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best gear ratio for 35" tires?

sel

New Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
22
Loc.
carlsbad,ca
i am building a 71 bronco from the ground up i have replaced every nut and bolt,powder coated the frame and axles,everything is pretty so far, so pretty that i dont think i will ever let it touch dirt. I plan on running 35" tires and am wondering what the best gear ratio would be? currently it has 4.11,,,is this okay?
 

22213evl

Bronco Guru
Joined
Mar 14, 2007
Messages
2,369
Loc.
Rio Rancho N.M.
I have 4.11s in mine with 35" tires and it is like stock gearing ( 3.50 ) if you want a little more pep go with slightly lower gears if you want 80 mph 4.11s will work fine.
 

00gyrhed

Bronco Guru
Joined
Aug 3, 2006
Messages
2,428
past experience

I have 4.11s in mine with 35" tires and it is like stock gearing ( 3.50 ) if you want a little more pep go with slightly lower gears if you want 80 mph 4.11s will work fine.

Don't gear your vehicle for 80 MPH with 35s. A blow out of a 35 at that speed can be quite exiting to say the least. ;D
 

bax

Contributor
Old Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2005
Messages
14,491
Depends on the motor. A stock 302 would probably benefit from a higher gear say 4.56 But drop in a 351 and the added torque would make 4.11 a good gear. gear change vs motor swap
 

Socal Tom

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 12, 2004
Messages
2,442
Loc.
San Diego, CA
i am building a 71 bronco from the ground up i have replaced every nut and bolt,powder coated the frame and axles,everything is pretty so far, so pretty that i dont think i will ever let it touch dirt. I plan on running 35" tires and am wondering what the best gear ratio would be? currently it has 4.11,,,is this okay?

Depends a little on the transmission. If you have a stock 3 speed, your going to eat clutches with a lot of city driving with 4.11s. With an auto you can run 4.11s, but I would double up on the tranny coolers.

4.56s or 4.30 gearing would be better IMO.
Tom
 

cali_zuk

Jr. Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2006
Messages
66
I have a stock engine/c4 transmission, 35" toyo's on a 3.5" lift and 4.56s. At 65mph I'm turning ~3200rpms. Gas milage is about 10-12mpg. I have a built 331 w/4spd auto going in, otherwise I would have went with 4.10's.
 

gravy

Bronco Guru
Joined
Sep 4, 2006
Messages
1,236
Loc.
Parsippany
I run an AOD with 35s and 4.88. It does 70 at 2200. I am going to 37s soon and swiching to 5.13.
 

Z Bronco

Bronco Guru
Joined
Mar 17, 2007
Messages
1,138
I have 35's, 351W, C4, and 4.11s. It has been a good combo for me.
 

broncnaz

Bronco Guru
Joined
May 22, 2003
Messages
24,341
I'd recommend about 4.30's or 4.56's. Any trans swaps or possibly bigger tires in your future? in that case maybe even 4.88's.
If your going to swap gears you might as well go lower as thats pretty much what your after anyways while hiway driving may be in the upper rpm's the 302 is happy there. The lower gears will make take offs much better and you'll pull hills easier. I'd also get a cam to match your driving needs.
 

wildbill

Old Bronco Guy
Joined
Jun 29, 2001
Messages
6,885
:D :D :D I would suggest 4:56's wont tax your motor that way good luck.%) %) %) Bill %) :cool: ;D
 

RnrdTheFox

Sr. Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2005
Messages
727
Loc.
Superior, CO
I would go with 4.56's. Like you, I had 4.11's and 302. I also run a 4R70W tranny. It worked fine but I wanted a little more gearing especialy when curising the interstate with a head wind or when climbing some of the hilly roads out here in CO while using the OD. I spend most of my time on the roads driving around town and to and from work. I like the combo.
 

351EFIZF

Newbie
Joined
Aug 23, 2008
Messages
7
I run 35s with 4.11s. With my setup my Bronco gets 15mpg highway. If I had to do it over I would get 4.56 gears. Its only 10% lower gearing.
 

broncotime

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 30, 2003
Messages
1,186
Loc.
Grapevine, Texas
I have 35 inch tires w/4.56 gears and while it's great combo on the trail, I don't like it on the freeway. You mention that your truck will probably never see dirt, so I would go with the 4.11 gears unless you are putting in a tranny with an overdrive.
 

sprdv1

Contributor
REBEL
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,734
4.11 or 4.56 depending on the majority of your on or off road use
 

jaysend5.0

Jr. Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2008
Messages
56
You have 4.11 now. stick with it. I think for a street only bronco it will be just fine. If not regear down the road. Plus that buys you time in case anything changes. Like you decide to wheel it or you want bigger tires ect...
 

needabronco

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jul 2, 2004
Messages
6,411
Loc.
Prescott/Farmington
I've got 31"s and 4.88's now(no I haven't driven it like this but I want to;D ), but as soon as this build is over it'll have 35"s. I also have an AOD with the .67 overdrive which should help.
 
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