doubler or ring n pinion?

[rezsst]

I have the opportunity to buy a 203 for cheap. Would you build a doubler or change your gear sets. Im thinking doubler.just cus there cool. Its sucks when I'm wheelin and I dont have low enough gears for rocky terrain, all clutch,. I dont want to lose any highway gaers either. 465/205/373 10bolt front 33"tires next set of tires will be 35's

 

[76zimmer]

first off, your 203 needs to mate to your trans. then the 205 needs to mate w/ the 203 output which in my case required an input 205 change.
I do like the triple sticks and the 4:1/2:1/1:1 ratios too.
you will need to change driveshafts as well, and make a doubler mounting cradle of some kind.

 

[nvrenuf]

I vote doubler, you keep the hi way gears and still have the low gears for wheeling.

 

[TerryD]

I vote gears. My buddy's f150 has np435/205/4.10s and on 35s has plenty of grunt down low in first and gets about 14mpg on the highway. It's done great for the almost decade it's been together with the same setup.

 

[sweetk30]

if you like highway speed/rpm you have now = 203/205 time.

if you like the low range split now but need better rpm at highway for better power use gears .

but if me extra sticks in the cab and 1:1/2:1/4:1 options be best .

and twin stick that 205 also for the win

 

[FOR MUD]

What's your overall plan for the truck? Are 35s going to be biggest tire your ever going to run? What's your main usage going to be? Is there going to be an axle swap?
No sense doing things twice......It cost three time as much.

 

[72blazerguy]

I vote doubler, you keep the hi way gears and still have the low gears for wheeling.

x2 on that.

If you change axle gears, it will definitely lower your hiway speeds.

Doubler was a great upgrade in my 71, but I'm running a TH350 and not the SM465. After the doubler, I can actually come off hills under compression and not touch the brakes. Also, gives me tons more control trying to climb stuff.

 

[6.2Blazer]

The doubler makes a much larger difference in crawl ratio, and you retain all of the highway ability you currently have, plus you still have the wheelspeed in single low. You can put the lowest possible axle gears available in and it won't make nearly the difference in the crawl ratio and you lose highway driving ability.

 

[70jimmy]

I had the same dilemma and picked doubler. Glad I did! Twin sticked the 205 and now in high gear its my choice not faster than 12 to 15 mph, 30 mph, or as fast as I need, 75 plus mph. In Low gear its more like 5 mph, 15 mph, and 25 mph. But it is a turbo 400 and not a standard.

 

[rezsst]

Thanks for your info. Think ill buy it and hold on to it. Always wanted one just to many projects right now and the drive shafts would cost about 500. Ord kits about 1000. And ill need $ for moab this year. Maybe this fall

 

[dahreno]

If you do a doubler not only will you need a new d. shaft but it will be shorter. May need a double cardan d. shaft. I do like the doubler though. I might be tempted to go with a Dana 300 with a twin stick and a Lo max or a Tera low 4 to 1 kit in it.

 

[rezsst]

I could mod the front drive shaft at work and balance it later. I never use 4wd on the roads. Then I can go with heavy wall tube.

 

[Stomis]

3.73s and a 465 are perfect for 35s/36s in my experience. I would leave that alone and build a doubler.

 

[paratrooper307]

You have to make a choice based on where the truck will spend most of its time. IMO, for a mostly street-driven truck, you're better off changing the gearing from a driveability and mileage standpoint. If it gets a lot of wheeling action, street manners are less important, and a doubler can take care of a lot of deficiencies when it comes to gearing. Transmission makes a lot of difference too. With a granny low 465, you can get away with a lot less gear.