Just bought a new Sahara Unlimited auto with 3.73 gears. I will be adding a 2.5 BB, and I am trying to decide on tire height. Anyone have experience with 3.73s and 35s? How bad is it really? Gas mileage is not as big of a concern as highway performance. What is a ballpark topspeed? Will I be getting passed in the granny lane? This vehicle will be onroad 95% of the time. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

It will be bad. You could survive it if you had a manual. My guess is you have the automatic tranny. I have 3.73's with an auto tranny too. This will be my fourth major Jeep build up. My plan is to buy the 2.5 BB first and install it. Buy the gears and lockers as the money permits but do not install them. Wait until I get the money set aside for the five 35 inch tires. Buy and have the tires installed. Then immediately get the gears, lockers installed. As for lockers, I'm thinking Ox-lock in front and a Detriot in back.

 

My Sahara came with 4:10's and an auto. I added 35" Toyos and the power sucked. I do live in Utah where we have a lot of hills to pull. You may get by on the flat land with a stick but I think you will be looking to regear. Mine is great now with a 4:88 gear change.

 

I don't know what everyone is accustomed to driving but I have the 3.21s with the 6 speed and after adding the 35s I was pleasantly surprised. After listening to a lot of these guys I assumed that I would have to cut a hole in the floorboard and Flintstone it but I don't think it's that bad. It might not be great if you spend a lot of time wheeling but on the road it is perfectly acceptable to me.

My daily drivers before the JK were all Chevy Silverados (5 since 93) with 350s along with one 98 Corvette. I think the power is decent and wouldn't dream of spending +$1000 right now to add gears. I may go with an AirRaid and an exhaust but that's as much for extra sound as anything.

I don't think that you will be unhappy with 35s and 3.73 unless you are interested in trying to drag race every rice burner that pulls up along side of you with the ehaust pipes large enough to accomodate a basketball.

Go for it!

 

I might be doing this next year to my base x (lightweight!) with 6spd and 3.73's...

motorcycles for a fast trip.
Jeeps for bouncin' round town!

 

I've recently responded to a similar question...

Ive had my Jeep about a week and a half. X model w/ 3.73 auto. I put the TF 2.5" BB and 35" MT's on and I was very happily surprised at the performance (but disappointed in the gas mileage!). After hearing a bunch of people here spelling doom and gloom on 35's I didn't expect to be able to beat the performance of my high school Chevette. It's really not that bad at all except for the fact that you can feel the gas being sucked away as you get on the throttle. But you said that gas wasn't an issue...

 

I dunno...

I'm not a doom and gloomer, but with 4.10's and 33's w/ an auto, I can really tell the difference on the highway. Around town is not a problem. Trails are not a problem. Driving from Ohio to Colorado and going through some long 75mph stretches uphill was a problem. The auto downshifted like mad a LOT!! I cringed lots of times due to the excessive amounts of downshifting. Then again, driving for 24 hours gives you plenty of time to think about what your car is doing...

I will definitely regear (and Dana 44 the front axle) before I get 35's.

All you guys and gals with manuals, don't even think the experience is the same. You can shift gears at your leisure. Us auto-folks have to use the gas pedal to determine how the Jeep shifts!!

 

I have an upgrade X with 35" BFG TA KO and 3" FT lift. Tranny is 3.73
for my daily commute in the city, I am good with it
when I have to take a long trip for wheeling, I do have difficulty to keep up with the traffic. Ppl in TX drive 75mph on highway and I could barely catch up with them, that is every body surpass me