i have a 350, sm465, 3 speed tc & 4:11 gears & am planning on riding on 38.5 x 14.5 super swampers in a rock / bush buggie kind of a build-up...
i also plan on going to randy's r&p for my diffs / lockers which means if i want 4:88's they would be really cheap to add. i will be driving on the freeway but only to get to wheeling / hunting spots but do not want to max out my revs at 50 mph.
any opinions out there?
thank you in advance :)

I ran that combo for a while. For a trail only rig, I would get the 5.29's.

The 74:1 and 38.5's is right there on the edge of not low enough, however with the 4.88's it will be perfect on the road.

I ran an SM465, 3 sp, 4.88's and 38's for a while and it was fine but I often wished for a little more.

heh..sounds exactly like my current setup.

I have no on-road complaints with the 4.11 stock gears. It's not a race car, but with the soft suspension I'd be dumb to race anyways.

IMO, because of the major grinding of the ring gear to get the rear axle cross pin installed because of the c-clip axles, the 5.29 gears are not a good idea. I know a couple with them installed, and no problems, but pushing it, IMO. A search on the PBB outta find you some pics....gunracer IIRC has them.

I'd save the gear $$ and do a doubler kit instead....Marlin, Advance, 203, whomever. That extra gearing is on my summer list and is the one thing I wish for on the trails.

Hey fred what's your rig look like? We should go wheeling some time! Or you could check out our club Northwest Cruisers of Idaho. This weekend we are participating in the Eagle parade, I will not be there ( this is drill weekend for me) but I will be at the BBQ afterwards. Just tell them that Scott Brennan sent ya, Im the President ( just got voted in) so no worries, bring your rig ,we are going on a small run after the BBQ.

Later

-Scott