Mike you aren't doing any thing wrong.The axles I pulled out of my 80 CJ5 are 3.07.I pulled the id tag off and thats what it read.If your tags are rusty,scrape the rust off and use some rubbing compound on them.You should be able to read them.

F.T.D
77 CJ7,79 CJ5 Plow Jeep.

 

Yep 307's were the gears of choice from the manufacturer on some models to keep the total gas milage down on the production runs. The EPA wanted a number to be met (for total vehicle production run) and to do that some of the Jeeps were stuck with 307's By 87 when Chrysler took over that was the normal gearing on most YJ's.
GP'n

 

oh wow thanks alot. all the stuff i had been lucking up says that they were either 2.73 or 3.31 or 3.54.

80 cj7 304, WC t-5

 

My 80 with a 304 and factory auto came thourgh with 3:07 gears also. It drove me nuts also but when you read the tag then count the teeth you just say thats why i dont crawl for sh!t.

Can someone please bring me a hammer my 33's just ate my fender again. Damn i need more lift.

 

man, i am jealous! my 81 cj-7 with 6cyl and SR-4 4spd has 2.72 gears. 65 mph, 31in tires, and 4 gear have me turning almost 2000rpm. i guess thats why i used to get 20 mpg when i drove it daily... matt

 

The FSM says 3.07 stock, 3.54 optional in 1980, no other ratios offered.

JEEPN
Winter Harbor, Maine
'81 CJ-8 Scrambled, It's a Jeep, Chevy, IHC kinda thing!
'88.5 Zuki, 5" Calmini, Locked, Swamped, Rolled, and just generally broken in right!

 

They put real gears in from the factory in mine. 5.38's baby!
Josiah

Hillsboro, OR
1955 Willys CJ5 Buick 225 V6 160HP 270ft-lbs, T90 trans, Warn OD, PTO winch, Spicer 18 T Case, RS9000's, Dana 25F/ 44R,
5.38:1 gears, 11" brakes, Bestop Supertop, Hurculiner