4.11's and 33/35's

[thebluemax]

My truck currently has 33x12.50 tires with 4.11 f/r in ten bolt axles. I am currently working on going 3/4 ton by just swapping the outers from 6 lug to 8 lug on the front and finding a 4.10 fourteen bolt. Now my trouble is that down the road I may run 35s with 4.11 be enough with a 700r4? I may just run 33s

 

[ccarley]

I think many people have different opinions on gearing. Might just depend on altitude as well.

My Sub, 350, 700R4, 35" tires, has 3.73's in the axles. No problem, although I don't tow. 4th on flat highway & mild hills is fine, and 3rd is required for bigger/ longer hills, or when loaded. I do live at sea level though.

Took a trip to Santa Cruz over the weekend too, climbing over hwy 17. 3rd all the way on the steep twisty sections, slowing down to 40 mph at points too. I'd say we had a mild load though, if we were loaded more, 2nd may have been necessary.

That being said... I bet 4.10's/ 4.11's would be better.

Good luck in your decision!
Clay

 

[shaun89]

im sure u no the 700 is known as the weaker tranny but it does have the lowest 1st gear in the family of autos that come in old chevys. so i would say u should be fine. any tranny will get worn out if u beat on it,but the low 1st gear should help you out,it should be fine.

 

[Blue85]

Search, as this has been covered many times before. 4.10 is about a perfect ratio with 33's. It's a little steep for 35's, but it does work and you can still use overdrive and everything. 4.56 is probably perfect, but 4.10 and 4.88 are also useable, IMO. If you might stay on 33s you probably don't want the 4.88.

 

[496truck]

I recently put 3/4 tons with 4.10s and 35s on my truck. Night and day difference compared to the stock 3.42s and 33s I had on there. This info is subjective like mentioned earlier. I live at sea level and drive the truck every day. On hills where it used to down shift to 3rd it pulls up just fine in 4th. Engine RPM on the highway seems less bogged down while traveling too (no tach). Just this weekend I took a trip out to western Mass to go wheeling and there are much more hills and steeper/longer hills out there than where I usually drive. Never downshifted on me pulling up any of those hills. And the truck crawled over obstacles, through the trails, and up the climbs effortlessly.

 

[Smokinthehippies]

lol. i'm on 38s with 3.73s... so id say 4.10s with 33s would be preetty nice.

 

[CherryK5]

I currently run 35's and 4.10's and could use a deeper gear. At 65 mph I run around 1700 rpm. I could go 5.38's and end up a tad over 2500 which is more ideal with my cam profile. It just doesn't make any power that low. But with a stock cam that might be fine for you. But I would still go 4.56 or 4.88 with 35's.

 

[gone huntin]

My 700r4 hated 35's with 4.10 gears. It kept "hunting" in and out of overdrive. I dropped back to 33's and it's very happy with them.

 

[gonefishin]

i run 35's and 410's but i didn't like it when i had the 700 its not bad with the nv4500 go for it it will work for now then go 513's or 538's later when you have the funds

 

[super k]

You end up with right about 3.73:1 with 35s and 4.10s,which works great with o/d. I have that combo in my '85 Jimmy and love it.

 

[6.2Blazer]

I wil agree with everybody above who says it's completely subjective. The 4.11 / 35" tire combo is a lot better than some of the combinations that came out of the factory back in the 80's.

One thing to keep in mind is the tire brand. Going from the same style 33x12.50 to a 35x12.50 really isn't that much of a difference, but say you go from a 33x12.50 all-terrain to a 35x15.50 Swamper than there is a much bigger difference.

I ran 33's with 4.10's for years in my 6.2 (i.e. low powered) K5 w/ 700r4 for years and it was fine, and then switched to 35's and honestly did not notice much of a difference. Just kept it out of overdrive except when out on the highway.

 

[rjfguitar]

I wil agree with everybody above who says it's completely subjective. The 4.11 / 35" tire combo is a lot better than some of the combinations that came out of the factory back in the 80's.

One thing to keep in mind is the tire brand. Going from the same style 33x12.50 to a 35x12.50 really isn't that much of a difference, but say you go from a 33x12.50 all-terrain to a 35x15.50 Swamper than there is a much bigger difference.

This! There is a HUGE difference between a 35x12.50 and a 35x16, then factor the rim width, and you could be pushing around a very heavy load and you could use more gearing than with a set of A/T's. Then factor radial vs. bias, tread aggressiveness, etc. Also look at the specs of a tire and specifically at the weight, the lighter the tire, the better for less drag.


Here is my setup with my K5, as aggressive of a "35" as you can literally get, and my get up and go and fuel mileage show it. I currently have 4.10's and plan to eventually go to 4.88's ( and get rid of 16" boggers).