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?

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