S-10 Lift and 31" tires-Is Re-Gear necessary?

[Clifford]

I've got a '01 S-10 and I'll be installing 3" Bullseye lift spindles. I plan on running 31" BFG At/Ko tires on 15X8's. Is it necessary to re-gear from my stock ratio of 3.42? I'd like to maintain the performance as I will be towing my prerunner wherever I need to be. If this factors into the equation, it's a 4.3 liter V.6.

[NorCal_Prerunner]

I would re-gear, especially if you are towing, but mabey the V6 can handle it wit the stock 3:42s. Let's see what everyone else says. I would say a 4:11. I think a 4:88 might be overkill for 31" tires. But what do I know.......

It's never too late to be what you might have been....

[SJP12]

Your truck is any Auto since you've got the 3.42gears, i would say that you'll have to re gear it. Throw on the tires and see what happenes then go from there.

I LIVE MY LIFE 1 SET OF WHOOPS AT A TIME!!!

[michael_loomis]

clifford - i have a 97 sonoma with an automatic 4.3 yada yada . my truck has 32" BFG's on it with 3.42 R & P. ive got 120,000 miles on my truck , 90,000 were with 32's on it. i have towed with no problems (except stopping , but thats a CST long travel / Geometry problem) , but over time the fuel mileage has progressively gotten worse . engine mounts seem to suffer the most though. my truck is faster unloaded than it was stock , but not as fast loaded down.

so , as you can see , its not exactly necessary , but probably more economical in the long run.

[BlaZair]

I have a 1993 S-10 Blazer 4x4 with 3.42 gears, 33" BFGs, 4.3 V6 (175000 miles) and auto tranny. It towed a 6000lb trailer from Fort Worth to SoCal, very hard to stop (average 10MPG). Current milage is suffering 14MPG, I will soon be swaping in a 8.5" 10-bolt from a ZR2 with 4.56s. You will probably be happier with 4.10s, but it wont cost you anything to try your stock gears. btw i can chirp the 33"s with stock gearing! I am cool!

[NOODLE]

i have an 85 sonoma w/ a 3.4 v6 from a 94 camaro and an automatic. TBI w/ 4.3 injectors and exhaust are the only things modified on the engine . I am running 32's w/ 4.10's and the thing kicks ass. It is pretty fast and will keep up w/ a 4.3 . i don't think you will notice a really major difference seeing as a 4.3 has more hp and torque than a 4 banger or my small 6 but some will be expected going to 31's from stock. Of course gears for your application would be benificial but not a must have i would think.

H.O.R.E.
Hemet Off-Road Enthusiasts

[yotatech]

NOODLE also had a 84 s10 w/ cst long travel it was a beast, it had the carburated 2.8 v6 auto trans. the thing ran 33's with the stock gears. it was definately slower that the 85 but it wasnt to bad. The big diff was the engine. a 4.3 with 31s should be fine.

Also, the thing smoked my 4cyl yota which is a beast lol

[OKEYs_10]

I would check and make sure your gears are 3:42 because i have a 98 s-10 and i know for a fact the rear end is not 3:42. But i have a 5spd not an aotumatic, so yours migh tbe different.

98 s-10 ext 4.3 5spd