1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

98' Tacoma 5.29 gear ratio?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Dumpslikeatruck, Sep 10, 2017.

  1. Sep 10, 2017 at 7:07 AM
    #1
    Dumpslikeatruck

    Dumpslikeatruck [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Member:
    #229583
    Messages:
    15
    Hey I know next to nothing about trucks and I'm trying to break into the world of tacomas. I'm looking at a used 1998 and need some sage wisdom.

    1. Is a 5.29 gear ratio overkill if I'm mostly on paved roads and not towing anything heavy?
    2. The speedometer is inaccurate (indicates I'm moving faster than I am) on account of the ratio change. Will this cause any long term problems?
    3. Is $7500 too much for this truck? Since things move so fast up here in the NW, most sellers don't want to wait for a pre-sale inspection...

    Here's the truck...

    https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/6299319428.html

    Any other advice or cautions about the truck would be welcomed- thanks so much...
     
  2. Sep 10, 2017 at 7:08 AM
    #2
    2stroketrush

    2stroketrush Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2012
    Member:
    #72157
    Messages:
    1,162
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tyler Addison Rush
    Baltimore
    Vehicle:
    Built 97 ExtraCab
    Overland Purpose Built 97 going on 190K.
    probably has 35s, but 5.29s are pretty low. price seems high
     
    cruxofthebisquit likes this.
  3. Sep 10, 2017 at 7:10 AM
    #3
    DaveInDenver

    DaveInDenver Not Actually in Denver

    Joined:
    May 18, 2013
    Member:
    #104390
    Messages:
    3,619
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    David
    Grand Junction
    Vehicle:
    2008 Super White TRDOR AC 6MT
    Unexceptional
    I ran 5.29 gears in an old truck, which was a 22R-E on 33x10.50 tires. It is pretty low unless you're running 35" tires.

    It worked for me because I wasn't in a hurry and it was nice offroad and on paved highway passes. At the time I also had an ARB, winch, sliders, Budbuilt skids, a Marlin rear bumper, a WilderNest, fridge. I was really, really heavy.

    Wouldn't recommend them for a V6 on 35" or less but they can help get back some grunt if heavily loaded with a 4 cylinder.
     
  4. Sep 10, 2017 at 7:52 AM
    #4
    drr

    drr Primary Prognosticator

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Member:
    #114681
    Messages:
    2,749
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dan
    Seattle-ish
    Vehicle:
    02 4WD Tacoma
    If you're not seriously offroading that truck, 5.29 gears are going to get annoying after a while. Especially with 33" tires. You'll be doing 3000+ rpm on the freeway at 65-70.

    The speedo being off will only rack up the miles on the odometer faster, not really an issue other than maybe resale value.

    That price is a little on the high end, although these trucks definitely can get that much around here. See if you can talk it down a bit, depending on the condition.
     
  5. Sep 10, 2017 at 7:55 AM
    #5
    JayRolla

    JayRolla Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2017
    Member:
    #214833
    Messages:
    2,887
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jason
    Colorado Springs
    Vehicle:
    Wife's 2012 DCSB Tacoma Sr5
    Trd stickers for 10whp 32s on MK6 17s
    35s and it would be fine.
     
  6. Sep 10, 2017 at 8:00 AM
    #6
    03 NIGHT TACO

    03 NIGHT TACO Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2016
    Member:
    #201056
    Messages:
    1,012
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jack
    Eastern Washington
    Vehicle:
    3.4 5 speed TRD
    Kings/Dakars/ARB
    I'd say price is not bad depending on the mileage. Prices here in the NW are crazy high.
     
  7. Sep 10, 2017 at 10:58 AM
    #7
    Dumpslikeatruck

    Dumpslikeatruck [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Member:
    #229583
    Messages:
    15
    Thank you all for weighing in- it's just over 200k miles and the price is fairly average for the insane costs of a Tacoma up here. So it sounds like maybe the 5.29 would be too low. It's a shame that re-gearing is so costly- otherwise this would have been perfect.
     
  8. Sep 10, 2017 at 11:03 AM
    #8
    TACORIDER

    TACORIDER Just another statistic

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2012
    Member:
    #81357
    Messages:
    5,984
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    JAKE
    EAST TAWAKONI TEXAS
    Vehicle:
    12 TACO and some other Toyota’s
    Regear from east coast gear supply would run 1200 and bolt them up yourself. Pretty easy job. If they are 35s that's about right for an auto 3.4 I think
     
  9. Sep 10, 2017 at 11:07 AM
    #9
    devinzz1

    devinzz1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2014
    Member:
    #132892
    Messages:
    7,039
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    devin
    lewisporte Newfoundland
    Vehicle:
    2023 aclb trd or mt
    icon stage 10 kit, toytec 1" bl, 35" general x3s, 17x9.5 procomp wheels, locker anytime mod, s&b intake, blackhawk 2.1 tune,
    with the auto and 35s it should be fine. the 3.4 is happy with a little higher rpms on highway.
     
  10. Sep 10, 2017 at 11:16 AM
    #10
    vern650

    vern650 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Member:
    #111738
    Messages:
    837
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    brandon
    hyrum, ut
    Vehicle:
    '97 4x4 taco xtra cab 3rz/5spd
    HBS leveling kit, 31x10.50 mudders, header/imco exhaust, rear billies, LR ucas, home brewed onboard air, cb radio
    If you really like the truck, but don't want the gears, it wouldn't be hard finding someone to swap diffs with that wanted to go lower. Hell if you was local to me I'd trade you my stock 4.10s.
     
  11. Sep 10, 2017 at 11:24 AM
    #11
    Dumpslikeatruck

    Dumpslikeatruck [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Member:
    #229583
    Messages:
    15
    Man now y'all are talking me into it. 35" tires are just beastly for my purposes- maybe the differential swap is the call. I've got some thinking to do lol.
     
  12. Sep 10, 2017 at 11:31 AM
    #12
    devinzz1

    devinzz1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2014
    Member:
    #132892
    Messages:
    7,039
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    devin
    lewisporte Newfoundland
    Vehicle:
    2023 aclb trd or mt
    icon stage 10 kit, toytec 1" bl, 35" general x3s, 17x9.5 procomp wheels, locker anytime mod, s&b intake, blackhawk 2.1 tune,
    i personally wouldn't buy that truck because of the poor db lift.
     
    Dalandser likes this.
  13. Sep 10, 2017 at 11:36 AM
    #13
    Dumpslikeatruck

    Dumpslikeatruck [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Member:
    #229583
    Messages:
    15
    Had to look up what this meant haha.
     
  14. Sep 10, 2017 at 11:38 AM
    #14
    TACORIDER

    TACORIDER Just another statistic

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2012
    Member:
    #81357
    Messages:
    5,984
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    JAKE
    EAST TAWAKONI TEXAS
    Vehicle:
    12 TACO and some other Toyota’s
    You don't want 35s?
     
  15. Sep 10, 2017 at 11:39 AM
    #15
    Dumpslikeatruck

    Dumpslikeatruck [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Member:
    #229583
    Messages:
    15
    35s are just a lot of tire man...
     

Products Discussed in

To Top