purchaced a ring & Pinion and master install kit from National Drivetrain.com 4.56 gears is what i went with , and will order the fronts shortly

 

it has been a while. The front gears are on hold for now , money got tight and
Work has no O.T.

 

Do you have your rear gears in? I'm curious what your RPM are on the highway at speed? The reason I ask is with my 32" tires and 3.73 gears I'm at 1600RPM at 60mph, which is a touch lower RPM that I'd like. I really don't want the expense of getting the truck regeared, but I'm curious where yours will run with the new gears.

 

Brad,

FWIW I have 4.10's and 285's (33's) and sometimes find myself wanting more gear. If / when i change axles i will be regearing to 4.30 - 4.56 or higher depending on tire size.

OP you'll love the 4.56's.

 

No gears installed yet I was wondering can the front drive shaft can be removed and still be driven with out fluid leakage I have the 236 transfer case

FWIW I have 4.10's and 285's (33's) and sometimes find myself wanting more gear. If / when i change axles i will be regearing to 4.30 - 4.56 or higher depending on tire size.

OP you'll love the 4.56's.[/QUOTE]

 

absolutely! the front output seal rides on the output shaft not to the driveshaft like the way the rear output seal does. Just make sure you leave it in 2 HI and not auto.

 

I got stuck in some ice/snow/slush this winter and I found I was really wishing for lower gearing. The truck had to really work hard to spin the tires in 4x4 on ice. Yep, 4.10 gears have definitely made it onto the wish list. Unfortunately I suspect they'll be a ways down the road.

After I swapped my ZR2 axle in I drove for a couple months in the spring before I was able to swap in the matching front diff. I just pulled the 4x4 fuse and pulled the vaccuum hose off the actuator to make sure I couldn't accidentally put it in 4x4. I didn't want to bother pulling the drive shaft, but that's another option. Like KM346 said, you should be fine doing that.

 

well that is real good to know, i had a drivline shop not be able to give me a exact answer, but 33" tires with 3.73 gears is really hard on the gas tank, my milage went from 19 mpg hwy, to 13 mpg, 6mpg differance may not sound like a lot, but it really is, about 100 miles differance... thanks guys

 

6 mpg is a lot. Even on my old geo metro that got 40mpg a 6mpg drop would be noticeable. On our trucks that's at least a 30% drop in fuel economy.


I really hope the new gears boost that back up for you.

 

I have enjoyed reading your build man. Nicely detailed. I had the same problem with the driveline vibration as you did. I was gonna suggest a track bar in the rear to help with the axle wrap of being SOA now and since out springs have softer spring rates.
IMO I think 4.10s would be great for 33s but 4.56 would be better for 35s.
I average 14-15 city or highway with the 4.56 so you might want to entertain the 4.10s