3.73s for 33s

thekidwithquestions

thekidwithquestions

Acquiring Jeep funds...
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I was just wondering if 3.73 gear ratio is ok for 33s, I recently bought a dana 44 with 3.73s from a jeep yard to replace my stock dana 35 with 3.07s and im about broke now
I want to know if its ok for 33 inch tires/what is your experience with it, should I get 3.73s for the front so at least I have usable 4wd? btw im 15 and there's no way I
can afford new gears for front and back axles, let alone getting them installed
i'm going to be off-roading so put that into account, not hard off roading but just for fun
 
James01 said:
I was just wondering if 3.73 gear ratio is ok for 33s, I recently bought a dana 44 with 3.73s from a jeep yard to replace my stock dana 35 with 3.07s and im about broke now
I want to know if its ok for 33 inch tires/what is your experience with it, should I get 3.73s for the front so at least I have usable 4wd? btw im 15 and there's no way I
can afford new gears for front and back axles, let alone getting them installed
i'm going to be off-roading so put that into account, not hard off roading but just for fun
Click to expand...
well, you can't use 4wd without matching ratios, so you will either need to

a) regear your dana 30 to 3.73. seeing as 3.73 is a common ratio others leave behind you should be able to score the gears themselves and just have to pay for the regear.
b) hold off on 33's until you can afford to regear one or both axles
c) install the 44 and 33's and have a 2wd jeep.

Just a note, I have 3.73's with 33" tires. It is OK at best, but 4.56 or 4.88 would be much more desirable.

I'd like to add that I have a 5 speed manual.
 
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Vasq said:
well, you can't use 4wd without matching ratios, so you will either need to

a) regear your dana 30 to 3.73. seeing as 3.73 is a common ratio others leave behind you should be able to score the gears themselves and just have to pay for the regear.
b) hold off on 33's until you can afford to regear one or both axles
c) install the 44 and 33's and have a 2wd jeep.

Just a note, I have 3.73's with 33" tires. It is OK at best, but 4.56 or 4.88 would be much more desirable.
Click to expand...
the 44 and the 33s are both already installed so C is where im at rn
 
Not sure how common they are, but might score a complete 30 with the 3.73 gears. Check local junk yards for XJs.
 
Your Jeep would be incredibly sluggish, but it would be drivable. You could get away with it if you have a manual, but an auto would be awful.

Considering you would need to make other upgrades to make a proper and useable build for 33s, why not just get 31s?
 
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bromel said:
Your Jeep would be incredibly sluggish, but it would be drivable. You could get away with it if you have a manual, but an auto would be awful.

Considering you would need to make other upgrades to make a proper and useable build for 33s, why not just get 31s?
Click to expand...
I have 33’s, 32RH and 3.73 and it’s definitely not awful. Not even bad really. Not necessarily ideal, but will be fine for OP on a strict budget.
 
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bromel said:
Your Jeep would be incredibly sluggish, but it would be drivable. You could get away with it if you have a manual, but an auto would be awful.

Considering you would need to make other upgrades to make a proper and useable build for 33s, why not just get 31s?
Click to expand...

An auto may actually handle 33s with 3.73s better than a manual if it’s a 32rh.
 
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bromel said:
Your Jeep would be incredibly sluggish, but it would be drivable. You could get away with it if you have a manual, but an auto would be awful.

Considering you would need to make other upgrades to make a proper and useable build for 33s, why not just get 31s?
Click to expand...
I’m running 373 and 33 and it’s great with an auto,not AWFUL at all.
AC6894AB-B9C2-4FB4-9EE1-223B9C21549D.jpeg
 
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I drove mine for a while with 3.73 and 32ish tires. It was ok, especially if you are on a budget. 6th was flat ground 65+ only and 1st wasn’t quite deep enough. But when you’re broke you make due.
Find a matching 3.73 front and go for it. That’s a common ratio, so it won’t be hard to get.
You can always go 4.56 later when you have the $$
 
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31 and 32 at most is ok...with a 3.73

Once you hit 33 and beyond there's just a lot of rolling mass there.

4.10 would be a minimum.

If it were me...

Sell the 44...
I'd track down some 4.10 axles out of a 4 cylinder...
Start there.

You don't NEED a 44 running 33's and certainly not at the expense of decent drivability.
 
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