I own a 91 jeep renegade with a 6 cyl and a five speed.  Right now it is bone stock.  This June I plan on starting a series of mods which include 4-inch rough country lift, 33 inch mudders from high tech retreadz, 4:11 or 4:56 gears and possibly a rear locker(probably lock right).  Keep in mind I am a college student and funds are tight.  This setup looks to me the most economical way to make my rig more off-road worthy.  The problem is I have a buddy that has an early 70s chevy with 6 inches, 350(modified), six inches of lift and 39.5 swampers.  He has made no mods to his axles and is running stock gears. According to him the extra wheelspin he gains from higher gears makes it easier for him to go through mud(mostly what both of these vehicles see).  He says I should keep my stock gears(3:07).  I think he is crazy and it would kill my crawl ratio. Also on his lift(rough country), he isn't using the transfer case drop kit.  He claims it puts his distrubtor too close to his firewall and he says I shouldn't use mine.  Won't my driveshaft angles bee too severe and cause vibrations and u-joint and driveshaft breakage?  I have thought about shackle reversal kits but don't really want to spend the extra money.  I might purchase one later but can I get by with the transfer case drop kit for now?  slip yoke eliminators are out of my league.  Does anyone have any more suggestions or alternatives for my build up? Keep in mind the lack of funds Thanks all  

I have a 92 Renegade with a 3 inch body, 2 inch shackles and 34x10.50 LTB's. I don't recomend the shackles they make the rig wonder pretty  bad.  But withthe renegade package youcan't enen tell it has a body lift, i moved my bumpers (actual bumpers i took off the plastick ones). As for the geering your budy is on somthing gers=wheel speed it is plain and simple. I don't have a t-case drop and am going through U joints pretty regulary untill i got a high clearance drive line from spicer.  With 4.88 gears would brang my Heep pretty much back to sock which works out great. Any other questions let me know mudurnner_72@Hotmail.com

can you not tell it has a body lift because of the fiberglass body panels all the way around the bottom?  If thats the case within a couple of weeks I am taking them off and herculining all the area that they covered.  I also herculined my top and it looks mean as hell.  As for your body lift what are all the mods that you had to include with it(stearing, gap covers...)?  

YOur buddy may get more wheel speed w/ his high gears, but he also wrecking havoc on teh entire drivetrain. 3 07's on a jeep w/ 33's would be a dog, on the street and off road. YOu would have to go around in 4lo just to keep for killing your engine in the mud and that would kill your wheel speed. Fullsizes are a lot longer than jeeps, which is why he didnt need to drop hids t-case, however with only a 4" you should still be ok, but I would definatley upgrade the rear driveshaft as soon as funds allowed, but dont drop the t-case, what is the point of putting on a lift if your just going to lower the belly.  

Ya you can't tell because of the fenders, I have learned to like them over time i hated them at first than after i lifted it they look pretty good. and hide my frame pretty well.  

okay here is my appoin..   and nif anyone gets mad at me let it be..

your buddy may have a fullsize with 6" lift and keep all the driveline stock.. but watch him really close when he goes through a deep long mud hole, he may have great wheel speed at first but when he hits the mud it bogs everything right down, and with the higher gears.. you work you trans, engine and axles very hard..  i am a guy that is strictly into mud and from experence you can run all stock, but you will show the big boys really what u have if you get lower gears...ill give you some learn from experience..

i had a 87 yota with 33's and it had 4.11 i could go through quite a bit of ####.... my buddy had a fullsize chevy with a 350 all stock 3.08 gears and he would have so much trouble going through holes that i made look easy...

now i have a 76 blazer with 4.56..... and 38's   the engine and all the driveline works but doesnt work as hard as if it would have 3.55 or even worse gears.. but that is all my appoin

in your jeep try to keep a low center of gravity, but 33's should do u good...

but if you need more help, let me no

Don't worry about your buddy with the 40's he has a fullsize you have a jeep your not gonna be able to rip up deep mudholes like a fullsize without extensive mods.

Your on the right track with the gears,locker and tires. next a winch and your set.

Got another question for you...The reason I think that I have 3:07 gears is that I found a web site that said most of the manual transmission have this gear ratio.  Is there another site I can go to that has a referance list for your vin numbers that shows you general info(gears, limited slip?, other stuff...)?  

Most of your axles have a tag on the diff cover that will tell you what your gear ratio is.