questions about low 1st gear

[hardtimes]

My cousin runs a 67 mustang bracket car. He runs cal tracs in the back with a 28x10.5 bias slick. He has a mild 408w that will run 6.60's in the 1/8th mile. He would like the car to wheelstand higher than it does now, he was wondering if he went to a 2.75 1st gear would it help. Also if if made the switch how much 60 ft and ET can he expect to pick up.

[Jim Kaekel]

I would look at what he's got for front shocks and springs before going the lower first gear route. He may gain a few hundredths with the ratio change, or it may even slow down because of the wider ratio. There are a lot of other variables that can affect how the car leaves/wheelstands including starting line ratio, converter flash, starting line conditions, weather conditions, etc. Keep in mind that high wheel stands will certainly affect reaction times and consistency if he's trying to go rounds as well. My 02.

[1320racer]

Good friends's 3100 lb. '68 Mustang bracket car with 51 cubes less, C4 trans, 8" ATI converter, cal tracs and 30 x 10.5 radial slicks runs 6.60's in the heat, 60 foots high 1.30's/low 1.40s and his first gear is the stock 2.46. Launches like this off the footbrake, every pass...

[hardtimes]

any more details on his combo motor/converter/suspension etc?

[1320racer]

Old school, small solid cammed .030 351 Cleveland, maverick 6 cylinder coil springs, Calvert front shocks, Rancho rear shocks.

Launches at 4000, shifts at 7000

[hardtimes]

what rear gear and how much stall does it have, what are the specs on the cam, is it a roller cam

[1320racer]

4.86 gear, converter flashes to 5400, Comp solid lifter cam, 246/256 @ .050, .589/.615.

Best numbers to date are 10.38 @ 127, 1.37 60 foot

[hardtimes]

my cousin only runs a 4.33 gear shifts at 6500 and his converter is 5100. has roller spring perches in the front and also runs a maverick springs and the calvert shocks his wheel stand is only about 1/3 of that one. but he wants his to look like that one. the two combo seems pretty close to the same, except the gear do you think it would make that much of a difference.

[joespanova]

The more you race / the older you get, the less you'll care about wheelstands.
Besides , its all shocks springs and IC.

[pintojoe II]

c4 with 2.46 first gear / ptc 8'' conv flashed 6,600 off footbrake / 4.62 rear gear /289 A code short block with after market heads /intake and cam / 3000lbs on 275 drag radial with slapper bars..