[mommymallcrawler]

There is also the option of cryo-treating the gears to make them stronger. Look to see if you can find someone local that does this - or a shop familiar with it. Fairly cheap.

I think 4.88 should be ok. Being able to crawl over stuff in idle slow motion is totally awesome. A world of difference. You wont be able to crawl as low as a Rubicon with the 4:1 transfercase (I think other models are 2.72 or 2.73), but should be dramatically better than what you have at stock gearing. Good luck with your build!

 

[mommymallcrawler]

With 5.13 and 37s, I can truly crawl the 4:1 transfercase. I built my rig to crawl - street performance was only secondary. 5.38 would have been amazing offroad but just too low on street IMHO. It is all about balance. I am an automatic.

2700+rpm is not a bad thing in the 3.6 like it may have been in older engines. I am not sure how true it is but read somewhere Pentastar 3.6 hits its optimum power band somewhere around 2800-3000rpm.

 

[mommymallcrawler]

So I really want to go with 4.88s but even with the cryo treatment I'm worried it's too much to stuff into a dana 30... really don't wanna blow up my $1200 locker

Only lock the rear D44, problem solved.