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gears or v6

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Offline toofaroffroad

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gears or v6
« on: August 07, 2007, 11:07:42 PM »
If you owned a 2.0 ltr 99 tracker with 31's and you had a choice, what would you do: 2.5 v6 conversion or 5:13 sidekick gears. Please don't say both cause i don't have the money for that. I am in a position with my mechanic where it would be the same price for either job.
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Offline IanL

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Re: gears or v6
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2007, 05:51:49 AM »
I'd go for the V6; all that low-down torque, and plenty of power at the top end should take care of the larger tyres.
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'98 GV V6, '96 X-90 with RRO 2.5" lift and 195/80 R15, '93 Cappuccino.
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Offline beercheck

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Re: gears or v6
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2007, 08:34:26 AM »
You'll get better mileage with the 2.0 and gears.  Probably 6-7 mpg net with the tall tires.

But if you can somehow get either done for the same money......you wouldn't believe how the added hp/torque of the V6 changes the whole personality of the truck.  To my ear, this is a silly question.
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'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com
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Offline Yankee-Tim

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Re: gears or v6
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2007, 02:54:12 PM »
Zook Big Block.
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Offline AJMBLAZER

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Re: gears or v6
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2007, 03:57:19 PM »
Gears.

Never mistake added power for proper mechanical advantage.
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zukiowa

Re: gears or v6
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2007, 04:47:12 PM »
Quote
Gears.

Never mistake added power for proper mechanical advantage
UHHHH WHAT!?
add the power then later when you have more money switch gears
otherwise you'll kick your self in the ass later when you don't have enough power
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Offline AJMBLAZER

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Re: gears or v6
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2007, 05:34:27 PM »
You ever had an under geared vehicle before?

I've had several and two that were really bad.  My Ranger on 31's with a V6 and 3.27 gears and this Tracker on 31's with 4.30 gears.  Hills winded the things right out, starting to move was a long, slow process, and low range wasn't all that impressive.  Gas mileage also took a hit with both.

Regeared both so they were slightly over geared.  4.56's and 33's on the Ranger and 5.12's with the 31's on the Tracker.  Both were IMMENSELY changed.  The Tracker can maintain 50-55mph up a steep, long (couple miles) hill I drive every day while before it was a struggle to get to the top at over 45mph...usually 40mph.  The Ranger immediately went from 11-12mpg to 15mpg and I could pass people!  Heck, I can pass people with the Tracker now!  It'll even do 75mph without sweating!  Before it had to go downhill with a tail wind, long "run up", and have momentum to even hit 70mph.  If I was going into the wind there was no way!

Regear first.  It's cheaper and easier and you can lock your axles, upgrade to better carriers/diff housings, etc first and THEN start thinking about doubling your horse power and all the stuff it will break.
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Offline toofaroffroad

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Re: gears or v6
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2007, 09:31:44 PM »
Well it looks like I've really openned up some good debate. Personally I'm leaning towards the gears. I'm happy with the power and fuel economy of my little 2.0 ltr. Really the v6 is only about 20 more HP isn't it? i'm looking for better highway gears and better trail gear for crawling over stuff. How much more gas does the V6 suck up. right now with my 31's on I get approx 580 klm's to a tank I think thats around 365 miles.
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Offline beercheck

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Re: gears or v6
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2007, 10:11:45 PM »
Go with an automatic with the V6 and laugh at the silly, puny gear girlies.

C'mon AJMBLAZER, let's hear it. 
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'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com
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Offline beercheck

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Re: gears or v6
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2007, 10:14:28 PM »
Quote from: toofaroffroad on August 08, 2007, 09:31:44 PM
Really the v6 is only about 20 more HP isn't it?

No.
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'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com
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zukiowa

Re: gears or v6
« Reply #10 on: August 08, 2007, 10:15:09 PM »
stock according to epa figures there is a 2mpg avg difference with equal vehicles
thers a 45hp and 40lbft difference and with either 4.62 or 4.88 gears already that would make a big difference
my 04 v6 has 31's with 4.30 gears and it drives fine but four wheel high burnouts are hard on the clutch
and even if you put 5.13s in you are still not back to factory gearing so it will still feel under powered especially if its a four door
also some times power can gain you mileage if used properly
by not working the engine as hard to get up to or maintain speed
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Offline beercheck

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Re: gears or v6
« Reply #11 on: August 08, 2007, 10:40:33 PM »
Quote from: AJMBLAZER on August 08, 2007, 05:34:27 PM
It'll even do 75mph without sweating!

Never do, 'cause the soft top screams $300 replacement fear into my heart, but I can clear 110 mph easily.  I can also merge like the wind whenever I want to.  Subtract some MPH by adding tall tires and I'll still scoff at "I can pass people with the Tracker now!"...  Puh-leeeez.  On stock tires I'm doing 6.9 0-60s.  With an automatic.  Breathing through the 2.0's stock exhaust. 

If you only want to crawl, nothing beats gears.  If you only want MPGs, go small displacement.  If you only want to crawl and get great MPG, you're set with what you've got + gears. 

Is that all you want?  Seriously?  Cost no object??   Just crawling and MPG???  Get the gears.

Add anything else into the mix, though.....if you're confused, you're thinking too hard.

You can add gears later when cost does matter, but a sub-300 dollar 27%+ power increase will likely never present itself again.   

Bang for the buck, brother.  Bang For The Buck.


« Last Edit: August 08, 2007, 11:02:58 PM by beercheck »
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'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com
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Offline AJMBLAZER

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Re: gears or v6
« Reply #12 on: August 09, 2007, 04:27:00 AM »
HP on the V6's is in the 150-165 range...I think.  Varies over the years and 2.5L vs 2.7L.

Our GV and XL7, both with autos, got/get in the upper teens for gas mileage.  The GV was good for 19mpg around town and the XL7 a little less.  The 29's seem to have taken a mpg or two off on average.  Add a couple more mpg for highway.

It's smaller and a different motor but my 1.6L 16V with the 3 speed NON-OD trans gets 20.5mpg with me driving hard all day long pushing 31's.  Oh yeah, and 170k or more on the engine.

I know I'm going against the grain here but I'm basing this on my experiences.  I'd regear it first.  Proper gears can make a vehicle literally 100% better than it used to be.  I've seen this first hand many times.


Happen to know what gears are in yours now?
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Offline bzzr2

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Re: gears or v6
« Reply #13 on: August 09, 2007, 01:21:48 PM »
*toofaroffroad - right now with my 31's on I get approx 580 klm's to a tank I think thats around 365 miles.*

are you serious.  i don't want to sound like an arse but i find that next to impossible to believe.  my 2.0 on 31x9.5 swampers get nowhere close to that on the hwy.  with a 50L tank that is less than 10L per 100km!  unless you have more tank on your tracker than mine!  - i hope for my sake.  i currently have stock gearing - 5spd and 4.62's.  ???....

oh, and if you're engine is not high mileage and runs fine without burning up fluids don't F with it!
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03-ZR2, 2dr, 31x10.5 SSR's & stuff...--sold :-(
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zukiowa

Re: gears or v6
« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2007, 10:39:28 PM »
2drs have 15 gal tank (56.77L)
4drs have 17 gal tank (64.35L)
580km =360mi
so mpg are 24 if its a 2dr or 21 if its a 4dr
assuming he is using the whole tank and no extra (like in the fill neck)
Quote
Proper gears can make a vehicle literally 100% better than it used to be.
so can the power to weight ratio
2dr curb weight 2500 120hp stock lbs/hp 21 w/v6 15
4dr lbs/hp 25 w/v6 18
thats more than the difference between a v6 and v8 mustang
« Last Edit: August 09, 2007, 10:57:49 PM by zukiowa »
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