advice on regearing vs tranny swap vs overdrive

[space wrangler]

i'm working to restore a 77 4x4 with an HT 383, SM465, and an NP205.

i plan on running 33" tires. ..however, the 3/4 ton axles i have are geared at 4.10. after consulting some gear calculators, it's obvious that 4.10 is going to be way to low for 33" tires. ...so my choices are to regear to 3.73, which still may be to low, or to 3.42. this is likely to be the cheapest option. ..but it may not be as the axles i have now already have lockers in them. i'd have to purchase the new gear sets as well as new lockers for both axles if i go the regear route.

another option would be to swap in an NV4500, but i'm concerned about how much modification would be needed due to the extra length and how to adapt it to the NP205. i've also read that they aren't as reliable as the SM465. ..on the other hand, the NV4500's snycro'd 1st gear really makes driving much more pleasurable than than the SM465.

i also have read a little about overdrives such as the ranger gear splitter, but again, i'm not sure what other modifications would be needed to correct for the extra 7.5" of length it adds. from what i can tell, it would require relocating the xfer case xmember towards the rear and obviously shortening the rear drive shaft. how big of an issue is this? does the rear shortened drive shaft cause vibrations due to the increased operating angles? is that something i'd even need to worry about with only 4" of lift?

sorry for the lengthy post. but i'm at a point where i need to decide what direction i'm going ..and i can't make a decision.


mods, if this needs to be in the 4x4 folder, please move it over for me. ..i didn't think about this being 4x4 specific until after i posted it.