Ford Ranger Forum - Forums for Ford Ranger enthusiasts!

Go Back   Ford Ranger Forum - Forums for Ford Ranger enthusiasts! > >
Forgot Password? Join Us!

Welcome to Ford Ranger Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread

  #1  
Old 08-23-2017, 06:35 AM
Grubb44 Grubb44 is offline
Ford Pickup
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 118
Default Gearing issues

Ok looking for some more help here. I have a 97 ranger 2.3 5speed. Original tires and wheels were 225/70 R14. Well I wanted bigger tires and wheels for more ground clearance so went with 235/75 R15s. Love the way they look on the truck and love the meat on them. Well I forgot about possible gearing issues. Now it's really hard to get to 5th gear on the interstate. When I do, foot is to the floor to keep it held steady. Brand new drivetrain and this only happened after putting the bigger tires and wheels on. So I guess my question is, what gears should I put in the rear end to get the "pep" back in my truck?
__________________
1997 Ford Ranger. 2.3ltr 5speed. Ext cab. 2 wheel drive
1998 Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 5speed Ext cab. 2 wheel drive
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-23-2017, 08:11 AM
rno5 rno5 is offline
Ford Ranger Owner
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 61
Default Re: Gearing issues

I have a 1996 2.3 5speed I have the same size tires as you I can hold 70 in 5th on flat highway what I did to help my truck out is clean the mas sensor clean the throttle body and also remove the air baffle right before the throttle boddy it all helped some

----------

I also forgot to mention your speeddomitor will be off now mine is off 5 mph up to 60 then it goes more like 10mph off
__________________
2000 ford ranger 3.0 4speed 147k miles
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-23-2017, 09:28 AM
Grubb44 Grubb44 is offline
Ford Pickup
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 118
Default

I'm really wanting the "get up and go" she had before the tire and wheel swap. Which is why I would like to swap gears. This is a new motor I just put in last week. All sensors are clean. However I would still like for my 5th gear to be decent as in not pulling 4K RPM lol.
__________________
1997 Ford Ranger. 2.3ltr 5speed. Ext cab. 2 wheel drive
1998 Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 5speed Ext cab. 2 wheel drive
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-23-2017, 09:38 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
<<< Husky the High Dog!
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 7,181
Default Re: Gearing issues

do you know what GR you have now? the door jamb has a n axle code on it, which can be looked up on a table on this site to see what it is...given that you have the stock rear end.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-23-2017, 10:06 AM
dvrich dvrich is offline
Ford Ranger Driver
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,181
Default Re: Gearing issues

Change to a 4.10 ratio, but it will still be slow as hell. The engine was rated at 119 HP so you can't get blood from a turnip.
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-23-2017, 11:03 AM
Grubb44 Grubb44 is offline
Ford Pickup
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 118
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RoberticusMaximus View Post
do you know what GR you have now? the door jamb has a n axle code on it, which can be looked up on a table on this site to see what it is...given that you have the stock rear end.
Axle code is 86. And yes the truck has stock gears. Idk where the table is on here. Using app on cell phone.
__________________
1997 Ford Ranger. 2.3ltr 5speed. Ext cab. 2 wheel drive
1998 Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 5speed Ext cab. 2 wheel drive
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-23-2017, 11:13 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
<<< Husky the High Dog!
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 7,181
Default Re: Gearing issues

Quote:
Originally Posted by Grubb44 View Post
Axle code is 86. And yes the truck has stock gears. Idk where the table is on here. Using app on cell phone.
well, that table i was thinking of can't be seen now anyways lol! it was linked from photobucket, and photobucket no longer allows hosting from free accounts...
anyways, here's a link you can use to figure it out: Rear Axle Assembly Identification Codes
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-23-2017, 11:16 AM
Grubb44 Grubb44 is offline
Ford Pickup
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 118
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RoberticusMaximus View Post
well, that table i was thinking of can't be seen now anyways lol! it was linked from photobucket, and photobucket no longer allows hosting from free accounts... anyways, here's a link you can use to figure it out: Rear Axle Assembly Identification Codes

Ok cool. Thank you. Well code 86 is 3.73. The only next step up would be 4.10.......
__________________
1997 Ford Ranger. 2.3ltr 5speed. Ext cab. 2 wheel drive
1998 Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 5speed Ext cab. 2 wheel drive
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-23-2017, 11:18 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
<<< Husky the High Dog!
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 7,181
Default Re: Gearing issues

yep! or 4.56, but i think they're hard to find
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-23-2017, 11:32 AM
Grubb44 Grubb44 is offline
Ford Pickup
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 118
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RoberticusMaximus View Post
yep! or 4.56, but i think they're hard to find
Wouldn't 4.56 require me to change axels as well?
__________________
1997 Ford Ranger. 2.3ltr 5speed. Ext cab. 2 wheel drive
1998 Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 5speed Ext cab. 2 wheel drive
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 08-23-2017, 12:05 PM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
<<< Husky the High Dog!
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 7,181
Default Re: Gearing issues

Quote:
Originally Posted by Grubb44 View Post
Wouldn't 4.56 require me to change axels as well?
i'm pretty sure that's right
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 08-23-2017, 12:30 PM
02BLUEdge 02BLUEdge is offline
Sold this bish, no regret
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,633
Default Re: Gearing issues

Quote:
Originally Posted by RoberticusMaximus View Post
yep! or 4.56, but i think they're hard to find
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grubb44 View Post
Wouldn't 4.56 require me to change axels as well?
Several manufacturers produce 4.56 ring and pinion sets for the Ford 7.5". I went with 'Yukon' personally. Re-gearing is something best left to the professionals unless you know what you are doing, so don't forget labor costs if this is the way you want to go. For instance, parts and labor to re-gear my rear axle ran right about $700 at a local reputable shop.

It could possibly be more cost effective to find an axle with 4.10 gears already installed and swap entire axles. If you do that you might as well upgrade to an 8.8.
__________________
2002 Blue Edge <-- Retired off road toy
3.0 Automatic, 2wd, 4:56's, 35x12.5 Kuhmo's, Lifted 2x, and more. TOTM July 2015

2002 Jeep TJ <-- NEW off road toy!
2.5L 5-spd, Skyjacker 4.5", 4:56's, Aussie Lockers, 33x12.5's, and more.

Build Thread --> http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...blue-edge.html
Youtube --> https://www.youtube.com/user/smashlizard
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 08-23-2017, 12:40 PM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
<<< Husky the High Dog!
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 7,181
Default Re: Gearing issues

good stuff! ^^^
i humbly withdraw my comments due to my faulty memory!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 08-23-2017, 01:56 PM
02BLUEdge 02BLUEdge is offline
Sold this bish, no regret
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,633
Default Re: Gearing issues

Quote:
Originally Posted by RoberticusMaximus View Post
good stuff! ^^^
i humbly withdraw my comments due to my faulty memory!
Well no one really spends the money to re-gear the 7.5 anyway. Usually they will upgrade to the 8.8 first so there is little talk of gearing options for the 7.5.
__________________
2002 Blue Edge <-- Retired off road toy
3.0 Automatic, 2wd, 4:56's, 35x12.5 Kuhmo's, Lifted 2x, and more. TOTM July 2015

2002 Jeep TJ <-- NEW off road toy!
2.5L 5-spd, Skyjacker 4.5", 4:56's, Aussie Lockers, 33x12.5's, and more.

Build Thread --> http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...blue-edge.html
Youtube --> https://www.youtube.com/user/smashlizard
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 08-23-2017, 03:46 PM
Grubb44 Grubb44 is offline
Ford Pickup
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 118
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 02BLUEdge View Post
Well no one really spends the money to re-gear the 7.5 anyway. Usually they will upgrade to the 8.8 first so there is little talk of gearing options for the 7.5.
Awesome!! Thank you for the info! Any idea of a donor that would have the 8.8 in it? Ranger, explorer? Years or setups to look for?
__________________
1997 Ford Ranger. 2.3ltr 5speed. Ext cab. 2 wheel drive
1998 Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 5speed Ext cab. 2 wheel drive
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Re-Gearing Help Vorticitys General Tech 23 06-12-2014 08:34 AM
gearing issues / need recommendations sixshooter Drivetrain Tech 2 05-17-2013 05:55 PM
3.0 gearing soco2490 Drivetrain Tech 1 02-21-2013 11:53 PM
35x12.5x15s on stock gearing possible issues bidi52 Wheels and Tires 8 02-13-2013 11:18 PM
Gearing rymaster900 Drivetrain Tech 1 06-17-2011 11:45 PM