John Red-Horse

Hey All,

A quick follow-up...

In article <20040110130421.25517.00003444@mb-m15.aol.com>,
mlmacchia@aol.comspambgon wrote:
>In article <E7JLb.48342$ST6.7400@news02.roc.ny>, "JimG"
><jimg@cj7_2muchspam.com> writes:
>
>>Right you are, Bill... I just thought 3.56 was odd.
>>JimG
>>
>
>For all intents and purposes, 3.56 would be close enough to 3.55. And the OP
>should be sure he has the Dana 35 rear, many, if not most, XJ's had the Mopar
>8.25" rear.
>

I was incorrect: my 01 XJ 5sp manual does indeed come with a Mopar 8.25"
rear differential, and the gear ratios are 3.07:1. Yikes, no wonder I'm
having problems with the 30" tires!

Anyway, I've pretty much decided to lower that ratio to 3.73 and to
upgrade my rear Traclok to an Auburn limited-slip system. (Based on Bill's
post, the chart on ratios seems to indicate that 3.73 will still yield a
lower ratio than came stock, and I was happy with that for my
application.)

Regardless, all of this still leaves me with still more questions:

(1) I drive mostly highway mountain (my house is at 7500ft, with town
around 5000) miles, and have 4wd to deal primarily with ice and snow
conditions on these roads. Should I consider moving from an open front
diff to a limited slip? What are some of the things I should consider in
making that decision?

(2) Finally, is, in the opinion of your esteemed group, 3.73 low enough,
or should I consider going with a 4.10?

many thanks again,
john

JimG

"John Red-Horse" wrote in message:
>Hey All,
>
> A quick follow-up...
>
> and the gear ratios are 3.07:1.
>
> Anyway, I've pretty much decided to lower that ratio to 3.73

Wouldn't that be a "higher ratio", which of course yields a lower gear?
(hear we go again :-)

> Regardless, all of this still leaves me with still more questions:
>
> (1) I drive mostly highway mountain (my house is at 7500ft, with town
> around 5000) miles, and have 4wd to deal primarily with ice and snow
> conditions on these roads. Should I consider moving from an open front
> diff to a limited slip? What are some of the things I should consider in
> making that decision?

Does it go good enough now? Do you intend to do any off-road? A lLocked or
limited slip front can cause handling/steering issues in snow and ice.

> (2) Finally, is, in the opinion of your esteemed group, 3.73 low enough,
> or should I consider going with a 4.10?
>

Do you ever intend to go bigger than 30" tires? If not 3.73 with the 4.0
would be fine.


--
JimG
80' CJ-7, 258 CID
35" BFG MT's on 15x10 Centerlines
4.56 D30-D44 SOA
D300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks
Warn 8000i w/dual batteries
LockRight F&R

JimG

"John Red-Horse" wrote in message:
>Hey All,
>
> A quick follow-up...
>
> and the gear ratios are 3.07:1.
>
> Anyway, I've pretty much decided to lower that ratio to 3.73

Wouldn't that be a "higher ratio", which of course yields a lower gear?
(hear we go again :-)

> Regardless, all of this still leaves me with still more questions:
>
> (1) I drive mostly highway mountain (my house is at 7500ft, with town
> around 5000) miles, and have 4wd to deal primarily with ice and snow
> conditions on these roads. Should I consider moving from an open front
> diff to a limited slip? What are some of the things I should consider in
> making that decision?

Does it go good enough now? Do you intend to do any off-road? A lLocked or
limited slip front can cause handling/steering issues in snow and ice.

> (2) Finally, is, in the opinion of your esteemed group, 3.73 low enough,
> or should I consider going with a 4.10?
>

Do you ever intend to go bigger than 30" tires? If not 3.73 with the 4.0
would be fine.


--
JimG
80' CJ-7, 258 CID
35" BFG MT's on 15x10 Centerlines
4.56 D30-D44 SOA
D300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks
Warn 8000i w/dual batteries
LockRight F&R

JimG

"John Red-Horse" wrote in message:
>Hey All,
>
> A quick follow-up...
>
> and the gear ratios are 3.07:1.
>
> Anyway, I've pretty much decided to lower that ratio to 3.73

Wouldn't that be a "higher ratio", which of course yields a lower gear?
(hear we go again :-)

> Regardless, all of this still leaves me with still more questions:
>
> (1) I drive mostly highway mountain (my house is at 7500ft, with town
> around 5000) miles, and have 4wd to deal primarily with ice and snow
> conditions on these roads. Should I consider moving from an open front
> diff to a limited slip? What are some of the things I should consider in
> making that decision?

Does it go good enough now? Do you intend to do any off-road? A lLocked or
limited slip front can cause handling/steering issues in snow and ice.

> (2) Finally, is, in the opinion of your esteemed group, 3.73 low enough,
> or should I consider going with a 4.10?
>

Do you ever intend to go bigger than 30" tires? If not 3.73 with the 4.0
would be fine.


--
JimG
80' CJ-7, 258 CID
35" BFG MT's on 15x10 Centerlines
4.56 D30-D44 SOA
D300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks
Warn 8000i w/dual batteries
LockRight F&R

John Red-Horse

In article <100d89gaudee29b@corp.supernews.com>, jimg@cj7_2muchspam.com wrote:
>
>
>Does it go good enough now?

I've had no complaints thus far, but I've never had it stuck either (I'm
pretty conservative). I guess what I was asking is whether or not going
limited slip would make my set-up more bullet-proof.

> Do you intend to do any off-road? A lLocked or
>limited slip front can cause handling/steering issues in snow and ice.
>

I do take it off-road, but only as a means to get somewhere; I am not
going to make this vehicle a rock crawler. Your last statement gets at the
crux of the matter: I know that a locker will affect handling in slick
conditions; I didn't know if that was the case for limited-slip.

>
>Do you ever intend to go bigger than 30" tires? If not 3.73 with the 4.0
>would be fine.
>

I cannot imagine going to bigger tires.

Thanks for all of your advice; it's really been helpful.

cheers,
john

John Red-Horse

In article <100d89gaudee29b@corp.supernews.com>, jimg@cj7_2muchspam.com wrote:
>
>
>Does it go good enough now?

I've had no complaints thus far, but I've never had it stuck either (I'm
pretty conservative). I guess what I was asking is whether or not going
limited slip would make my set-up more bullet-proof.

> Do you intend to do any off-road? A lLocked or
>limited slip front can cause handling/steering issues in snow and ice.
>

I do take it off-road, but only as a means to get somewhere; I am not
going to make this vehicle a rock crawler. Your last statement gets at the
crux of the matter: I know that a locker will affect handling in slick
conditions; I didn't know if that was the case for limited-slip.

>
>Do you ever intend to go bigger than 30" tires? If not 3.73 with the 4.0
>would be fine.
>

I cannot imagine going to bigger tires.

Thanks for all of your advice; it's really been helpful.

cheers,
john

John Red-Horse

In article <100d89gaudee29b@corp.supernews.com>, jimg@cj7_2muchspam.com wrote:
>
>
>Does it go good enough now?

I've had no complaints thus far, but I've never had it stuck either (I'm
pretty conservative). I guess what I was asking is whether or not going
limited slip would make my set-up more bullet-proof.

> Do you intend to do any off-road? A lLocked or
>limited slip front can cause handling/steering issues in snow and ice.
>

I do take it off-road, but only as a means to get somewhere; I am not
going to make this vehicle a rock crawler. Your last statement gets at the
crux of the matter: I know that a locker will affect handling in slick
conditions; I didn't know if that was the case for limited-slip.

>
>Do you ever intend to go bigger than 30" tires? If not 3.73 with the 4.0
>would be fine.
>

I cannot imagine going to bigger tires.

Thanks for all of your advice; it's really been helpful.

cheers,
john