With all the hype about greenhouse gases and the like, maybe a sail-driven KIA might be a good idea???? With a lift kit you could get higher than other cars and reap the benefits of high altitude wind gusts <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

well, i didnt say without!! and i didnt say whether i was going down a hill or not either!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />

Samurai transfer cases are not direct (1:1) in high range like the KIA (and just about every other 4x4) High range has a 1.409:1 reduction. (low range is 2.268:1) So camparing final drive ratios and their effects on perceived power between a Sportage and a Sammy is kinda an apples/oranges thing. Just my .02.

Sorry, was on vacation last week when you posted this. I agree that the ratio is different but I wouldn't say apples to oranges. Here are the stats figureing the KIA with 5sp.
I did the figures with A/T and they really sucked. Crawl ratio with the A/T (which is what I have), is 26.760.

Samurai.....Kia
1.409........1.0 Transfer low
3.652........3.717 1st Gear (already lower)
3.73..........4.78 Diff gear (already lower)
30.895......35.197 Crawl ratio

So the Kia 5spd vs. Samurai with same size tires already has a lower crawl ratio than the Samurai and add in the fact that it has a bigger engine and fuel injection against the Sami carburetor.

So, nobodys making gear sets but I'm wondering if we could possibly get some different gears for the T-case. Did any earlier models come with high diff gears, if so maybe their T-case would have different gearing to compensate, that could be swapped into ours.

there is none available from any year as far as i know. i am sure if they were available many of us would have them!

and for your calculations, the transfer case low is actually 1.98:1 gearing not 1.0 for the sportage. and from what i have been told, the sami's 1.4.... is the high reduction, and it is reduced even further when in low!

i would agree but also disagree i have 31s and a five speed and i spend a hour of my day driving 75 mph plus and it does just fine i am sure i could run 35 inch tires in it would be in your so called street tolerance. i also know that a stock samuri has a hard time doin 75 mph. so yes i think the kia is geared lower and does have more power, but i think you just have to define "street tolerances" better because if i slap 35 inch tires on there is no way i will be able to do highway speeds but if i am just running down the road to the local watering hole no prob. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

i hit it all day just no wind or tail wind if i have head wind i just keep it out of 5th gear i am also running it at about 4200 rpm in fourth when i am going that fast

Oh of course, I agree. Larger tires will always put some strain on all parts of the drive train from eng, tranny, t-case, drive shafts, axles, you name it. You always have to bring it back into line with either diff gear or t-case reduction or both. You can run any size tire with the right gearing.

Could be worse, I have friend with a 2005 jeep wrangler, it has to shift outta od to go up a overpass on the freeway withe a/c off! Now it has 31's and it's even sadder!

Cen-Tex-KIA, was through your town last week on vacation. Man, the traffic is heavy on 35e. Was like rush hour traffic all hours of the day.