I'm wondering if driving in 3rd on the highway with an aw4 will cause any damage to the trans.

I've got a 4.0 aw4 3.55s and 33s and I'm thinking of doing this as a temporary solution to regearing. In 3rd im turning 2500 rpm at 65 wich isnt to far off from stock. On stock tires i was turning about 2300 rpms. Ill be going to 4.56s in a couple months.

 

No you're fine. Just add a cooler.

 

I've got one waiting to go on just haven't had the time to install it

 

Is your fourth gear out or is there another reason for running in third?

 

3rd puts him in the right rpm range

 

Bingo. it feels great on the highway at about 65 with plenty of power to climb hills. My only concern is damage to the trans running it on the high way for 20miles or so in a gear its not neant to be run in

 

I drive an 18 speed, every gear is meant to be driven in. Your rpm and selected gear is for you to have the correct power/performance ratio. You could go twenty miles in 2nd if you wanted, take a bloody long time to get there, but no harm would come of it.

 

Good to go!

 

That's what I wanted to hear!!! Thanx all!

 

I put a 3" lift and 31's on my wife's 91 limited. It has 3.55's and the AW4 and at first didn't have enough power to get uphills and even stay at speed limit in 4th gear. She drove it for quite awhile in 3rd with no problem. Then I started to hear rattling coming from the cat! Changed the cat and it runs great. Plenty of power at that RPM range. I can't believe the difference.

 

Did you ever figure out why you weren't getting to 4th? I'm just now noticing that issue with mine, same set up. 4.0, aw4, 33" tires... i feel its causing me to get hot after long travel, but trans fluid looks good and full still.

 

The thread is six years old.