80 with 35.

 

[SeanLX]

i don't know of anyone who wouldn't regear again after driving a regeared 80 with 35.

and that's why I haven't asked to drive anyone's regeared trucks. I know it's going to cost me some money.

but I know how sluggish mine is and I'm going to have to break down and do that someday soon.

 

[lumbee1]

and that's why I haven't asked to drive anyone's regeared trucks. I know it's going to cost me some money.

but I know how sluggish mine is and I'm going to have to break down and do that someday soon.

Whatever you do, do not drive a supercharged or turbocharged 80. You will want to sell both kidneys to get either power adder.

 

[Jeff Elliott]

^^^ This ^^^

I would gladly let you take a spin in mine which is on 35's and 4.88 but it's got a turbo and a part-time kit. It's a whole different truck for sure. It will definitely make you want to raid the bank account. Matter of fact, the part time kit made a huge difference and I did that pre-turbo.

 

[roadstr6]

^^^ This ^^^

I would gladly let you take a spin in mine which is on 35's and 4.88 but it's got a turbo and a part-time kit. It's a whole different truck for sure. It will definitely make you want to raid the bank account. Matter of fact, the part time kit made a huge difference and I did that pre-turbo.

I "part-timed" mine for a month last summer (removed the front driveshaft) while I was waiting on a double cardan. I have to admit, I really liked how it drove. I picked up a couple of mpg's as well. Now I'm back to full time with a DC shaft.

 

[Raleighwood]

Well, you guys are both very gracious and preemptively making me figure out how to allocate more bank than I was intending to this next Cruiser project.

Thank you for you responses and I'd love to take you up on these offers.

I've been meaning to meet up for months/years at a local ONSC dinner/beer gathering and that likely makes the most sense. I'm embarrassed to even ask (I'm sure it's posted fifty places on here already, really sorry) but is it a rolling second-Wednesday gathering every month?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

It's the *first* Wednesday every month in Raleigh. I pushed it back to the second Wednesday for this month only due to a conflict I had.

 

[pkniland]

I went 35's with 4.88's, I was real close to going 5.29's. Cant imagine going back now

 

[Raleighwood]

I went 35's with 4.88's, I was real close to going 5.29's. Cant imagine going back now

Are you pleased with the 4.88's? Are there situations where you wished you'd gone to 5.29's?

 

[fourtrax]

a 4.88 is about perfect to echo the stock gearing ratio of 4.10:1 when running 36" tires.
5.29 too low for 35's if you do mainly street driving.
4.88 are a ever so slightly on the power side with 35's

if your factory tire size was 32" and came with 4:10 gears going to a 35" tire would drop your ratio down to about 3.75:1 changing your gear to 4.88 with 315's (35") would give you a effective ratio of about 4.46:1.

you could install 4.56 which would give you a effective ratio of about 4.17:1 (very close to stock but, not worth the effort IMO). if your going to do any mixed street/exploring/off roading with 315's then 4.88s are the money shot.
and, and... if you ever went to 37"s on 4.88 your effective ratio would be 4.17:1

you can get an idea how tire sizes and gears effect RPM here

Gear Ratio & Tire Size Chart

Simple chart that shows effects of bigger tires on gear ratios, find quick ratio for better MPG or more power.

www.4lo.com

if you want to see what a supercharged 4.88 on 37's feel like let me know

 

[pkniland]

Are you pleased with the 4.88's? Are there situations where you wished you'd gone to 5.29's?

Im happy with them, I was really looking at 5.29's for the low end power but worried about losing top end. I also was a little worried about the strength of 5.29's vs 4.88's. 5.29's might have been too much in low range anyway as my truck already wants to drive through the brakes in low range with the 4.88's

 

[jfz80]

Top end Is just fine with the blower. Avail for test drive with blower and measly 4.10s in Gso area

Can help spend your money in other ways for a small fee

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Here is my 2 cents.

I have a truck with 35's and 4.88. It is great wheeling. But you have rubber underdrive. On long trips to like Louisiana it sucked bad cause I was turning too many rpm trying to do 75. 4.56 would be perfect for road driving. I would never put 5.29 and 35's together unless it was just wheeling Rubicon. I have a truck with 5.29 and 37's and it is the same as the truck with 35's. You can do 75 but the rpm's are too high for my liking. My 37's truck does Rubicon twice a year. I am changing out my transfer case gears here soon for that place.

 

[amay3]

My truck has 4.88 gears and is currently running 33" tires. I am in Chapel Hill, and would be happy to have you come by.

Agree with the comments regarding high RPM at highway speeds. OTOH, 4.88's have been a game changer on steep hills (Beech Mt road, anyone?). Send me a PM if you are in the area. -Ted

 

[Raleighwood]

Thanks much all!

Related question, did anyone use East Coast to do the re-gear?

 

[Jeff Elliott]

Thanks much all!

Related question, did anyone use East Coast to do the re-gear?

Yes, I did and would again. They were super-knowledgeable, did a great job and turned it around fast.

 

[Raleighwood]

Also how would y’all rank the impact to drive-ability of re-gear vs. part-time vs. turbo/super?

Most logical order of operations would seemingly be to re-gear first but it’s interesting to think through what the next-best step is.

Also obviously complicated by the big disparities in cost and function when comparing cost/benefits of part-time vs. turbo/super. They’re two completely different animals with partially overlapping benefits.

 

[Raleighwood]

Yes, I did and would again. They were super-knowledgeable, did a great job and turned it around fast.

That was my experience as well when they did some maintenance on our 100.

Only downside is that they used to be two minutes from my office near the airport and now they’re nearly in Virginia.

Thanks.