Here is the beast:
89 Ford Bronco II

Just bought it, but I am concerned about the gear ratios. If I were designing the vehicle for today's traffic with the 70MPH speed limits etc, I'd set them up a little differently. I believe that 2nd gear is redundant as well as 5th.

I am not terribly experienced with straight drives as all my vehicles for the past 10+ years have been automatics, but I have a feeling that I am not alone here.

I spend a LOT of time in 70 MPH speed zones on the interstate. I find myself wanting a gear that will drop my 3,300-3,500 RPMs to something around 2,000 RPM for 70MPH (I believe that I will still be driving slower than the maniacs between Atlanta and Charlotte, but I'd like to not have my B2 sound like Mariah Carey while simply trying to avoid being a traffic obstacle). Unless I am just wrong for wanting this? Comments?

I looked around and have seen that some people have raised their trucks and put really large wheels on them. This would likely achieve the same goal, but I suspect that would make the lower gears more difficult to manage, without replacing the gears too.

I am NOT a gear-head, but do not fear my tools for general maitenance... I just want to know how to discuss what I want intelligently with my mechanic.

 

Okay, I've asked around....

This is my understanding: This ain't cheap, not only that, but it is not even moderately priced unless I am willing to put the time into myself and I know that I'd get stuck on something and never finish it so that brings me back to it being expensive to make this vehicle fit ALL of my driving needs. I simply need multiple vehicles.

So I hereby withdrawn this from even being a question deserving of serious consideration. Thanks to all that helped me make this realization.

 

My 2.9 B2 has 235/75/15's on it and I think it still has adequate power to get me around. At 70mph I think I run maybe 2.5 grand or less....far better than the 3.5 grand you are talking about with stock tires. I think that it makes the truck look quite a bit better as well. The good thing is that you won't need to lift it at all and you can even use your original wheels. The only thing that you MIGHT consider a drawback is about 10% difference (shows 60mph when you are going 65) in the speedometer, but you could get your speedo calibrated to fix that if it bothered you and I don't think it is a very expensive process (possibly even a do-it-yourself job....depending on if it requires any special tools). I know that it would be FAR less expensive than trying to change all your gears and whatnot....it's up to you though. Hope this helps.

Joe

 

just decid ewhat ratios you want find a trans in a boneyard and regear it then put it in. that way you have a spare good trans and if you get stuck you don't loose your truck. or after you finish you can sell your old one. and i know what you mean. myne was regeared and geared fast but only in second.

 

well....i took mine out on the freeway and got 2500 rpm going 75....so..do you have overdrive?

 

yeah but it dont help me out any. i think they redid 2nd for acceleration. i can't go but about 10 miles an hour in first but i can hit fifty in second. 60 in 3rd and prolly about 90 in 4th. 95 in fifth maybe. i won't know for sure the rpms on it for a while though.