I have a 1996 Kia Sportage with 5-speed manual transmission and DOHC engine, bought it used, and I put bigger tires on it stock tires were 27 inches in diameter and now I'm running 30x9.5-15 mt, and I'm considering swapping out the gearbox for one from a 1995 Sportage with SOHC engine, because the '95 SOHC gearbox is geared lower on 1st and 2nd gear, which should help my crawl ratio...
The difference in gear ratio is as follows:
gear SOHC DOHC
-----------------
1st 4.171 3.717
2nd 2.176 2.019
3rd 1.363 1.363
4th 1.000 1.000
5th 0.804 0.804
Rev 3.536 3.445
Do you guys think this is a big enough difference to be worth the swap? the transmission would cost me 200 bucks.

Well, If you are set on keeping the KIA, you need to first decide where you want it to take you. While I don't think this rig is setup for wheeling at all, and I think you really need to rethink your purchase if you are going to do any hardcore wheeling, it seems to me that you are set on keeping the Kia. With that in mind, figure out where you want to be as far as tire size when this is all said and done... 33's? 35's? Either way, tires that size will require a sawzall to get them to fit. Thats not the issue though. Instead of swapping out a whole transmission, why not just re-gear? And stick a traction device in at the same time? While re gear options may not be readily available for the Kia, may I suggest an axle swap, to maybe something like toyota axles with a solid axle conversion? This may sound like a lot to do.. well, it is. Its going to take this much and more to get your Kia to the off road ability that you will eventually want, which is why I suggest selling it and buying something else.
Scott :grinpimp:<><

It's funny to compare the type of answer I get here to the kind of answer I get from another board, same question, rockcrawler.com :


vb
Rockcrawler!
Member # 478
Member Rated:

posted November 26, 2001 09:50 AM
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i think so
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Posts: 52 | From: co | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged


:) So short and to the point....

I don't thinks so:D

I'd swap in a 700R4 (or maybe a 4L60E) to go with the 4.3 Vortec you need in that thing.

Pete

Originally posted by pcorssmit
I'd swap in a 700R4 (or maybe a 4L60E) to go with the 4.3 Vortec you need in that thing.

Pete

That's like if I ask you whether getting better running shoes will help me run faster and you say "What you should do is get longer legs"

Hmm, maybe you could get some platform running shoes to simulate longer legs...


Pete

I'd try to stay away from the legs on a guy. They always go up an make an ASS out of themselves. THat's O.K on a chick. :flipoff2:

Oh BTW, pcorssmit is right. You'll need to do the swap. I put a 700-R4 in mine and an Atlas. It's the way to go. Or you could swap out the SPOOtage. :flipoff2:

Did you even read my response? :rolleyes: First off, that response you got from rockcrawler.com is real cute. I see they try to help you out big time. Hence the reason I never go over there anymore.. Just a bunch of goons wasting my time. Of course, this is only my opinion, and it may be good for you, considering its the only place with a board just for your cute little Kia.. At any rate, if you take any of what I said to you in my first post to heart, you may actually maybe be able to turn the kia into a not so loppy pile. Just my opinion, and if you don't like it, you don't have to agree.
Scott

Originally posted by 1badjeep
Did you even read my response? :rolleyes: First off, that response you got from rockcrawler.com is real cute. I see they try to help you out big time. Hence the reason I never go over there anymore.. Just a bunch of goons wasting my time

Welllll... I guess there is a lot more information here than there...