Calmini 3.60:1 Transfer Gearing is out...

[xoc]

www.purenissan.com/t-case_gear_reduction.htm

[FSRBIKER]

How come you are not bitching about the $1300 price tag like you bitched about the possible $1500 cost of the Rockhopper gears? Did they set the price based on what Rockhopper is possibly setting theirs at? Hopefully this week I will have more info on the Rockhopper gears, now if Eaton released the 3.8's we would have lots of choices and the prices could possibly drop.

[xoc]

Sorry, yes, they are expensive considering the Suzuki gearset is $975.

Eaton is not making gearing as far as I know, just e-lockers.

[an1malch1n]

Oh, I thought they were going to be cheaper than that.

I know they are closed today but if anybody has an answer: Will there be any probs in fitting these in a Hardbody truck? As far as I know the t-case is the same as you X/Frontier boys.

[Toy Man]

I have been thinking about getting one of these gear sets.

Being a newbie at this 4x4 stuff, I asked a local guru.
His reply was: "For rock crawling like Moab or the Rubicon, great
but for local conditions (Pacific NW) where we typically have loose
soils then wheel speed is probably more important."

Other 4x4'ers ask: "Do you have a manual or automatic?"
Automatic. "Then don't worry about it, the torque converter
will help a lot"

Your comments?


Toy Man the grasshopper

[Schludwiller]

With the Xterra clutch I would appreciate having lower gearing even in the PNW.

[rrdstarr]

I agree with Schlud that with a clutch we do need some real low speed creeping! It would help on the steep up hills trying to feather the clutch.

[Synchro]

we all can use lower gears for offroading. regardless of tranny. how's that?

[warmonger]

Whether you need these gears depends on the surfaces you normally frequent. If you frequent mud, snow or sand, stay away from them. If you are a climber or a rock crawler, get them. They will fail you in situations that require wheel speed but help in areas that do not.

[ned946]

Originally posted by warmonger
They will fail you in situations that require wheel speed but help in areas that do not.

I DO NOT want to start a flame war, but I did want to comment on this statement. The gear reduction is for low range only. I would think that high wheel speeds in 4WD would be done in 4HI. I do agree, if your not in situations that require slow steady speed, the gear would not be for you. One thing that I dislike with my automatic is going down a good hill with more speed than I like and even with gentle even braking, sometimes that is enough to start to upset the Xterra...with weight transfer etc. This gear would really help the auto's (IMHO) especially in this area.

Just got off the phone with Steve and good things are coming to the Xterra from Calmini. I cannot confirm or deny the following: locker choices, ring and pinions or if they are "stress testing" the t-case reduction gear today (which might be passing with no problems) or that the rear tire carier might be ready late Sept (earlier if lucky) and the reduction gears might be as soon as 2 months out.

What I can say freely is that Steve is still determining how far to take the Xterra. So, he needs input. If the Calmini stuff is on the "wish list" or the "buy ASAP" list, please let Steve know!

-Ned

[warmonger]

Ned,

I think we will have to agree to disagree, and I will tell you why. It is all due to horsepower or the Xterras lack thereof. If you plan on running mud in an X, you will be doing it in low range. Everyone here comes from a different background and geographical location. Here in Florida we have two surfaces to off-road in, mud and sand. After several years of racing a Jeep in the mud, I can tell you that hp is king. Without it you have to have low range. Sorry, no flame war, just stating the facts here in Florida. But too low a range and it is deterimental. That's why I will not put a gear lower than 3.00/1 in my X. If I can increase the power to weight ratio, I will be able to run mud in high range. Until then, low range is it.

[xoc]

Originally posted by warmonger
Whether you need these gears depends on the surfaces you normally frequent. If you frequent mud, snow or sand, stay away from them. If you are a climber or a rock crawler, get them. They will fail you in situations that require wheel speed but help in areas that do not.

What a load of nonsense.

If you need wheel speed, try shifting to 2nd, or 3rd, or 4th or 5th.

Lower transfer case gearing is the best addition to the Xterra one can make. The stock 2.02:1 is pitiful, regardless of the terrain.

[ned946]

Originally posted by warmonger
mud and sand

Yeah, I see where your coming from now. I'm sorta obsessed with the rock crawling thing (and yes, I know, the Xterra will never be a rock crawler). I've always liked the idea of gently walking through a rock garden, suspension flexing, lockers kicking, with the occasional snap of metal (okay, maybe not the last part!). But yeah, 4Hi has no torque and an ultra low 4Lo would be a little slow, stock low might be best to carry you through the mud.

My next question would be, you guys working on an alternator alternative?

[VaderX]

Well amazingly I might have something to add to this discussion. While it is true that wheel speed and hp is king in the sand you run into another problem in big sand dunes. The terrain most accessible to me is red sands which is a huge area of giant sand dunes. The X cannot climb without digging in in 4 hi. You have to go in 4 lo and go from 1 to 2 and not really touch drive at all. (this is in an automatic.) So you need not only some wheel speed but also some steady strong turning to get up there. If your wheels spin too fast on the way up gravity will take over and you will just dig a hole. If the terrain you are dealing with is similar to this then the new gears probably wont help you. Not enough speed on the way up.

[ScottG]

Originally posted by ned946

My next question would be, you guys working on an alternator alternative?

I e-mailed Premier Power Welder about 6 months ago and was told that the Xterra has a standard "small case alternator with saddle mount." They said they had one that would fit, but I never inquired about it any further.