Difference of 2.73 and 3.55 gears

[crazypete]

Ok, I went from a 3.08 geared 5 spd to a 3.73 geared 5 spd then added a carb and then went automatic. The milage is 21-22 but I have been able to coax 24-25 if I'm highway cruising and watching the vacuum guage half the time.

3.55's are nice and cute but you wont dominate all until you go to at least 4.11's for an AOD. I thought the 3.73's were way too mild and went 4.56's. They're the perfect gear (well, maybe 4.30's are the perfect gear) and put me at 3k rpms at 80 and I can bark tires on dry cold pavement.

A shift kit is an absolute must. I've played with transgo kits and theyre crap. You should get an "a" servo for $150 to improve trans life with those higher gears and a lentech strip terminator valve body. That will give you constant line pressure and torque multiplication in 3rd gear as well.

Have fun!

Pete