Topic: Installing a Rubicon Express 3.5 lift

[Jeffy]

2.4 does fine with 4.56 or 4.88 gears on mine 4.88's and 35" tires is a pretty happy marriage

Yours is a 6-speed though isn't it?  Those started off with 3.73:1 gears so 4.56/4.88 would be a big jump.  The 6-speed has much better gear selection then the 5-speed or any of the auto's as well.

[aw12345]

6 speed has a pretty nice short first gear and a nice hear spread all together, add the few extra horses of the 2.4l and it makes for a fairly decent driving Jeep.  I can keep up reasonably well with my buddies on mountain roads, it will still do 75 to 80 on the highway and wheels every bit as good as the 6 cyl wranglers of my buddies

[chrisjsmith4]

I got the info from jeepforum.com posted the specs on all the jeeps. search stock jeep specs. i wish i had a 6 speed. as far as power goes it is turbo'd. highway shouldnt be a prob. 95 is kind of scary lol

[Jeffy]

6 speed has a pretty nice short first gear and a nice hear spread all together, add the few extra horses of the 2.4l and it makes for a fairly decent driving Jeep.  I can keep up reasonably well with my buddies on mountain roads, it will still do 75 to 80 on the highway and wheels every bit as good as the 6 cyl wranglers of my buddies

That makes a big difference.

42RFE
3.00
1.67 2nd Up
1.50 2nd Down
1.00
0.75

NSG370
4.46
2.61
1.72
1.25
1.00
0.84

NV1500
3.96
2.37
1.49
1.00
0.83

[chrisjsmith4]

Manuals:

AX-5 - 1997-2002
* 5 speed manual
* Used with 4 cyl models
* 10 spline input
* 21 spline output

* Ratios:
1st - 3.93
2nd - 2.33
3rd - 1.45
4th - 1.00
5th - 0.85
Rev - 4.74

AX-15 - 1997-1999
* 5 speed manual
* Used with 6 cyl models
* 10 spine input
* 23 spline output

* Ratios:
1st - 3.83
2nd - 2.33
3rd - 1.44
4th - 1.00
5th - 0.79
Rev - 4.22

NV2550 - 2003-2004
* 5 speed manual
* Used with 4 cyl models

* Ratios:
1st - 3.85
2nd - 2.25
3rd - 1.48
4th - 1.00
5th - 0.75 or 0.80
Rev - 3.52

NV3550 - 2000-2004
* 5 speed manual
* Used with 6 cyl models
* 10 spline input
* 23 spline output

* Ratios:
1st - 4.01
2nd - 2.33
3rd - 1.39
4th - 1.00
5th - 0.78
Rev - 3.57

NSG370 - 2005-2006
* 6 speed manual
* Used with both 4 cyl and 6 cyl models
* 10 spline input
* 23 spline output

* Ratios:
1st - 4.46
2nd - 2.61
3rd - 1.72
4th - 1.25
5th - 1.00
6th - 0.84
Rev - 4.06

Axle Gear Ratios


3.07 - 1997-2006
* Standard ratio used with 6 cyl models except the Rubicon

3.55 - 1997 only
* Optional ratio used with 6 cyl manual only

3.73 - 1998-2006
* Optional ratio used with 6 cyl manual and automatic except the Rubicon
* Standard ratio used with most 4 cyl automatics
* Standard ratio used with 4 cyl 6 speed
* Standard ratio used with Dana 44 rear axle except the Rubicon

4.10 - 1997-2006
* Standard ratio used with 4 cyl 5 speed manual
* Standard ratio used with Rubicon

4.56 - 2003-2006
* Optional ratio used with 4 cyl automatic


***I must have looked at the wrong one.

[Jeffy]

Then your gearing is like most 2.5L's.  No reason to even consider 4.56, just go straight to 4.88.

[chrisjsmith4]

sounds good. Next question. would I be alright for about 6 months of stock gears with 33's. the tires I want don't come in 32/15's so i'm just going to go with 33's but it will be awhile before I can afford to get it geared. Then it poses the next question. Do I gear and lock my D35 and D30 or find a set of D44's off of a grand wagoneer. Keep in mind I don't go to crazy off roading. Mostly just average trails I guess. haven't done much wheelin.