I returned from rear 5.38 install yesterday and am all grins. For those of you planning on this swap or those just pondering its worth here are some brief, first impressions:

- over continually rolling terrain (cont. 100-300' rises at 4-7%) that (for my truck w/ 4.77s, 33s and 5200lb) 4th gear was routinely needed; yesterday, with a slight headwind I was 5th gear only w/ power to accel.
- 1st gear is not so low that I am skipping it when at a standing start as I thought it might be; but w/ any roll at all 2nd is fine to start
- 4th gear can be used from 25mph and up
- Lo range 1st gear is now (w/ Tera) slower than a slow walk at idle; control is comparably impressive
- all around acceleration is noticably improved
- my impression is that it will pull Snowqualmie at 70 in 5th (power band clearly improves w/ my 3.4 and cam at 67mph), or Lewiston Grade in 4th at 60-65mph

Install w/ ARB was smooth and straight forward, totaling 3.5 hr (less by probably .5hr if subtracting chit chat and photos). Install was via Central 4wd in Spokane, WA. This was full install (ie, included pulling axles/tires).

The WomBAT came w/ 4.56s and I have never changed speedo gears. Based upon mile markers the orig speedo gear/odometer w/ 33s (60% treaded SSRs) w/ 5.38s is just about dead on.

I am, obviously, hoping to get the ft axle done first of next weekàor else I won't be seeing you fine folks! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> Are there any other rush installs occuring at present?

s <img border="0" alt="[Pig]" title="" src="graemlins/oink.gif" />

Yeah, I bet the 5.38's are close to accurate of stock spedo readings. When I got my 5.29's in I used a GPS to check my speedometer, and it was dead on accurate. Finally no more replacing batteries in the speedometer/GPS. :0)

Last minute installs....(looking around innocently) whatever do you mean? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Redid my Tie Rod ends last night and had a pain getting the pittman arm tierod end changed out. Torch+TriLube+Vice+Long Wrench+BFH+Tie Rod end puller+Pittman arm Puller+One long late night drive for part=No steering play. :0)

I'm currently installing my front ARB/5.29 third member, installing my knuckle rebuild kit, and repacking my front wheel bearings. Then it's off to my alignment. SAS makes things so much easier. :0)

See you in Moab folks!

SEAN-MATT AND I WILL BE IN MOUNTAIN HOME SATURDAY, UNTIL WE LEAVE FOR MOAB MONDAY. COME TO VIC'S! MATT AND I CAN HELP YOU DO THE FRONT.

<small>[ May 08, 2003, 02:06 PM: Message edited by: AIR AMIGO ]</small>

Yep, it is going to take some getting used to to look at the speedo and not do calc's to figure how much I am speedingàer, I mean how fast I am going. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />

I won't see you guys that soon, but thanks for the offer. Why not drive over here tonight and we can do it tomorrow?! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

What do you have against steering play? Sounds like a good Stanley Kubrick film title: "Dr. StrangeZu: Or how I came to love SAS steering." <img border="0" alt="[Nerd]" title="" src="graemlins/nerd.gif" />

s <img border="0" alt="[Rat]" title="" src="graemlins/rodent.gif" />

Okay lunch time/wrenching break. The front axle has been dissasembled. When i finish lunch I go start the cleaning process before reassembely.
Already have the 2nd ARB solenoid wired up, just got to plum the blue line to the front. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

I'm sure I'm crazy enough, to consider driving to Moscow, ID tonight to help you at first light...however, I have to head to Bellingham tonight. I'm picking up a axle for someone at Moab Zu Zoo VI. After I go to Bellingham tonight, Matt G. and I are testing our rigs in the Sultan Basin ORV area.

Don't think I should tempt the wheeling gods by doing a long distance drive, wheel, and then do a long distance drive without a good visual inspection in daylight.

The rest of my caravan can't leave till Friday night.

hmmmm.....how far is Moscow, ID from I-84?

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by AIR AMIGO:
<strong>Yeah, I bet the 5.38's are close to accurate of stock spedo readings. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">I have a '96 Trooper with "33s and auto tranny. From previous post I was under the impression that the 5.38s would be too low and over rev the engine on the interestate. Is there that much difference in stock tire size bettwen a 1st gen and a 2nd gen?

Adam

The larger wheels will make a vehicle rev lower at higher speed than a vehicle with stock wheels, therefor the speedo's going to read lower than the actual speed and the lower gears are going to do the opposite, increasing rpms and thereby increasing torque. These two cancel each other out when you're running 35s or so and you end up with a speedo that reads as acurate as stock instead of over-reving your engine as it would do if you ran it with stock 245/75 tires or what have you. I think WomBAT and Air Amigo are both 5 speed manuals too which may or may not make a difference in what you're talking about. I hope that helps and wasn't just a bunch of useless rambling <img border="0" alt="[Hillbilly]" title="" src="graemlins/notooth.gif" /> .

Some of your folks w/ newer rigs will have to correct me, but I was thinking your stock tire was 30-31" (I know it is metric though). Ours was 29 (4.56 gears) and some like myself found and installed factory option gears (4.77) for our 31, then 32, then 33" tires.

Current combo is sweet unless you want to run over 75mph, then tach is too high. Not sure I want to drive that fast sitting that high, but w/ a newer rig you might. At least if NV or MT are your driving areas.

I would not though want to run 32s w/ my set of gears and motor. That would be too low (though my SSRs are probably worn to that now).

s <img border="0" alt="[Pig]" title="" src="graemlins/oink.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">I have a '96 Trooper with "33s and auto tranny. From previous post I was under the impression that the 5.38s would be too low and over rev the engine on the interestate. Is there that much difference in stock tire size bettwen a 1st gen and a 2nd gen?

Adam</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">I'm pretty sure all 4L30E transmissions have .72 overdrive. 5.38 gears + 33's = 2960 rpm's @ 75mph vs 4.55 + 33's = 2500rpm @ 75mph, by my calculations.

My Trooper can cruise all day easy at 3000 rpm.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans"><strong>I'm pretty sure all 4L30E transmissions have .72 overdrive. 5.38 gears + 33's = 2960 rpm's @ 75mph vs 4.55 + 33's = 2500rpm @ 75mph, by my calculations.

My Trooper can cruise all day easy at 3000 rpm.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Thats encouraging news. In my calculating last night i had down .89 for the ratio, which was giving me 3656 rpm at 75mph <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> . Given that the speed limit is only 70 mph <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" /> , 2950 rpm at 75 is not bad at all. My '88 runs 3000 at 70, stock.

Adam

Front ARB and 5.38s went in yesterday. No issues arose, and the spacer fit perfectly. Some folks may have seen this as a marginal fix for the issue, however I can assure you it is stoutly constructed and the machine was on the money. Few spacers were actually needed as the fit was snug, but setup went AOK.

For those planning this and wanting $ comparisons, I took in a spare ft axle (Air Amigo's old center section) and had the install done on that. Labor was $130. If I had pulled the 3rd member and done all the cleanup/resealing myself I would've shaved another 15-30min.

Install should be in a week or so. BTW, for you folks doing this don't forget to extend your axle breather line if you have not done so already. It wil be staring at you, and there's no reason to not do it now if you want a higher intake/exhaust point.

s <img border="0" alt="[Rat]" title="" src="graemlins/rodent.gif" />