Can 2.7 auto handle 33’s?

im sure this has been asked before so I am sorry but in my 3 weeks of research I haven’t found anything about a 3rd gen AUTOMATIC with 33’s.

I will be adding a leveling kit (3” / 1.5”) and looking to add some 275/75/16 or 285/75/16)

Can my 2.7 AUTO handle this? I want to do it the right way so feel free to tell me yes/no but also please tell me WHY you said yes/no, and what I should and shouldn’t do to make this work.

I believe that it has the 3.91 gears. I could be wrong but from what I understood from reading my driver side information I think it has 3.91

Anyone done this yet on theirs? If so do you have pictures? And any input on what you felt after adding this size?

I drive mostly highway and city, with the occasional off-road, but only trails similar to fire trails, green circle and blue square trails at the SRVA, and the occasional snow when I visit family once a year in Washington state

 

You’re going to feel it for sure.

I ran 33”s on my ‘85 with 4:10 gears but with a 22r... whopping 90hp

Did it drive: yes
Did it drive well: no

Running 35”s now and 5.29s and it’s perfect if not over geared.

 

hey my fellow 2.7 auto 4x4 brother yes it can I have a low range off road 3/1 lift level kit with 255 85 16son stock wheels with 1.5 inch wheel spacers , it can do it , so you no I drive hills all day , never flat for long , the truck does well its not dead as others have said I only lost 1,5 miles per gallon overall hers a pic from last summer , hope this was of help to you

 

oops and forgot to post in last post I believe you have 4.30 ring and pinion like my truck

 

I had 31s on my reg cab 5 speed MT and totally lost the top end.

 

We'll you're going to fight two things - circumference and weight. Your truck has 4.3 gears factory, BTW.

I've got 265/75/16s, first on the factory steels, and now on SCS F5s. The SCS wheels are new this week, so I haven't had time to try them out on a long highway drive, but the difference around town is noticeable with the huge weight drop (12 or 13 pounds per corner). I went with Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws in the P rating, which with the SCS wheels puts we right around the factory wheel/tire combo weight on the SR. It does feel slower than it was from the factory. I can't comment on taller tires, but the transmission generally always wants to be in 5th or 6th, and is below the powerband on my truck, and would be exacerbated by an even taller tire than what I'm running.

the challenge with any larger offroad tires is finding one that doesn't weigh a ton. If you end up with a heavy tire on the stock steels, I'd bet you have a bad time. I'd look at getting some lighter wheels alongside your tires to help keep the rotational weight down.

 

Your truck looks great!!

 

Thanks for the replies folks. So what I’m getting so far is

-I actually have 4.30, is that better or worse for what I am trying to accomplish? (Sorry the wuestion may sound dumb)

- it’s doable, but may notice some difference in MPG, driveability etc

-don’t put them on my stocks, get a lighter set of wheels to keep the weight down.

 

Brandon - The conventional wisdom here on TW is that folks going to 33's with a V6 should regear to 4.88s. With my 2.7, I'm going to 5.29s an I'll adjust tire size to either 33s or 34s to match what the engine likes. Not all V6 owners regear, especially the MT folks, but for the 2.7 it is pretty much mandatory.

 

Thank you for the honesty! I’ll definitely look into the cost and possibility of regearing before pulling the trigger.

Is regearing in any way bad for my truck/transmission? Upsides or downsides?

 

It is harder on your wallet than anything else.

Regearing means your engine and transmission don't have to work as hard to move the truck, so No, no ill effects.

The upside can be that the increased mechanical advatage means that those heavier, E range, 33s are easier to turn and you might get better mileage.

 

I’ve heard stories of it being about 800-1k per axel. So around 2k for the regearing. That’s not a huge issue but I would love to avoid doing that lol. But money is not quite an object right now I’m more worried about how the truck drives. If it’s a little more sluggish I’m fine, but if I’m struggling to maintain 70 on the freeway with a slight incline, then I’m going to have a problem lol.

SO back to my original point for responding. SHOULD I just do my lift and add the new wheels/tires and see how it feels? Or should I definitely just accept the fact that I’ll be adding a regearing on top of everything else.

 

By all means try it without the regear. Just be prepared to be unhappy - have your gear shop on speed dial.

 

^^^

Do it and that’s how you’ll know.

You’re truck will drive but it’ll drive better once you regear.

 

It all depends on your wheel and tire selection. Get some lighter wheels. Get a lighter 33" tire. They are out there. Maybe something in P or SL.

I had a 2016 2.7L and put some Toyo MT's and heavy ass Moto Metal wheels on it. Looked great. Could hardly hold 55mph on the freeway.

 

Thanks all for the input. I just saw a taco in the parking lot after dinner tonight (parked next to me, probably showing off like “hey mine looks better!” Lol.).
And he was running some 265/75/16 on some Method brand rims. I believe the 265/75/16 is a 31. What do you guys think about maybe me switching to a 31? Would this solve my issue or would I still need re-gearing.

Honestly I thought 33s were what I needed but after seeing these they were NOTICEABLY larger than mine and looked really good.

What do y’all think? I’d probably still need a 3/1.5 or at least a 2/1 level kit right?

 

I just ordered that size tire and I’m not planning on lifting at the moment. Maybe a level lift at some point.

I’m running stock OR suspension though.

You’d be fine I think.

A guy at work is running this same size tire on a 2nd gen and I agree it looks pretty good compared to stock size tire.

 

But you have a TRD offroad right? Gotta remember mines the 2.7. And it’s auto, she’s a dog. Lol

I don’t mind lifting I just want to make sure it’ll handle it without regearing. Because if i have to regear then I might as well go larger than 31s

 

That is true.

You have lower ring and pinion gearing though... not sure if that matters 3.5v2.7.

What’s your stock size tire? I’m only gaining an inch.

 

My stocks are the Dynapro HT 245/75/16