Diff Gearing dilemma

[timemachine]

I am restoring an 83 CJ7 manual 5 speed and the rear gearing is 2.73 which, as was told on my build page way to low for my 2.5 lift and 32 inch tires. Can I re-gear the front and back, buy new axles, or just use 2nd gear and forget about 1st? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Ironman_gq]

Are you sure you don't mean 3.73 gears? 2.42 is a very high ratio and would make starting in any gear other than first very difficult. If they're 3.73's then you aren't too far off depending on your engine, 4.10's would get you more torque but higher cruising rpm. If you went any bigger than a 33" tire I'd recommend 4.56's

 

[timemachine]

I counted the teeth on the ring and have 41, I then counted pinion gear with 15. 41 devided by 15 is 2.73. I did see the below when I googled it. "6-Cylinder Engine (AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l / AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l cu in): The standard ratio was typically 2.73, with 3.31 (or 3.54/3.55) or 3.73 as options. " So guessing this is what I have unless I am screwing something up which is very possible.

 

[Ironman_gq]

I’d see how it goes with 2.72’s but I think you’ll want 3.73’s. Lower gears (numerically higher) will be much more friendly everywhere but going down the freeway

 

[TSB8C]

3.73 for sure unless you go bigger tires.

 

[CJ27]

I would also agree with 3.73. I have the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l also, and I have 4.10 gears now. I feel like my freeway rpm's are too high, but I'm planning on changing to a Transmission with an extra highway gear so the 4.10's should bee good then. If I wasn't going to change transmissions, I would probably want to switch to 3.73.

 

[TSB8C]

I have 4.56 gears, but 35" tires and an auto tranny with Overdrive for the highway. My RPMs are about 2,200 at 70mph; but I still get good torque off the line.