Been resurrecting a 97 sport with a manual tranny. Finally got it in good enuff shape to go for a little ride to the top of a mt. and back. Completey stock with 235 tires. The plans are a 4 1/2 " lift with 33s and regear to 456 and lockers.

First thing is going up a washed out hill I'm in 4 lo in first gear and when ridin around the flat portions first gear in 2wd is too fast. Wondering if 456 is going to be low enuff with 33s. Plan to be on the blacktop to and from the trails and use it in the winter when the roads are bad so I dont want to go too low.

I'm new to Jeeps but have been wheelin 4 wheelers and a SXSs for a while. Usually ride in 2wd until the bad spots and goin to 4wd when needed. Surely don't want to be in 4 lo all the time. I'm guessing and sure that is how everybody else is ridin too.

Also plan on lunchbox lockers and wondering how hard the steering is when in 4wd and I have 307 gears now with 8.25 rear axle and a D30 in da front.

Any information will be appreciated.

 

yeah going from 3.07 to 4.56 will be helpful with 33's.

once i hit the trail, it goes into 4wd, whether it be low range or high range. this way i don't promote wheel spin.

 

Really 4WD all the time on the trails. I was thinkin with a locker in the rear and lower gears it would be 2WD most of the time and pull back to 4hi when needed and 4lo when crawling. Just want to be geared low enuff to be at least in 2nd 2WD most of the time with 4lo first gear extreme low.

 

Most people with auto trans (3.55 stock) go 4.56 with 33s you're already going to be low enough for 35s probably. Why do you want to be in 2nd and 2wd on the trail? I roll around in 4wd most of the time 4 lo. If your concern is low gears for 4 lo get a 4:1 kit for your transfer case. You can also get a kit so you can have 2wd lo.

 

yep. 4WD at all times while on the trail.

while in 2wd, your rear tires will spin easily. now if everyone was in 2wd, that would tear up the trail in no time.

 

I wheel in 2wd rear is locked till I see where 4wd is required (a lot less than when the differentials were open and stock gears). Any adult can tell if he needs to be in 4wd or not so why use all the extra fuel and wear and tear if not needed.


After I locked my rear I found that I could go into many places in 2wd that required 4wd before, the front locked was icing on the cake if needed.

 

Still learnin this Jeepin thing. Like today I tried to make it up a pretty steep hill that was slick from recent rain, spun out, then slid down into a ditch backin up and had to drag and I do mean drag both diffs over a rock backin down the hill. I was in 4 lo first gear tryin to make it up the hill with open diffs. Lesson learned today is, I need a lift, lockers, and some bucky beaver ground gripper big tares. And some better diff covers as I thought I would peel the front one off on the rock.

I am just goin for short rides close to my home and tryin to stay away from anything very technical. Dont have a winch yet and ridin alone so I have to be careful not to get stuck. Tryin different things like 4lo in higher gears and 4hi and 2WD which is both way too fast in first gear. Definitely different than wheelin my RZR.

 

get the 2 lo kit if you want low range in 2wd.

 

Just googled the kit. Anybody done this and happy with the results?
Guess now I need to do the 4:1 ratio, SYE, and the 2wd low kit to my transfer case. It really never ends huh.

 

I want to do it, but haven't done yet. I'm sure someone had done it if it's still for sale or they wouldn't produce it. Probably could google and find threads on it. It need ends with a jeep till you run out of money haha just empty every pocket.