Does np435+3.50's+35"tires=turd???

[Mike Hewett]

Here is my dilema, sort of.... I put 35" x-terrains on my bronco and haven't changed the gearing form stock. I am putting in an np435 and I was thinking that the lower first gear would actually be lower than the 3speed even after the bigger tires. I mean the 1st gear in the 435 is twice as low as the 3speed and the tires obviously aren't twice as big. I was then thinking that the bigger tires would have an overdrive effect on the bronco. I won't be doing any serious off-roading so for right now I will live with these gears until I can afford the swap/axle upgrade. Do you guys agree with me on this or am I way off??? Does anyone run this combination.

 

[tabascom16]

I was am running the stock 3spd with 3.50's and 35's. It wasnt too bad except to start out on hills. All depends on your engine too. I have a 351W which makes more torque which helps out. I did a few calculations and from stock tires you are running at 80% roughly. This means a 20% reduction in all gears. So for you 4th gear is initially 1:1 with stock 28" tires and is now 0.80:1 like an over drive. You should not have many problems at all especially with crawler gear. About the only problem you would run into would be a steeper incline at highway speeds that 4th may not be abe to keep speed up anymore and going into 3rd will probably make you have to slow down. I hope this helps.

 

[TexasBronco]

So would a high performace 351C, Stock C4, 3.50 gearing with 28 spline axles be able to handle 35's in the mud?

 

[Mike Hewett]

that is kind of what I was thinking too. I will be running a mildly built 302 probably in the 250 horsepower range and whatever torque??? I think that it will be OK for awhile. I wold like to hear from others that have run this setup and see what they say.

 

[huged29]

I am running the exact combination you are talking about NP435+3.50+35" and it is kind of a dog on hills. For around the town driving it is a little sluggish, but nothing to bad. On steep hills it definetely stuggles. I have a rebuilt 302, but it is pretty stock so maybe if you upped to around 300 ft lbs or something like that it would be okay.

 

[todcolvin]

Run it until you get the money to build the differentials correctly. You won't have a problem with 3.50s in low gear, but you will notice it shifting between third and forth and as mentioned 4th is like on overdrive.

Don't worry it will work fine until you can save up the loot to do it right.

 

[76Broncofromhell]

I'm going to say you will definitely feel it. When I put my 35's on the Bronco, I felt the weight. Even with the mighty 408 and 4.11's, I felt the drag. With the low 1st geat you probably won't feel it too bad on hills, but transitioning from gear to gear on steep hills with the NP435 will definitely slow you down.