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Gears & tires. help!


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Just bought my second jeep, which happens to be an '89 Comanche. I intend to use it for a beater truck & just something to knock around in. Don't plan to modify it too extensively since I have a built TJ for trail duty.

 

Anyway, it's a 2wd longbed 4.0 auto w/overdrive. It was sagging bad in front, so I threw in some coil spacers I had laying around & raised it about 1 1/2". It's amazing how much better it looks just doing that. Now I'm wondering if I can stuff some bigger tires under it to replace the little 215 street tires. I'd love to go with a 235 mud grip(it's 2wd, but has to get around our farm in all types of weather).

I'm not sure if it'll clear a 235 & I don't want to overwork it or lose the use of overdrive. That's where the gears come in. What are the possible ratios I could have? I haven't had time to pull the dif cover & check the numbers. I'm guessing something in the 3.20 to 3.55 range.

 

Whatcha think?

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That's cool. Anybody running this combo? Like I said, I don't want to mess around with regearing the 35(or blowing it up for that matter :roll: ) & I don't want to overwork the trans & lose all my power trying to roll bigger shoes.

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as of right now i have been running 32" BFG's on my D35 with 3.07's for about 6mnths and was on 31's for a year prior...shouldn't have a problem unless there is already one there...I'm swapping in 4.10's and lockers front and rear soon

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99.9% of XJ's/MJ's with the AW4 auto tranny are equipped w. 3:55 gears in the D35 rear end. You can run 235 tires with no problems. Noticed you lifted the front using 1-1/2" spacers. In that case, your rear end is most likely too low now. A pair of extended shackles from a 1500 Chevy full-size or aftermarket shackles like the Teraflex units are an easy way to give you about an inch more in the rear to even things up. In that case you can safely put on a set of 30" tires. Do a search for a recent post on stock body height for Comanches and check how close your rig compares to OEM first though.

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235's on what used to be a 2WD chassis. For quick lift in the rear, either use the drop shackles or swap in a set of 4WD leafpacks. The packs will net 2-3" (depending on how sagged your 2WD packs are :D )

 

I got a hair over 3" on mine (and am spacing the front to match) and installing 31"s and a set of WJ LCA's. I only have rubbing with the 235's on the driverside LCA at full left turn.

 

Jeff

 

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235s MT style on stock 2wd suspension from '87

235s MT style on stock 4wd leafs, XJ upcountry coils and 3/4"spacer

31" MT style on stock 4wd leafs, XJ upcountry coils and 3/4" spacer

 

I don't rub as is, but I think thats because I have 8" rims with 5.5" BS and not stock 7" rims. Also this really only sees the street and the back yard ... no wheeling. I swapped in 4.10 gears and it drives just about how I want it. With 235s and 4.10s the manche was screaming through the gears until I hit 5th, way too deep.

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first is everybody's comanche red? seriously 235's will hardly be noticed over the stock tires and if your going to use it in the dirt most of the time you may just want to spool the M35 rearend it's an inexpensive solution with no headaches and it makes a huge differnce offroad. My uncle just spooled his 84 suburban and it no longer gets stuck on our ranch like it used. Last time I got the Sub stuck my dad had to come pull me out with my own MJ (he doesn't let me drive the MJ on the ranch too many thorns and new Dick Cepeck tires).

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Only one of my MJs is red. :D Oh, and there's no such thing as a spool for a Dana 35, and probably for good reason. :roll:

 

Don't forget that any change in suspension height in the front should warrant an alignment. But if yours was saggin', it might be ok. Just keep an eye on the wear on those front tires.

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31" MT style on stock 4wd leafs, XJ upcountry coils and 3/4" spacer

 

 

(even has chrome mirrors for ya, Don!)

 

Jeff

 

I must say UNL1MTD, I admire your taste in wheels and exterior mirrors. All you need now are chrome bumpers, chrome grille, chrome tailgate guard, chrome tailgate handle, chrome headlight doors, etc. etc. etc. :cheers:

 

R_Side.JPG

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I must say UNL1MTD, I admire your taste in wheels and exterior mirrors. All you need now are chrome bumpers, chrome grille, chrome tailgate guard, chrome tailgate handle, chrome headlight doors, etc. etc. etc. :cheers:

 

I don't think I will be getting any more chrome... I think it looks nice and anything else might be pushing it. Most of it came on the truck when I bought it. I personally think black steelies look awful so I don't run em. I did for about 4 months on my wrangler and hated it. Also I like the weight savings benefit of running alloys.

 

I got to do an alignment on the MJ tomorrow, its like you got esp or something pete.

 

When I measured after my suspension mods It came out to be 21.75 inchs hub to flare in the rear and 19.5 inches hub to flare in the front.

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Wow, I didn't expect all the response! Awesome & thanks. I rolled a 235 up next to my 215 & it sat nearly 2" taller. That's why I was worried.

I don't need any lift in the rear. Even with the spacers, it still sits low in front. I think the coils are about shot. I have the stock front coils off my '98 4 cyl TJ & they look like exactly the same spring so I may try them.

 

Correct, no spool available for the 35. Most guys I know just weld'em. The axle isn't worth anything anyway, so no loss if it grenades :roll:

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  • 2 weeks later...

Yeah I remember thinking the TJ looked just fine on 31's too. Stumpy knows how long that lasted.

Good to hear from you. Didn't know if I'd run into anybody I knew here. Bounty Hunter still come around?

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Yeah I remember thinking the TJ looked just fine on 31's too. Stumpy knows how long that lasted.

Good to hear from you. Didn't know if I'd run into anybody I knew here. Bounty Hunter still come around?

 

ya Bounty stops in still. I love this site..the folks here remind me of the ones on SIJA..laid back. plus lots of info here too!

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