3.42 gear sorrows, please read

proroc · Post by **proroc** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 2:52 pm

Guys help me out here. My truck originally had 235/70 tires on it. The truck has 3.42 gears. I loved the way the truck rode but I hated how small it looked, so I installed a 2" PA Bodylift and cranked the tbars up 1" and now she looks great!!! I borrowed a set of ZR2 rims and tires and have been driving around for a few days now but..... I think the 31" tires and my crap gears make the truck slow and going up hills sucks. 235/70s are 28" in diameter and with a 31" on there the gears are cut down from a 3.42 to a 3.08

...Also the BF A/Ts make alot more noise than my 235/70 BF Long Trails did. I need a new set of tires now to match my lift but I want to do the right thing. I'm thinking that if I buy 30X9.5 Dueler Revos the noise will go down from the BF A/T's and i will get some gear back??? .... Don't get me wrong the truck looks awesome right now but I have crap gears to begin with and the 31" BF A/Ts cut my gears down and the tires hum and thats not what I like... Thanks for all of your help guys....

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 5:49 pm

The only way to cure that is new gears or an HPPIII. Or get used to the small stock tires.

My performance with 30's isn't all that bad. It's not great, but it's no Honda Civic either.

Justin · Post by **Justin** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 6:12 pm

I have the same setup..31's and 3.42's. If i could afford it, i would drop 3.73, a computer chip and other mods to give some more power but for now, i just make sure i have enough speed before i attempt a hill

Warnoffroad · Post by **Warnoffroad** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 6:42 pm

40s and 4.11 gears

but it isnt that bad really. Now that I have the drive shafts and the second t case done and out of the way, 4.88s are next. I had 31s(more like 32s) and 3.42s and I didnt see that much of a change in power.

proroc · Post by **proroc** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 7:29 pm

I own a HPPIII. how can I use it to help the lack of gear for 31" tires?

proroc · Post by **proroc** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:31 pm

Im almost convinced that if I go with a 30 X 9.5 I will be happier with the way the truck feels with my gears... Im just thinking that 31s are a little much for the loss of gears and brakes....

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 11:24 pm

Just get 4.11's and you'll be happy. And if the the noise from your AT's bother you, then you need to re-think the whole mod thing, you need a street rider more than an off-roader.

proroc · Post by **proroc** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 11:31 pm

Honestly it does not bother me that much, I have a radio

Also, I would keep the 31"s if i could do a front and rear gear change but have no idea where to buy the parts or where to get them installed. ZR2s come with 3.73s and feel fine with 31s. Now 31"s with 3.42s sucks a**

a2b · Post by **a2b** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 11:33 pm

all i can say is...GM should of installed 4.10's with 31's on our trucks...i have so much power...i just drove from CA to LA again and i always hated doing it in the truck cuz there is a number of hills that i would have to drop to 3rd and go 55 all the way up..and evertime there is a slow truck lane for 18 wheelers, i would be right there with them with my 3.42's and 31's...

now, the same hills that i would go 55 up in 3rd, i go 70 up still in overdrive and still in cruise control...

i have so much power and it drives a ton better

proroc · Post by **proroc** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 11:34 pm

If any of you guys have 31" tires with 3.42 gears and a HPPIII, if you used it to modify your shift points, would you mind posting what settings you used for decent results? Thanks....

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 11:39 pm

proroc wrote:If any of you guys have 31" tires with 3.42 gears and a HPPIII, if you used it to modify your shift points, would you mind posting what settings you used for decent results? Thanks....

My thouts are that even with the HPPIII, the power would still suck, it's just too much. I am happy enough with the 3.73's and HPPIII, but 3.42's wouldn't cut it IMO.

proroc · Post by **proroc** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 11:43 pm

Well, I hate to say it but, for now it looks like I am going to buy 30 X 9.5 Dueler Revo tires and maybe adjust the shift points a little with my HPPIII and be happy with the truck for now... Then maybe when I can afford 4.10s in the front and rear i will put the 31"s back on... Any suggestions of how I can set my shift points for 3.42 gears and 30" tires? Thanks guys you are a big help...

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 11:49 pm

I just floored it and noted what rpm it shifted at and adjusted accordingly. Then the 3-4 shift you can take as low as you are happy with cause you'll never do a wot 3-4 shift.

proroc · Post by **proroc** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 6:39 pm

Nevermind, for my year 97 the only option on the HPPIII is raise shift point rpm? y or n I chose Y and the truck shifts at alot higher of an rpm and wont shift into O/D until I am going over 50mph...

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 7:36 pm

Dunno, your's must be different. I can change +/- any amount from stock to make it shift at whatever rpm I desire.

proroc · Post by **proroc** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 11:18 pm

i think the features of the hppiii's back in 97 were very limited compared to the new ones. mine does not have teh dual fuel tuning either, its either stock or 93 mode. owell I love my s-10 so its no big deal...

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 4:02 am

Mine only does 93 octane or stock 87 also. I think your's does the same stuff, maybe you were just expecting something more fancy? Dunno.

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 5:57 am

quickbiker wrote:Mine only does 93 octane or stock 87 ...

I think you do have three settings for power tuning : 93 octane power tuning, 87 octane power tuning, and stock (87 octane no power tuning)
Older model programmers do not have the same features, but the one I had worked on '96-2000 model years and had an option to program for colder thermostat.