RE-GEAR on my 2018

Been kicking around a regear for my 2018. 4x4 / V6 / Auto / 33” tires / Non Locking diff


Truck has been retuned with the KDMAX tune

I have been enjoying the improved throttle and shifting of the tune but still feel this truck needs a little more help given the bigger tires and rack / shell / bed drawers. I also I tow a 3000 lb boat around Wisconsin a couple dozen times a year. I do zero off roading with this truck, just a bit of driving on some back country dirt roads etc.

With that I am thinking a regear is in order and have a couple of related questions.
I would buy the complete 3rd member and clamshell from ECGS and install them myself over a weekend. Anyone done their own regear with these or are most taking their trucks to a shop?

Couple related questions I haven't been able to answer

What ratio - 4.56 or 4.88 and why?

What improvements can I expect in performance under normal driving and while towing.

Any drawbacks? Fuel econ?

 

Haven’t re-geared mine just yet but had similar questions, so imma watch this thread. Beautiful truck BTW.

 

I went to a shop. Regeared to 5.29 recently, and it drives the way I think it should now. Gas mileage seems about the same so far, though at 70mph I was a little over 2000rpm, so probably losing one or two at that speed

 

What size tires are ya running?

 

33s. 255/85r16

 

Anyone try the 4.30's that come in the MT?

 

ive seen many people on this forum say that by running 33s or 35s and adding hundreds of pounds of weight, you should re-gear to 5.29

especially since you have a 6speed transmission

 

Imo I’d run 488s.

 

I'd even run them with 32s. The truck feels oddly geared stock. And don't get me started on towing

 

10% change for 430, 16.6% change for 456. For a stock’ish truck, 10% seems to be not worth the $$ you’re going to spend. But I personally like the idea of the modest bump.

 

I do a lot of highway driving so I’m probably going to go 4.88 with 33” tires. Oh, and a KDMax tune.

 

Are you MT or auto? I didn’t see you specify.
If MT, you’re already running shorter gears and should be fine.

if auto, yes, absolutely 5.29, and no chance in hell I would recommend a DIY for new F/R diff, seals, and pinions.

 

I am running 4.88's with 265/70R17's. Have not tuned the truck yet which is coming next, but it is far better than stock. Much more get up and go, very little gear hunting. I think even if I were running 33's it would still be the perfect ratio for my truck. I went with assembled clamshell with an ARB in it and an assembled third member for the rear. Install was very easy. I had both front and rear installed in about 3.5hrs. Have put about 12k mile son them in the last year and have had zero issues with either unit. Very pleased with their assemblies.

 

I appreciate the follow up but this just seems like terrible advice.

 

Very cool, thanks for the feedback.

Do any towing?

 

Not often but I have hauled an S10 pickup and a 1964 Corvair with it since regearing so 4-5klbs give or take. Truck had way more get up and go when pulling the load and did not gear hunt even on slight grades. I do put it in S5 with ECT on when towing.

 

My truck is Auto.

What makes you suggest 5.29s over 4.88 or even 4.56 gears? I’d like to stay away from 5.29 gears as I do a good bit of highway driving and our highways are all 70 mph speed limits. I think I’d be over revving a lot.

I’d be doing the complete 3rd member and clam shell assemblies. Not building them myself. Just swapping and shipping my cores. It’s appears to be grunt work with a few technical considerations.

 

Nice! Great to hear.

Is the Corvair yours? I’ve been looking for a 65-66 Corsa for a couple months

 

Yes it is. Inherited it from my grandfather years back.