[Michael Pliska]

Granted my car was lighter and with a big block, but I found negligible difference with the 1.76 versus the 1.82. Mine is a Super-Gas Vega with a 481" motor, with iron heads the car & driver weighed around 2350. When I first put it together I used a 1.82 for most conditions and had a 1.96 trans (and looser converter) for running at higher elevations. After breaking several stock 1.82 gearsets I ended up with 1.76's in the primary trans, have not broken a set since then (knock on wood). After eventually breaking the aftermarket 1.96's, I changed that trans to 1.82's but eventually broke them. Only at high elevation was the gear difference noticeable. I run a 4.75 rear end gear (yes, it's a weird ratio), 32" tall tires, ladder bar rear and tubular a-arm front. With short (22.5") front tires it would red light anywhere. This was 16 years ago, running an old trans brake without a dump valve.

Since putting the car back together (just last week) with an aluminum-headed 481" and 25" tall front tires, I think it reacts about as quickly as it did before with the iron-head motor and short front tires. I have not run any pro tree runs with it, but it cuts the same full tree lights that it did before (assuming I am still leaving the same) as with the short tires.

In other words, with a reasonable rear gear, relatively short front tires and a modern pro-tree trans brake, you shouldn't have any problems.

Regards,