gear ratios

hi guys,

I'm quite new into jimny, but lovin it since I got myself 1. Have been having alot fo fun in it, but am not happy with the current performance.

Can anyone please enlighten me regarding the gear ratios issue? I'm currently running all gear and engine on stock and am keen to up grade the gear ratios. any ideas on where and what should I do to improve? I'm also looking into my fuel consumption on road usage as well. After few mods to have bigger tire (31"), steel rims, winch up front and the standard 3" lift, driving on the road has increase my fuel consumption. The engine performance seems to be affected as pick-up is slower and less torquey (less powerful). So I reckon changing the gear ratio will help? Any advice please?

Hi and welcome. Glad that your enjoying the Jimny.
Were currently running the equivalent of 29" tyres, and would say these are almost at the limit of the standard gearing.
We have a set of 31's ready to be fitted but also will no doubt have gearing issues.

The preferred options seem to be either changing the Transfer box for an SJ one (not sure which) or go the whole hog and stump up a large amount of cash for a Rock Lobster or similar reduced ration box (these include Rob Storr)

a rocklobster conversion is the best bet, it uses a modified SJ transfer box with new mounts and an adaptor for the speedo drive. THeres two places to get them from, Rob Storr - makes the best things since sliced bread, but dear and hard to get hold of him, and Richard Wattam ( Rockwatt on muddyzook forum) cheaper option, still great engineering, but a busy chap and you need to find a few bits for him to convert.
Lowers the high range about 20% making on road gearing great with bigger tyres, and lowers the low range around 80% making rock crawling great fun! also gives you fantastic engine braking for those slippery descents.
Rob Storr makes new gears to fit into the SJ transfer case at 4:1 , 5:1, 6:1 and even 8:1 ratios, 4:1 is about right for 30" tyres.I have a 6:1 with 30" tyres and its too low, I'm getting some 32's !
Rockwatt machines and welds the current gears in the SJ transfer case and produces a 4:1 box only.

Hope this helps

Gary

Hi guys, Thanks for the much needed info. I wil take note of your inputs, but the the problem I have is cash and I'm from Singapore, so options of getting a SJ gearbox is not feasible and having a rocklobster is not feasible either for me too .

I have tried asking a manufacturer of special low ratio transfer box gears and their reply was currently thet do not have any gear made for my current jimny model, which is a VVT automatic electrical selection model. Am I at an end? I wonder what other options I have?