hystereo

Well Hello Yota Techs!

I just purchased a 95 tacoma 2.7L 4WD manual and want to make it look and perform a little better here in the Blue Ridge mountains. As she sits, it has LT235/75r15 on 15x6's. The thing rarely sees fifth gear, and when it does she is not so happy. My gear code on the door jamb is B02A which from what I gather is the less than desirable 3.58:1.

I was hoping to squeeze some 32x11.50 BFG all terrains on 15x8's without a lift and without regearing....not really looking like this is going to happen from what I am reading.

However, I just want a reliable vehicle to get me to work in the snow a few times a year, and look great doing it. I definately don't think it is worth a regear to put some tires on for stance's sake...

Also considered maybe a header and intake would be a cheaper alternative to get a little additional pep without regearing both diffs. What are you guys thoughts on the matter? I'm sure you don't get these questions often

JasonYota

iTrader: (1)

We get these questions all the time. Seriously. Have you tried searching, I believe this info is in the stickies

hystereo

yeah I've searched a good bit, and still doing so. I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask a more tailored question though

JasonYota

iTrader: (1)

Alright your saying you can no longer use 5th gear as the diff gearing is high. You want to add larger/heavier tires (4 inches larger) and do not want to regear. Performance mods will not help, they might make a little difference, but not much. Either leave it stock or if you decide to get larger tires, regear. No way around it.

Rock N Crawler

I'd go with 4.88s if your going with 33s and 5.29s if 35 or larger. I run 4.88 in my 81yota on 33s and yes sir it's nice to have 5th gear back.

hystereo

From hub to ground it's only about 1.5" differance between the LT235 and the 32's...I just find it hard to believe a regear is absolutely neccessary. But I don't know and that's why I am asking, hoping to hear from someone with a similar setup on 3.58 gears..

Never said I can no longer use fifth gear. The roads I drive to work are pretty hilly and 55mph, if I come to decent incline, maybe 30+ degrees, I will bog down the engine if I don't downshift.

Thanks for your response though, I know this is an annoying thread.

JasonYota

iTrader: (1)

There are plenty of people with tacoma's and pickups that have 4.10's (lower gears than your truck has) regearing for 33's. Even the pickups with the "31in tire package" had lower gears from the factory. I'm not sure if that applies to tacoma's though. I have stock 4.56's with 33's and it drives fine, I also have a 5vz. I'd rather have a truck that performs over a truck that looks good. Sometimes you get both.

Roark

People are gonna say a lot of things.. I have the 3vze, which I assume is as crappily powered as your engine. I have 4.10s and run 32s. I use 5th gear all the time with no problem, and have no need to regear. If you found some nice 32s with wider rims that you like, go for it. If you find out regearing is a MUST, then go from there. These things, to an extent, are better found out through experience than from some guys on the Internet. Ironic..I know.

Rock N Crawler

Totally agreed don't listen to us key board wheelers. Lol

hystereo

Yeah I agree...however, performing for me is just being reliable work vehicle that looks good for my auto shop picking up parts and such in the weather, not getting hood deep and climbing out.

and Mr. Duke! Thanks! That is what I was originally thinking until doing a ton of searching on this forum has gotten me all mixed up thinking about gears...that had never even crossed my mind with the 32's, I just assumed regearing was something you gotta do to turn 35's and so on.

JasonYota

iTrader: (1)

Duke I agree if he had 4.10 he would be fine with 32's but he has 3.58 gears. That's almost the difference from 4.10's to 4.56's
You can drive a vehicle that has too high of gears but it's hard on the engine and clutch/trans.
Also agree from above you can learn a lot on the Internet but most of the time experience is where you lean the most.

hystereo

Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of, and the tranny already has a bit of whine in 1st-3rd.

Looking through jeep forums I see a ton of people running 33's on even higher gear ratios like 3:07 and 3:21...of course that's a whole different animal obviously

JasonYota

iTrader: (1)

That must help in the mall parking lots lol. I've seen people running high gears(stock) like that and to them it drives fine while others say it's a dog to drive, it can't get out of its own way, etc.
Do you have a friend that has a truck like yous but has lower gears you could test drive?

JasonYota

iTrader: (1)

Scuba is selling his front diff out of his tacoma 5.29 gears with a locker. Check it out in the classifieds. Just a thought

hystereo

thanks. I may just go with 31's and play it safe....ish

scuba

Thanks.


And yeah, OP, if you think it's a dog now just wait until you get 32's on it.

The truck will handle 31's and 4.10's great as that's what came stock on most of these trucks. I recommend 4.88's for 33's and 5.29's of you ever want 35's.
If anything, a stock set of 4.10's would be cheap and easy to find.
I don't recommend putting 32's on your truck with 3.58's.

The only "power mods" that will make noticeable gains would be forced induction. Expensive compared to a set of diffs.