Is it normal for my YJ to not want to exceed 50 mph?

joshuapa

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Joined
Dec 22, 2021
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18
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Michigan
first time jeep owner with questions. Have 87 yj that has 33x12.50. Is it normal to not exceed 50mph? Also just seems like a dog. Or am I just expecting to much? Brother has a 80 he can get to 70 no problem. Thanks for any help.
 
I see your profile shows a 4.2/auto. Any idea what you have for the differential ratio? How many miles are on it? Those are big tires for a stock gear ratio.
 
I had a 82 jambo edition CJ7 with the 4.2 and auto. Came with 2.73 gears. With the 31's it was a dog,cant imagine 33's. Good thing was I could do near 100 in 2nd gear.......down hill.
 
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Your YJ is geared to tall for those sized tires. Someone just slapped on big tires and did not change the stock gearing. My 89 has a 5 speed with 4:10 gears and I run 31s with no problem getting to freeway speeds.
Time to start going down the Jeep rabbit hole and upgrade your gears. The problem with upgrades is that they lead to more upgrades.
 
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Your YJ is geared to tall for those sized tires. Someone just slapped on big tires and did not change the stock gearing. My 89 has a 5 speed with 4:10 gears and I run 31s with no problem getting to freeway speeds.
Time to start going down the Jeep rabbit hole and upgrade your gears. The problem with upgrades is that they lead to more upgrades.
That’s what I’m afraid of. Which if I’m going to do gears. Which I’m mainly city driving then should probably look into different differentials. So they can handle it
 
If you go back to 31's the stock diffs are fine. Im running a 4 banger with 31's and 4.10 and can do fine on the highway............along as there isnt a 50 mph headwind.
 
First thing I'd check.........
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Your YJ is geared to tall for those sized tires. Someone just slapped on big tires and did not change the stock gearing. My 89 has a 5 speed with 4:10 gears and I run 31s with no problem getting to freeway speeds.
Time to start going down the Jeep rabbit hole and upgrade your gears. The problem with upgrades is that they lead to more upgrades.

I run 31's with 3:07 gears with a 4.0 HO, AX-15 5-speed....I cruise the interstates 70-75mph no problem 2000-2100 rpm's...........