is 208:1 too low to have with a healthy v-8?

i ask cuz i can either be 132:1 (which it is) or get teh 4:1 kit for my t case as well and bump it up more.

i think ill know more after this weekends run with the new lower gears but was wondering about the option of lower if any o fyou have a similar set up! jiMMy

MINE DOES FINE WITH 54-1 AND 38S.......

I NEED A LITTLE MORE BUT IT WORKS OK.......I THINK 132 IS MORE THAN GOOD WITH A SBC

Healthy V8 puts out what, 350 lb/ft?

208 x 350 = 72800 lb/ft

Divide by 4 = 18200 lb/ft at each wheel.:eek:

Ok, I'm a newbie and did the math, which you probably already did. Are axle shafts/splines/hubs even rated for that?

With a V8 I think 132:1 is plenty;) I've driven a tired 304 at 104:1 and it was plenty low:D

I have a TBI 350 that has about 330 torque and 411 to 1 gearing. I know this is crazy but it isnt about the torque, it is about going slow enough to make all your decisions without having to put th3e clutch in and stop. Plus 330 x 411 = 135630 x .9 for drivetrain lag = 122067/4 = 30516 foot pounds at each wheel. I had never really thought about that before but I think that is insane!!!! HAHAHAHA I am crazy!:eek: :rolleyes: :flipoff2: :D

i think the same thing. but if i did it my 2nd gear would be 104, and third would be 48 or something to 1, still have options i guess. 1st geat would be bad ass but might :nuke: parts with the quickness. jiMMy

just don't forget you have to stop, rolling through no matter how slow is just that....freakin cops, can't tell them that you can't stop just have to go with it.....but with yours just bump the clutch and tap the brakes....its all fun until you need three feet.....

Originally posted by coyote
just don't forget you have to stop, rolling through no matter how slow is just that....freakin cops, can't tell them that you can't stop just have to go with it.
You're wither drunk or stupid, can't tell which. :confused:

How does your low range get you in trouble on the street?

208 is perfect with 42's

With a manual it's good to have a gear in the 45 to 50:1 range when using tires around 35". It could be 1st, 2nd or 3ard gear.
It makes a good gear for momentum bumps.
Don't see much reason to have a crawl ratio lower than about 110 ( w/35s) unless you're retired. JMO

I say go as low as possible, but retain your options. Puttnig a 4:1 in the case is great, but you are smart by realizing that then all your other gears are spread furtehr apart(numerically, not rationally) and so you have a bad-ass crawl in granny, but then you have to shift into 4th to bump it over something. I would prefer having a 2:1 low, and a 4:1 low for different situations, then combine them occasionally just to have fun when your drunk...

Originally posted by TNToy

You're wither drunk or stupid, can't tell which. :confused:

How does your low range get you in trouble on the street?

hahaha hilarious :flipoff2:


Yea I think 200:1 is fawkin nuts.

Im thinkin either 85:1 or 120:1 with my YJ.

With a stick I think 85:1 to 90:1 is ideal for all types of terrain and 90:1 plus is good for just plain rocks, then you got the other gears for the sand. :D

I'm 150:1 with a 4.3L sm420 and dual 2,28 boxs.....most stuff ""I do with front low, but at 150:1, I can still stall the motor,so I do wish I had 190:1 or so, a 4.7 gearset in one case is like 333:1, I could just use another gear and be good though.....:D

Seabass get that low range set for one case, then you will be all set up. You will simply add the ultra-low option, but not lose anything. This is why 2 cases with the same ratio(I.E. 203-205 doubler) kinda suck, you have two cases and only 2 options. With diff gears in each case, you have 2 cases and 3 options, mmmm...

Originally posted by SeaBass44
a 4.7 gearset in one case is like 333:1,

Have you ever 'wheeled behind someone with these kinds of ratios? It gets old fast. :zzz:

Originally posted by JR


Have you ever 'wheeled behind someone with these kinds of ratios? It gets old fast. :zzz:

He he, YUP! I run around at around 84:1 or 40:1 i case1st & 2nd gear some ratio like that:) I went up old sluice and thought I was in low/low, was only in one low and it was fine, lol, but I want stupid low/low/low for the times I don't want the moter to stall:D

I have/ had duel cases with 4 -1 gearset in one case, this put me at 193/1 most the time i didnt use it, but when i needed it,it was nice to have, lots of control, when it really matters, definatly takes some of the pucker out

Also, 200:1 would be nice to have if you were trying to stay on top of deep snow. JiMMy has rode with me on the trail. I am 160:1 with a SBC and 38's. I rarely go down to first gear. But when I want to go slow, I can. Up or down. No one says you have to run around in first gear all day, geeze. I dont know about you, but being able to IDLE out of the steepest part of the sluice is pretty cool.

Get an Auto with your current setup :D

Problem with the 200:1 in my opinion is that 3rd gear is so damn tall in the old GM Granny Trannys and if you ever wheel anywhere with loose rocks, you won't have a good Mo' gear.....

Originally posted by Keith
Also, 200:1 would be nice to have if you were trying to stay on top of deep snow. JiMMy has rode with me on the trail. I am 160:1 with a SBC and 38's. I rarely go down to first gear. But when I want to go slow, I can. Up or down. No one says you have to run around in first gear all day, geeze. I dont know about you, but being able to IDLE out of the steepest part of the sluice is pretty cool.

I agree Keith. There is no such thing as having the ability to go too low, you can always select another gear. :beer:

Jimmy,

The question before you is can you stand driving it into the place where you need 208:1 and still not bounce you rig apart or piss off all the people around you. I have a 4:33: 1 lo range gear and a 4:88 final drive ratio. With the SM 465 I find myself going to the obstacle in 3 and 4 lo range. With my old drivetrain that was done in 2 and 3, so I knew it would be close. It I went to a 7:17 final drive like you have on gear for going though the "forest service roads" 4 lo range, from the end of the slabs at loon all the way to walker by and large it is pretty flat for a guy running 42's.
Good luck with the decision you have made a killer rig in the last couple of years

- Keith

Since you're talking about replacing, rather than just adding an option (i.e - if you were just adding a 4:1 box, I'd say sure - options are good, but if you lose the current low range you have to choose more carefully) It might be helpful to make a small table of all possible combos, and the percentage change between each - the same way a bicylcle racer does. Then plug in different options and see which nets you the most useable SET of gears overall. As is being pointed out - the overall set of useable gears available may be of greater concern than just the lowest possible ratio.

For example, all my possible combos result in:

Sm465 NP203 D20 axle Final % difference
1 1 1 4.1 4.1
1.57 1 1 4.1 6.4 57% lower
1 1 2 4.1 8.2 27% lower
1.57 1 2 4.1 12.9 57% lower
3.58 1 1 4.1 14.7 14% lower
1 2 2 4.1 16.4 12% lower
1.57 2 2 4.1 25.7 57% lower
6.55 1 1 4.1 26.9 4% lower
3.58 1 2 4.1 29.4 9% lower
6.55 1 2 4.1 53.7 83% lower
3.58 2 2 4.1 58.7 9% lower
6.55 2 2 4.1 107.4 83% lower

Now, my question to you experienced folks is this:

1) What is the minimum percentage drop that is likely to be noticable / relevant? For example - it seems the difference (4%) between 25.7 and 26.9 is likely irrelevant - and so that's actually one fewer choice I have, as there would be no noticable difference between having the tranny in 3rd and the cases low / low and the tranny in 1st and cases in high / high.

2) What are some good final ratios for different types of terrain, in your experience / opinion

Never heard of such thing as too low, sort of.

Depending on what you wheel. Having a 4:1 gearseat has HURT people more than helped when hi-range was a to high, and low range was way to low to get the wheel speed needed.

Ideal solution, stock lowrange and a second 4:1 crawler or tcase. You have all the options and your rig is the most versatle that way.

Originally posted by Keith
208 is perfect with 42's

I agree, 132 or whatever is going to not be low enough for those balloons you run as tires

How strong are second and third gears in the tranny?

174:1, only use it when I need it.