need opinions

[nvrhapy]

i have a 1996 explorer sport, ohv, manual, 2wd. 2inch suspension lift and 3in BL, with 33's i want to change my gearing and add a locker, i'm looking at the powertrax lock right and either a 4.10 or 4.56. I will be doin 75% highway and city driving/trailer towing (dirt bike quad)and 25% offroad, what would be the best gear ratio to go with and also what kind of results have you guys got with the lock right in an everyday driver? thanks in advance.

 

[nvrhapy]

bump

 

[j602]

Do a search. 4.56's are great for 33's. Do you have factory limited slip? If you do, the only locker you can use is a powertrax or a full locker that replaces the carrier.

 

[nvrhapy]

the code on the inside of my door is 41, which if i'm not mistaken is a 327 open rear end. can i still use the power trax lock right? also how is the highway driving with the 4.56 gear and 33's?

 

[nvrhapy]

can anybody help me out i wanted to order teh gears and locker tomorrow

 

[j602]

Yup, 3.27 open. You have a number of options: Powertrax, lock-right (like the powertrax but not as high quality), detroit ez-locker, mini spool, or you can weld the spider gears (cheapest choice out there). Highway driving is great with 4.56's and 33's. It sucked before with 3.73's cuz I would have to put it through the floor to pass or speed up. Now I just touch it and I'm gone.

 

[Robb]

I didn't even think they stuck 3.27s in 2nd Gens, but if you got a 41, that is what you got.

4.10s or 4.56s is a tough decision, and both will work. 4.10s = better mileage and slower acceleration, slightly the opposite with the 4.56s. If you can ever foresee yourself stepping up to a larger tire, go with the 4.56 no doubt. If you never see this happening, both ratios will work, just depends on what you want out of them.

 

[nvrhapy]

thanks alot j602 for your help with my questions. what is your engine reving at when doing like 70mph, i've got alot of people telling me that a 4.56 is to big of a gear to run and its going to kill my truck on the highway, also i was goin to go with the power trax lock right because i can get it through my work for about $240, is this locker not worth buying though.

 

[j602]

No problem. I haven't run it on the highway in a while so I don't recall dead on, but I think it's around 2k RPM. With the new gears, you can use overdrive again without problems. The lockright should be fine for a daily driver if you don't do a lot of heavy wheeling. The powertrax, I've heard, is just a tad quiter and stronger.

 

[nvrhapy]

hey j602 my truck is a manual will this affect a diiferent result in how high my truck revs, 2k seems perfect for highway driving thats like stock isn't it

 

[j602]

Yup, 4.56's with 33/35's put it at just about stock RPM's. As far as I know, manual shouldn't be any different, since the RPM's should be the same for each gear, regardless of the tranny type.

 

[nvrhapy]

one more question when i buy the ring and pinion is there anything i need to buy with it for installlation,

 

[j602]

Yep, you'll need an install/overhaul kit. It comes with all the necessary bearings and seals that will need to be replaced with the gears. Are you having the gears done at a shop? If you are, just tell them what ratio you want and they'll order everything else they need to do the install.

 

[nvrhapy]

my buddys dad is a full time mechanic and he will be doing the install but i have to order the parts myself through my work, in the catalog with the gears and locker it lists an install kit for the gears just wasn't sure if you have to have it. hey j602 how well does your 2wd do in the trails, i'm hoping the 33's change of gearing and a locker will get me through some intermediate trails, this setup will be all new to me and hopefully a huge improvement i'm used to getting stuck in my backyard on a snowy day with my stock xplorer. :fire:

 

[j602]

There aren't really any trails around here, just mild offroadng and lots of MUD. It does alright, although I've had my fair share of stucks. I know all about the backyard stuck thing. My limited slip craps out on me at the first sign of trouble (the clutches are toast so basically it's an open diffy), and I've dug plenty of ruts in my soft soiled backyard just moving my truck around back there. The locker should make the biggest improvement over stock, and you should probably be able to tackle the stock 4x4 trails with the new setup.

 

[nvrhapy]

thanks for ya help can't wait to get everything put together

 

[j602]

Glad I could help. Make sure to post some pics when it's done.