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Posted by Clint Dixon [74.206.63.42] on Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 16:33:57 :
In Reply to: 4.89 gears question posted by Greg in MT [174.253.177.9] on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 20:19:57 :
You did not express a desire in your post to run 4.89 gearing with larger tires and a stock engine, but some here have advised against it and I would agree. However, I do believe a stock 230 or 251 engine in good condition will handle either larger tires (to an extent) or 4.89 gearing just fine under most conditions.
I run stock 230 engines, 4.89 gearing, and 9.00x16 tires in both my trucks and am very happy with their performance. I know the landscape in Montana can vary drastically and where you plan to drive should be taken into consideration in your decision.
Where I drive here in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, the landscape is considered gently rolling. One always seems to be either going uphill or downhill. Most hills around here result in an altitude change of less than 300 feet, and it is only the very tallest ones that cause me to have to downshift, even when the trucks are 1/2 to fully loaded. The added speed and momentum afforded by the 4.89 gears seems to help carry the trucks over the smaller hills that would have slowed down the trucks when they had 5.83 sets. If pulling away from a dead stop on an incline with a full load, I may find that I need to use first gear when I could have used second gear when I still had 5.83 gearing.
All-in-all I like the proportions of the 9.00x16 tires against the fenders and the rest of the truck. The 4.89 gears are hidden from view and allow the trucks appear stock while affording me the ability to drive approximately 55 mph all day with working governors set to factory specifications. The actually top speed can vary by about 5 mph because the factory governors are of the velocity type and are effected by barometric pressure. These same governors may also be effected by high altitudes for the same reason and that should also be considered if you choose to run them whether or choose larger tires or higher gearing.
Junior