4.0, AW4, 3.54, D30 (260 joints), D44 minispool, SYE, 4.5" lift, AJ's rails & stock skids. Only street driven to and from the desert about 100 miles with some steep hills on the interstate. I dont care about gas mileage on the highway, I dont mind the slow lane on the hills and I dont use it as a daily driver. I am real easy the throttle except in washes where I get a little unwound). I can pick up exellent spare front axles with unit bearings (260 joints) for $27 a pair at the pick and pull all day long and I do carry spares with the caps welded to the ears along with a spare tie rod.
With all that out of the way.....
Sitting on the edge of that slipper slope of tire/gear/carrier/axle upgrades which get real expensive fast. My plan right now is to add more armor (diff guards, beefier T case skid, raise the rear lower shock mounts along with a front autolocker and 31x10.50 or 31x12.50 tires. Present tires are 235-75's with a true height of 28". I doubt the 31's will buy me much clearance, maybe an inch. My friends Procomp 33's measure a true 32". The tread width would be the benifit with the 31's. However going to 33x12.5 from 31x12.5 is only $15 more but to do it "right" I need to change carriers and gears front an rear. (approx $800). CINCPAC House will not smile at this. What happens if I do it "Wrong"?
THE QUESTIONS
Ignoring the doggy highway behaviour and gas mileage. How would 33's behave off road in rocks mated with 3.54 gears with an AW4? Would adding the manual shift control module so I could hold it in 1st or 2nd to higher RPMs make it acceptable? Will a 2" increase in rolling radius blow up my axles every trip and over heat the tranny or will it work fine and just be pig on the drive out to the desert?
John
With all that out of the way.....
Sitting on the edge of that slipper slope of tire/gear/carrier/axle upgrades which get real expensive fast. My plan right now is to add more armor (diff guards, beefier T case skid, raise the rear lower shock mounts along with a front autolocker and 31x10.50 or 31x12.50 tires. Present tires are 235-75's with a true height of 28". I doubt the 31's will buy me much clearance, maybe an inch. My friends Procomp 33's measure a true 32". The tread width would be the benifit with the 31's. However going to 33x12.5 from 31x12.5 is only $15 more but to do it "right" I need to change carriers and gears front an rear. (approx $800). CINCPAC House will not smile at this. What happens if I do it "Wrong"?
THE QUESTIONS
Ignoring the doggy highway behaviour and gas mileage. How would 33's behave off road in rocks mated with 3.54 gears with an AW4? Would adding the manual shift control module so I could hold it in 1st or 2nd to higher RPMs make it acceptable? Will a 2" increase in rolling radius blow up my axles every trip and over heat the tranny or will it work fine and just be pig on the drive out to the desert?
John