I would not say that. I'd say a small minotity change ratios. Most just switch the OD off. Which makes it pretty much like the old 3 speed automatic.
Has anyone rebuilt the 42RLE and went with a different overdrive gear?
- Thread starter Chris
- Start date
Transmision works are more expensive and complicated than re gear. Is a little more involved on the OD portion of the transmision.
Was around this before, project abandoned due complexity.
I think is a vendor that offer a RLE42 replacement with little improvement, but at the end of the day tire zise and gearing goes like hand to hand. My two cents...
Was around this before, project abandoned due complexity.
I think is a vendor that offer a RLE42 replacement with little improvement, but at the end of the day tire zise and gearing goes like hand to hand. My two cents...
I'm only bringing this up because if anyone were to ever get to that point where they needed their transmission rebuilt, it would be interesting to ask a transmission shop if the OD ratio is something the can change or not.
Are there auto tranny forums? I haven't looked yet but some transmission dood out there has the answer
That's my thought as well. Someone out there who rebuilds or works on transmissions for a living knows the answer to this. I may have to talk to a reputable transmission shop just to satisfy my curiosity.
My purely 100% guess/assumption is, if it could be done, it would have been. Many years ago it was common to install a lower 1st gear ratio in the T350/400 for drag race purposes. Can't ever recall an OD ratio swap.
I am sure there are "tranny" forums out there but in this day and age I doubt they are for automobiles!
Switching the OD off would help the cruising rpms if you're willing to live with having turn OD off multiple times a day but consider this... when you're misgeared, you're still faced with this... taking off in 1st gear is like taking off in 2nd gear and 2nd is like being in 3rd. It's still not going to perform well until the axles are regeared to the appropriate ratio. And you're still left with constantly having to turn the OD on & off which I had to do with even 4.88 with my 35's until I regeared to 5.38 this past December.
I got sick of having to constantly turn the OD off to stop the engine from lugging so I regeared. My 3rd time regearing over the past 22 years. Worth the $$$ every time.
It seems like if more people would understand that the 42rle was undergeared directly from the factory, these discussions would go differently. All the other transmission options were geared lower and those Jeeps ran at significantly higher rpms.
Correcting the OD gear would be nice. It would be interesting to know more about why this isn't an option.
Correcting the OD gear would be nice. It would be interesting to know more about why this isn't an option.
I am sure there are "tranny" forums out there but in this day and age I doubt they are for automobiles!
:-o really? Please explain... lol
Seriously when I was doing research on transmissions, the computer spell check kept changing 'tranny' to 'granny'. :-/
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Tucks mean something very similar "over there". But requires more courage and confidence than I have.
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You hit on the crux of the problem jivw, that few truly understand that TJs are undergeared when the Jeep leaves the factory with the 42RLE transmission. Buyers get used to how it performs since they usually have nothing similar to compare it with that performs well. Just going from 4.88 to 5.38 boosted my engine rpms just enough to stop the lugging which made a huge difference in day-to-day driving. Not that everyone truly understands when their engine is lugging either.
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Glad I have a 5 speed. No wonder you auto jeepers need a dead pedal. All that nervous energy on your left leg, lol!
BendLarry
TJ Addict
Notice whenever you get out of your jeep and start walking that you walk in a circle? Gotsta exercise that left leg brah!
Exactly...... I bet if you took a stock Rubicon with stock 31,s m and re-geared to 4.56, it would fly, and still be good on the highway.You hit on the crux of the problem jivw, that few truly understand that TJs are undergeared when the Jeep leaves the factory with the 42RLE transmission. Buyers get used to how it performs since they usually have nothing similar to compare it with that performs well. Just going from 4.88 to 5.38 boosted my engine rpms just enough to stop the lugging which made a huge difference in day-to-day driving. Not that everyone truly understands when their engine is lugging either.
I had to switch back to 29's for a day to get my jeep inspected (my 33's stick out from the fenders). I have a 5 speed and 4.56's. That was one interesting drive. It was raining and I did a few unintentional burnouts leaving stop signs. But I was also shifting a crazy amount. If I remember correctly, I was in 4th gear by 35 or 40. It was fun for the quick drive, but I wouldn't want to have to drive like that all the time. I felt the same way when I installed my extended shifter. It was fun to have such long throws for a while, but after a day, the novelty wore off and I uninstalled it. 31's and 4.56's would be perfect in my opinion if you didn't do a lot of highway driving. Only reason I went 4.56 instead of 4.88 on my Jeep is because I drive on the highway too much for that to viable.
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