Currently I have an '07 - X - Auto with 4.10s riding on the stock 32's. I find this combo very acceptable for what I do with it... 40 miles a day all highway. I'm in western CT so we've got short abrupt hills. So it ain't no Colorado, but it isn't Florida either.

I can typically drive about 65 on I84. I'm just wondering if the RPM's with the 3.73's at that speed will be to low and constantly shifting out of OD. Based on the charts it looks like it would be turning around 1750 at 65.

Am I better off just going with a 6-speed and living with those bad traffic days???

Thanks

p.s. - the '07 is a lease so it's gotta go!!

 

1750rpm cruising is just too low.. it would be real hard to keep any power. even my 1950rpm is a bit low for power usage.

 

i think you will be fine with 33s and 3.73 with a manual, but with an auto, 4.10 and 33s is really what you should get.

 

Not ideal, but probably liveable - maybe...

I hated my 3.73 gears with 32" tires, so you might be asking the wrong guy. I'm from PA so some smallish hills on the higihways, nothing major, and it kind of sucked. Esp. trying to maintain something like 65MPH.

It was OK if I would flog it 75-77mph to keep the RPM up, but sucked at 60-65... would be worse with 33s at that speed.

With that said, since you are leasing, re-gearing talk is out of the picture, so I would get the manual.

 

"...but sucked at 60-65... " - that's my big concern right there. A lot of my driving is done right there, especially on the way home!!!

Just seems like a 6spd is the right answer... just trying to avoid reliving the days of driving my '95 4-Runner. That thing just couldn't get out of it's own way.

Thanks for the responses.

 

If you have your heart stuck on an auto, then do it. Don't make your trans choice based on the stock rear end gear. Gears are must easier/cheaper to change than a transmission. 3.73s are livable with an advertised 33" tire (which is closer to 32 anyway), there's a ton of us on here who live with it everyday. Most of the auto complaints (shift points and firmness) are fixed with a simple Superchips Flashpaq and you'll never care about a manual again... unless you are shopping for a 500 hp sports car (which the JK is not.)

 

3.73 with 33" would be fine if you row your own, but then i don't see why the jk is is even offered with a slush box.

 

If the slushbox wasn't offered, then the Wrangler would've been discontinued years ago from lack of sales.

 

I would love to swap axles before you return the lease. Don't know what is more work, swapping gears versus entire axles.

The 3.21 gears in our "X" gotta go !

 

I had the 3.73s with 33s and the 3.8. Regeared to 5.13s and will go with 35s next - much better. 3.8L + 3.73s + 33"s =