NV3500 5-speed TJ shift points

chino1969

chino1969

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I am curious to see what at how many RPMs others shift at. My 2004 TJ 5 speed has a NV3500 gear case. My tires are 33 X 12.5 X 15" with 4.56 gears. I usually shift up close to 3,000 RPMs and seem to only need 5th when on long highway stretches. What do others do with the same set up? Comments or suggestions greatly appreciated.
 
I’m about the same unless I’m on a downhill or flat area where I don’t need power. Uphill, I will hit 3500 to 4000 in order to still have rpms left when I get to that next gear. 03 4.0 same tire size and gearing as you.
 
31s & 4.56s here. I usually shift by sound & need rather than RPM. For instance, if I'm just puttering around town & not really in a hurry, I'll shift just under 2k RPM. But if I'm trying to get some place quickly, maybe 2500 - 3k RPM. If I'm not pulling a hill, I'm in 5th by 50 MPH, maybe even sooner.
 
With a similar setup usually 2750-3000 RPM. I'll ramp it up to 4000 rpm going up a freeway onramp to get up to speed.
 
I use 2,000 RPMs or slightly less as my downshift point. Usually I go by sound and then look at the tach. to see where I am at. 2800 to 3000 RPMs sound about right for an upshift point. I found that after re-gearing I could stay in 3rd or 4th much longer like running around town, etc.. My old gearing was 3.73 which was a PITA.
 
3.73 with 31s and the NV3550 here. I also go by sound and situation (slope, traffic, etc). I find that the power band is like has been said on this board (about 2,200-2,500) but sometimes I'll open it up to 3,000 when I see a hill coming up.

I need a re-gear, that's for sure.
 
35s and 4.56 gearing I downshift around 2k when slowing. When I am in gear and trying to speed up its around 2.5k to 4.5k depending on what I am trying to do.
 
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tworley said:
35s and 4.56 gearing I downshift around 2k when slowing. When I am in gear and trying to speed up its around 2.5k to 4.5k depending on what I am trying to do.
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35s and 4.56 as well. This shifting pattern is very close to my own. I'm usually below 2K for downshifting but not that much. I'm usually upshifting around 3K. I surprised to see as many 4.5-5K upshift suggestions. That seems to be pushing the motor pretty hard for routine circumstances.

I do shift quite a bit to keep the rpms in the range that the motor seems to have power.
 
Highway cruise, 6th gear, is 2200rpm. I have 4.10s but would prefer 3.73s.

I live in the mountains and am often in 5th, 4th, 3rd on mountain grades and will not up shift until 4500rpm. If I am near cresting a grade I will hold and let it run up to 4800, 4900 before shifting.

Around town, I always upshift near 3500.
 
Through a good dozen different vehicles and transmissions and tire sizes I have shifted by "ear" more than anything else. It tends to be right at or slightly below 3,000 rpm for normal driving. If I need to get some speed fast then I shift at 3,500 to 4,000 rpm. Tho hitting 4,000 is rare. I like to keep engine rpm above 2,000 for driving. Lower lugs the engine too much. Around 2,500 is the happy spot for most engines I've owned.
 
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