Stock gears on a 99 Sport? Want to run 31's

[bigDerk]

I'm looking at possibly buying a Dead Link Removed. If I get it, I will probably keep my wheels and tires that are on my 94 Explorer, 15x8 589's with 31x10.50 ProComp MT's, and do the torsion twist/Warrior shackle lift. My question is about the gearing on the newer Sports with the SOHC. My 94 4dr has 3.27 gears, which is too high for turning the 31's on the highway. The OHV 4.0 just doesn't have the power for them, and I don't want to go through the trouble of a gear swap. Does anyone know what gears most of the SOHC Sports have? I'm sure the extra power of the SOHC would help to turn the 31's, but I'd like a lower gearing, like 3.73's or so. I just wasn't sure if there were different gears offered in the newer Sports.

 

[Robert]

Find one that came with 16" tires from Ford. It will most likely have 4.10 which is an excellent ratio for 31" tires. My '97 came with 30.1" tires and 4.10 axle and it has excellent pickup. Even after I added the 32" tires, I didn't loose too much off the line. I wouldn't go any lower than a 3.73. If you end up getting the 3.73 your ratio would be 10% higher than my 4.10 however your tires are only 3% smaller. In other words your overall ratio would be 7% higher than mine is right now with 4.10s and 32" tires. To me it would feel like it is too sluggish off the line with that combo. Others probably find it just fine. I just prefer the power to come on off the line rather than at highway speeds. If you plan on going off-road get the 4.10s. If you ever decide to go even larger than the 31" tires, you'll be glad you have the 4.10 also. 4.10 are very common on the Sports with 16" tires so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one. Look at the axle code on the sticker inside the driver's door. Look for either a D2 (4.10 LS) or 72 (4.10 open). I'm not positive about the 72 though. Basically look for an axle that ends in 2 for a 4.10.

 

[bigDerk]

Aren't all the Sports with the 16's 4WD? That's another thing, I'm looking to buy a 2WD model. I'm not concerned with off-the-line power, as I've been dealing with 3.27's pushing the 31's for 6 months now, and that's with a 94 four-door with the OHV 4.0L- talk about slow.

Gas mileage is a large factor. I do a lot of highway driving, to and from college (15 miles to school, back and forth twice a day), so highway power is a must. My main concern was if any of the newer Sports came with lower than a 3.73 gear.

I don't plan on going any bigger than the TT/Shackle lift, so 31's would be as big as I'll go, and I won't really be doing any "real" offroading, being that I want a 2WD model.

 

[jobunn]

I currently own a '99 Sport SOHC 4x4 with 3.27's that came without the Premium Sport package which includes, like Robert said, 16" wheels and a 4.10 limited slip in the rear. If it is a two wheel drive chances are it too has the 3.27's as most 2wd Sports do, but there are codes on the door and axle housing to check that.

I added the TT/Warrior Shackles and 31" BFG A/T's without changing my gears and I did notice a difference off the line and in gas mileage. Above 30 mph's and on the highway (where the SOHC is a big difference over the OHV) the car feels no different. I plan to do a 4.10 or 3.73 swap ( which I know will murder my gas mileage) soon enough but that will be more for the limited slip than anything. I am sure if I was towing I would need new gearing.

 

[Robert]

I'm not sure what you are asking but yes, the 16" tires were only available on the 4x4. 15" tires were also available on the 4x4 Sport and they come with a lower ratio. If you are looking for a 2WD then the highest ratio you will find will be the 3.73 which should be included with 235 75R15 tires and the tow package. The 3.73 with 31" tires will provide much better performance than you are getting now. The ratio will still be quite a ways off from where Ford designed it to be though. The SOHC makes most of its power in the upper RPM range. It doesn't have "jaw dropping" performance below 3000 RPM. Mine got its best mileage at 80 MPH across New Mexico. That was at about 2900 RPM. I got 20 MPG then. Usually when I am running 70 MPH, I get around 19 MPG. The SOHC would rather be revved than lugged so if you choose to low of a ratio, you may get worse mileage than you would with a higher ratio. Since you are looking for a 2WD, your choices are limited to a 3.08, 3.27, 3.55 or 3.73. The lower you go the worse it will be.

I just remembered something else, I believe the Premium Sport Package could be ordered on the 2WD. If it could, it might include 16" wheels and a 4.10 as well. It would be a rare combination if you could find one, but would be worth looking into. The Premium Sport Package added the gray step bars, bumpers and larger fender flares. It also added the high-series console and taller tires. Due to the taller tires, it included the 4.10 (at least on the 4x4). The limited slip came with the tow package which also included the lower gear ratio.

 

[bigDerk]

Thanks for the information guys. Is there an axle code chart somewhere that I could check out? I'm going to look at the Explorer I linked in the top post in an hour or two, so I'll be sure to note the axle code. It has the chrome 15" split-5 style wheels, 235/75's (I think), the larger fender flares, and step bars, and all these are painted that metallic gray color. I'm under the assumption that this one is 2WD, since 4WD wasn't mentioned in the ad, but I guess there is a possibility that it could be 4WD. I'm going to take my digital camera along with me to snap a few pics of the truck.

 

[Robert]

It does have the Premium Sport Package and it does look like it has the 16" tires, not the 15" tires. You are right though that it doesn't say 4x4. If it turns out to be a 2WD with 16" tires, I would be curious to know.

 

[TarHeel085]

those are definatley 15's i also have a 99 SPort. it has the 16 teardrops. came stock with 30.1 and 4.10 gears. im movin up to 32s though.

 

[bigDerk]

Well I went to go look at the Ex, and one of the salesmen had taken it home for the weekend. ARGH!! Pissed me off, I drove a freakin hour to find that the truck ain't even there, when they told me just before I left that it was there. I'll try to check it out the first part of next week.

 

[Alec]

I replied to your new thread, Double Poster!

 

[Stomper]

Dowwwwwp! SORRY! Got a little excited...it's my 1st offense! Honest I won't do it again, ossifer!! haha

I'll remove my posting from this thread. Thanks! -JP