bigger tires question

[Drobb's_85]

I've got some spending money and I'm thinking about new wheels and bigger tires. It has 31's on it right now. I was planning on some 33's. My question is, will these bigger tires hurt my 700r4 or anything? I know it will be more sluggish (its got a 3.42 ratio and a 305) but I'm kind of worried about my tranny, since my rpms will be lower in OD. Will it be alright? Eventually it will get a fresh 350 and some 4.10s but thats later..Thanks.

 

[CDA 455]

I've got some spending money and I'm thinking about new wheels and bigger tires. It has 31's on it right now. I was planning on some 33's. My question is, will these bigger tires hurt my 700r4 or anything? I know it will be more sluggish (its got a 3.42 ratio and a 305) but I'm kind of worried about my tranny, since my rpms will be lower in OD. Will it be alright? Eventually it will get a fresh 350 and some 4.10s but thats later..Thanks.

How 'in shape' is the tranny?

It's going to drive like a dog because you'll be about 500 RPM's too low or too high when you drive.

 

[Drobb's_85]

The tranny was rebuilt 40-50k mile ago..shifts strong..Whats the best solution? Just wait till I have the money to regear or what?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Lower gears will help your trans survive longer even with 31's.

IMO the 33's won't appreciably damage the trans.

 

[Drobb's_85]

Whats the general price range for new gearing? I'm not sure if I could do it myself..

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Whats the general price range for new gearing? I'm not sure if I could do it myself..

If you take it to a shop? Probably close to $1000.

Most people will recommend that you swap to axles that have the gearing you want.

 

[dyeager535]

A stock truck could have had 31" tires, 700R4, and 3.08 gears. How do those numbers compare to 33" and 3.42's?

Online gear calcs tell me that at 60MPH, the 31" combo is turning 1407 RPM's. 33" combo is turning 1463. Not nearly a big enough difference to notice, or cause problems.

Those RPM numbers both sound low to me, but they were calc'd using the same method, so the similarities are still valid to compare.