by Straight Shooter » Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:39 pm
No higher than 6.50. 6.50 to 7.33 will be just fine. Ideally a final drive of about 9-1 is what my 2300 pound Jeep used with a manual transmission and the same power your 5.3 is predicted. When I switched to a 1.76 glide I had the 6.17's in it with a 6000 stall and it ran 4.23. It was way too high geared and just laid on the converter in high. A 7.17 would have really woke it up along with a looser converter. It went over the wall before we ever got to try anything with it. Now the engine is in a 1600 pound rear engine buggy and it runs 3.5's to 3.7's with 1.76 glide, 7300 stall, 7.00 gears. It runs the same with 6.20 through 7.00. If they would hold up I want to try 7.33 or lower. I have a buddy with a quick change rear in his rear engine car and he runs an 11-1 final drive in high.
The lighter 5.3 will act the same as a big block with 200 to 250 more horse power. Weight on sand is super critical.
Best pass during 2015 races 3.092@104.4mph at Albany OR. All motor single 4 on race gas.