I'm posting this to see if there is any major differences between the gearing in a samurai tranny and the gearing in a sidekick tranny. I have an 8 valve 1.6 in my samurai and am really looking for the best way to make it run down the highway at a little lower rpm but still be able to 4 wheel. Right now when I go 70-75 on the freeway the rpms are close to 4k.  I don't do any extreme crawling but I do take it in the snow and harder than average OHV Trails. If there is a set up that would work better than both trannys i'd love hear about it.

Well, are you talking MPH? also what year as 5th gear is lower in 88.5.  If you are talking 4000 at 70-75 MPH, I think thats great!  I drive mine to the trails with the 1.6 at 4000rpms at 58 MPH with an 87 sammy tranny and 5.125 Ring and pinion.

I have an 88' and I top out around 58 |removethispart|@ 4k. So if I got a 1.6 I could do 75 |removethispart|@ 4k? FANTASTIC!

The 1.6 is designed to run those RPM's if you lower them you will be out of the torque curve. Then you will not have to worry about going 75.

I agree with sidekicksrock, too tall a gearing and you won't be able to pull it. 4k at 75 mph? Mine runs 4k at 68. I think your fine, or maybe just slow down a bit, try 70. Besides, a Sammy at 75 is probably downright scary! Must never get windy where your at

I agree with sidekicksrock, too tall a gearing and you won't be able to pull it. 4k at 75 mph? Mine runs 4k at 68. I think your fine, or maybe just slow down a bit, try 70. Besides, a Sammy at 75 is probably downright scary! Must never get windy where your at

I'm posting this to see if there is any major differences between the gearing in a samurai tranny and the gearing in a sidekick tranny. I have an 8 valve 1.6 in my samurai and am really looking for the best way to make it run down the highway at a little lower rpm but still be able to 4 wheel. Right now when I go 70-75 on the freeway the rpms are close to 4k.  I don't do any extreme crawling but I do take it in the snow and harder than average OHV Trails. If there is a set up that would work better than both trannys i'd love hear about it.

To answer your question...no.

86-88 samurai trannys have a .795 5th gear.
88.5-95 samurai trannys have a .865 5th gear.
So the easiest thing to do......if you have a later tranny, swap an early tranny in (direct swap), then it will drop your RPMs about 300 at 65.