85 4-runner gear ratio and lift (QUESTION!)

[ihanberg]

allright here is my question i have a 1985 4-runner that is completly stock, it originally came with an automatic transmision and i have since droped a  manual transmision in it a w-56 from an 88 pickup to be exact. from what i understand my stock gear ratio is 4:30's and with 31:10 50's it has a bit of a struggle getting around. im not an extreme 4-wheeler put i do like to go wheeling and have fun. what would be a good suggestion for my diff ratio? this is also my only transportation. Ive also considered a lift seeing as how my tires rub when my suspension flexes.im a starving college student so i dont want to spend to much but i do understand its not cheep!any and all advice would be appreciated thanks!

[WHITE_TRASH]

Id use 4.88's and build your own suspension after you read $300

[ihanberg]

how well in your opinion do you think i would do on the highway and fuelmilage!?

[WHITE_TRASH]

Pretty good on the highway if you stay with tires under 33's.  The milage wont suffer at all if any with 4.88's and 33's it puts the engine back into its normal powerband.

[el gato]

You will better milage with 35's and 488's then with 33's.  Your speedo will be close to stock as well.  If you are just cruising the city and off road go with 529's and 35's.   

[BLUCRUZ]

22re, lots of head work, thorley header, w-56, 37 MTR's & 5.29's & I get around 16mpg. 

[robrocketanski]

in your original post you said that you have a hard time gettiing around but 4.30 should be peppier than 4.10 or your truck was made to have an auto and 4.30 b/c the auto has a higher first and switching to a 5 spd gives you a lower gear.

[ihanberg]

so you think the gear ratio i have is sufficient? i dont know much but i do know that i seem to have to slip the clutch alot as if it had really tall gears! and i was asuming that i had 4;30's i was told that thats what stock automatics came with. i drove someonelses 4-runner and it drove completley different it seemed to go alot easeir for lack of better words.

[WHITE_TRASH]

Im running 3.90's with 38" tsl's   Pretty sluggish on the bottom but not bad above 3k.

[Skinny_Pedal]

just wondering. didnt the 2wd drives come with the 3.90's.

[WHITE_TRASH]

81 4x with a 4 speed.

[Skinny_Pedal]

is that what they all have? because 81toyx has a 4speed in his truck w/ 32's and it doesn't like taking off? we thought it had 4.10's?

[WHITE_TRASH]

Pretty good chance that he has the same as I.

[kyle_22r]

79-80 had 4.375s, '81 had 3.90s and all base model manual transmission trucks after that had 4.10s

i'd recommend 4.56 or 4.88 gears for 31" tires

[ihanberg]

does anyone know what the stock gear ratio is on an 85 4-runner with an automatic? or where would i find out!

[el gato]

You should be able to take off either drive shaft and look at the center of your driveshaft/diff connection and look for a painted dot.  Take note of that color and call your Toyota Service Center and ask them.  I have a chart somewhere...  I will try to find it and post it   

[81Toy4x]

So since I'm running 3.90's with a 4-speed and 32's.  I would probably be fine if I just went to 4.88's when I increase to 35's.  But 5.29's would probably be funner.

[WHITE_TRASH]

Yep lower gears make a world of difference on road.  Ill let you drive the 90 in Sept. and Im sure SHawnB will let ya drive his to check out the difference.

[robrocketanski]

auto came w/ 4.30 until about 90 then 4.56 if it was 22re/auto

[MagPede]

I guess my truck gets to be the oddball with 4.111's. The chart on this page should help you determine your gear ratio.
http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/other/4_axles.html