higher ratio diff

good morning,
I am thinking about fitting a higher ratio diff or pair off a later model to my series 2a/3,this is as I am mostly on the roads and lanes and only seem to use use 3rd or 4th gear and 50mph is about as quick as I go,it is more for mpg and comfort as it is revving a bit on the high side at that speed,basically it feels like it needs an extra gear, i have 205 tyres which I want to keep fitted,i have good brakes so no probs with stopping,any thoughts and advice is very welcome,
thanks
ryn@wet ,damp and grey west cornwall

which engine? personally it transformed my long gone light weight ,id fit one in the rear as thats and easy job and try it,obviously dont use 4x4 ,if it suits you change the front diff too

its a 2 1/4 petrol,1969,i have found myself pulling away in 2nd and then mostly in top,usually down into 3rd for some of the steeper hills,some of the hills are 1st 'crawler' gear hillls in my van,the landy goes straight up them!,i don't drive in traffic often,the low ratios work but I don't think I will ever use them,
atb,
ryn

rynner said:

its a 2 1/4 petrol,1969,i have found myself pulling away in 2nd and then mostly in top,usually down into 3rd for some of the steeper hills,some of the hills are 1st 'crawler' gear hillls in my van,the landy goes straight up them!,i don't drive in traffic often,the low ratios work but I don't think I will ever use them,
atb,
ryn

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in which case try one in the rear, but since you most likely wont have a level/filler plug in rear axle case pan youd be best fitting one or finding a diff with a fill plug in it, failing that you can jack one side right up and pour the just under 2 litres of oil in through the stub axle with a half shaft pulled out

I have 3.54 diffs (back and front), and OD and 235/85s (31.7") this gives 2000 rpm at 60. As we are are a LWB camper we do a lot of motorway so we sit at around 1800 rpm at 55. OK this is with a very low revving 3.3L Perkins but its only 63 hp so the 80 hp petrol should be ok. It makes long journeys much better and we are getting over 30 mpg. Down side? Stupid high reverse, even in low range. Makes reversing a clutch slip job every time. Towing I pull away in low range. In crawling traffic it better to go into low range. I have FWH but these are usually locked (due to another issue). One problem is that towing on a steep hill can mean dropping into low range which can mean tight turns in 4wd but I would prefer 4wd on a steep hill so that I can hold all wheels on the tranny brake so its a judgment call.

jamesmartin said:

in which case try one in the rear, but since you most likely wont have a level/filler plug in rear axle case pan youd be best fitting one or finding a diff with a fill plug in it, failing that you can jack one side right up and pour the just under 2 litres of oil in through the stub axle with a half shaft pulled out

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That's what i do