Swapping to the 5:1 Atlas has been a huge addition to how the TJ performs off-road. Gone are the days of riding the clutch to get the tires spinning when they are buried in a hole or not wanting to climb. It also allows me to climb more controlled when traction allows.
When paired with the Centerforce weighted flywheel this thing refuses to stall. The flywheel was actually a huge improvement going down the highway too. It made the puny 2.5l be able to retain way more 5th gear on the long grades at 60mph. Speaking of 60mph, that’s about where it comfortably maxes out on the 37s for those considering the 5.13/37” ratio.
This setup has a 100:1 craw ratio with a 2.5l engine, AX5, Atlas 5:1, and 5.13s in the axles. I have wanted to find a spot to try this for a while since this is like a right of passage when you start building an under powered, deeply geared offroad build. It was steepish, had some small obstacles, and enough traction to give it a shot. It was cool to see it work. With the right setup, the 2.5l can be a super capable off-roader, despite popular opinion.
For those curious about how the gearing affects being able to get wheel speed, I can usually get a good 3rd gear run even if I am on a decent incline. If it gets real steep, 2nd gear is about all I can get. Overall wheel speed hasn’t been a giant issue yet, but in the right situation, I’m sure there will come a time. I don’t think the Atlas would be to blame for that though as much as the lack of power. My current 3rd gear is pretty comparable to 2nd gear in my stock case.
78
