I have a 1990 tracker with an automatic transmission. I am going to put in 1.5" coil spacers, and a home made 3" body lift, I'm on a budget.
  I would like to know what is the largest tire my tracker's automatic transmission can handle with stock gearing. I mostly want to run in in the bush and mud, but it is my daily driver as well(100kms or 60 miles a day of highway driving).
  I have been looking through old postings but can't find much specifically on the automatic transmission with stock gearing.
  I would like to run 31 x 10.5, is this realistic for the stock gears in an automatic?
Thanks
Jim

It would be better, and easy to find a set of manual gears to swap in.. you could do it in an afternoon, 5.12's and an automatic would run 31's pretty well in my opinion.

I know of two guys at least that run 31's and an auto.. with the stock gears.. they seem to do ok... but I just met them.. 

I think you can junk yard a set for about $300 can't you guys?

I run 31x11.50's with the auto and stock gears but it's not much fun going up steep hills. I find myself manually shifting into 2nd quite a bit just to hold it through the hill. I only have a 7 mile drive both ways to work so I don't mind so much but I wouldn't want to take it on a long trip. I have no plans on swapping a manual because I like the auto for off-road use, I think there is less chance of breaking something, but I am thinking of doing a re-gear sometime in the future. I agree with Quaddawg that 5.12's would work nice with the auto and 31's, anyone getting rid of a set?

Thanks for the info, I wonder how the 30" perform?
 I take it these new gears would go in the rear diff. How do iIknow they are 5.12 gears when I look at them at the junkyard? What are my stock gears?

If you have a 4x4 you will need a set, for the front and rear. We have 3rd's so it is not a complicated swap, really no setting gears, just bolt in the new 3rd's. I think but you might want to check for sure but all manuals came with 5.12's execpt for some with the 1.3 engine that had 5.62's I think the auto has some high 4.xx gears.

Sorry for my ignorance, but what do you mean by 3rds? I have not worked on 4x4's prior to owning this one, is it the spider gears I'll be changing? Please explain this to me if you could?
Thanks
Jim

    I highly recommend swapping the 5.12s as well if you want to go bigger tires and wheel it.  I ran my auto with stock gears (4.62s) and 235 tires fine on the street but it was pitful how poorly it did on steep hills.  Swapped in the 5.12s and now I'm loving it!  I still run the 235s.  I don't see myself moving up to 31" tires anytime soon because it would put me back closer to the stock gearing and I can't live with that.   The disadvantages of 31" tires far outweigh the 1" ground clearance I'd gain. 
    But with the 5.12 gears I'm now turning 4K RPM at 60MPH on the highway!     
     Ã‚ 

3rds = differential that is installed into the axle housing, everything comes out as an assembly. Pull the axles and driveshaft and the 3rd comes out, put in new one with lower gears and your set (more or less )

I agree with Quaddawg that 5.12's would work nice with the auto and 31's, anyone getting rid of a set?

Well, I am not trying to spam this thread with my own gears for sale.. but yes, I do have a set, on ebay and they are DIRT cheap right now.. and they even come with a locker....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8047799679

If you look at Quaddawg's eBay auction you will see what a "third member" is.  Basically all you have to do is pull the axle shafts, disconnect the driveshaft, unbolt the third member and pull it out.  Then just reverse the process with your new ones.  About the only problem you may run into is getting the rear axles out, but a slide-hammer will make quick work of that.  I'm sure you can find a post on this site that will help you.

Also, Quaddawg is right, his thirds are dirt cheap, especially with the locker in the rear, which is over $200 new by itself.

FYI, I did coil spacers and a 2.5" body lift on mine and I am running 235's with nothing even close to rubbing.  I look forward to 31's or 32's soon but may have to trim for 32's.  You can click on the pic of mine for a better look.

Oh, and welcome!

Well, I am not trying to spam this thread with my own gears for sale.. but yes, I do have a set, on ebay and they are DIRT cheap right now.. and they even come with a locker....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8047799679

  Nice....I'll be keeping an eye on that auction

Hey Guys, thanks for all the replies, now I understand the 3rds thing and will have to reconsider wheel size, don't know if I can afford the 3rds right now or not.
Hey BigPig, is yours auto or standard? What gears are you running?
Thanks
Jim

Hey BigPig, is yours auto or standard? What gears are you running?

Mine is a 5 speed so gears are likely still the 5.12's.  I will probably have to change that when I go to bigger tires.  Either that or it's going to be a 4 speed. 

PS.
Got any pics yet?

It's just stock now, here are some pics from the weekend.
I'll just paste this Link as I haven't read up on how to post the pics here yet, maybe tonight I'll do that.

http://www.PictureTrail.com/jimyweld

Just curious, if I go with the 31"  tires and leave my gearing stock for now, it would still be alright in 4 wheel low wouldn't it for messing around in the mud? I think it would be ok for city driving as well, just a bit sluggish i guess???
Thanks
Jim

Ya, in low, with the automatic, you should be good for some mud fun..

I ran big wide heavy 31's with my manual, in low and ran out of power now and then in really mucky stuff.. with 5.12's... but your automatic with it's what...4.62's... is about equal to a manual with 5.12's with the torque multiplication you get with an automatic with a torque converter...


So yeah.. you should still be able to have some fun..

lower gears are going to make a BIG difference off and on road..

Re-gearing for bigger tires is the SINGLE most important thing for off road performance in my opinion......   I did things with little 235's and open diffs that just AMAZED me... granted they were GOOD 235's.. (Maxxis Buckshot Mudders)  but I had the power to spin them in low. When I got my 31's....  it lost plenty of power in the mud, and on power robbing hill climbs... like sand and soft dirt..  Was still quite capable... but I didn't get that wow factor back until I went down to the 5.62's...now, it's not great over 60mph, but it will get there fairly quickly, and it'll spin the 31's up real nice in the mud when I need it.

Gears...  get your wallet used to the idea...   you will WANT and NEED them eventually.


I would rather trade half an inch ground clearance (1" in tire height) and go with some 30x9.50's or 10.50's... and have the power to spin them, than get the extra .5 inch and bog down in the sand/mud/hills... 

It's a fine balance but you will figure it out!  It depends on how you end up wheeling too... you can get used to anything...