Building first jeep. CJ7 Used for somewhat mild trail use and possibly begginner crawling. Nothing hardcore. Staying SUA. Stock wheelbase, still looks like a CJ. Some street use, though not a DD. Using a fresh stock 4.2, howell efi with a TH350 auto trans. Converter stall around 1900, tires are 35's and will have 4.56's in a D44 front and 9" rear.

The question: Drivetrain coming out in a few weeks to add D300/TH350 adapter and rebuild the leaky (but functions just fine) D300. Do I spend the coin on Lomax 4:1 gears while I'm in there? $600! Would it be very beneficial for my application or will stock T-case gearing work well with my trans/stall/diffgear/tiresize combo?

Somewhat of a budget build here. Not a junk CJ but no means hardcore crawler. Thank you for your input

Low gears are in my top 3 things that you need for any type of crawling, even more importantly for a beginner. When you have low enough gearing you can take it easy on obstacles and use your suspension and tires to climb over rocks instead of just bumping over them. It's much easier on the rig and it teaches youto be a better, more technical driver. I would do the gears for sure.

Answer depends on where you live.. In Cali, then yes, get the gears. In the midwest, south, or east I would say stick with what you have..

I have 4.3:1 in mine, 42's, auto trans, and I have very little wheel speed in 4 low, even in 3rd gear.. This is good for hard core rockcrawling, steep climbs but sucks for general 4x4 uses like running trails, mud holes, light climbing etc...

If your going to have fun, do general 4 wheeling then 4:1 is too low.. You will regret it.

There is a good reason most stock transfer cases are all geared in the same range.. Its normally the best gearing for all around general use. Anything more and its uses become more & more focused ie.. less versatile.

Just my 2 cents:)

If your going to a TH350 & need to get an adapter as well, why not find a TH350/NP203 combo w/doubler to the D300?

That would give you 2:1, 2.6:1 & 5.2:1.

All this depends on wheelbase of course.

I have 4.7 t-case gears in my Toyota. I love them, but some days I wish I would have done dual cases so I could still have the stock low range sometimes.

I have 4.11s in my D44/12b with the 4:1 in my D300, 37" tires. I really like it. It is not difficult to install at all.