I had:

323's

342's
or
373's

mods in sig for 86 LB9

 

way more than the speed limit


but my guess is , even with 3.73s you will run out of HP before you run out of gear.

 

With a mild build like that, i'd say you'd have the highest top end with the 3.73's because it probably wouldn't have the power to top out the 3.23 or 3.42s as easily as the 3.73s

 

try this for your speeds it is what i used in selecting my rear end gears
http://www.f-body.org/gears/

pete

 

Not too much different in any of those cases; the top speed of a car is limited by its aerodynamics much more than engine power, I doubt you'd find more than 5 mph actual top speed difference among the 3 ratios. The curve of HP vs speed increases fairly smoothly and linearly up to a point, then sharply turns upward exponentially; that point is pretty much the body's top speed. It takes an enormous increase in power to produce even a small increase in top speed for a given body.

 

You wouldn't happento know by chance what that point is on a 3rd gen firebirs and/or camaro would you?

 

Seems to be in the 135-140 mph neighborhood, depending a little on the body's rake and height. I tend to discount anybody that says their stock one of these cars runs past 145 nph; I've never heard of anyone giving that monkey-spank with a radar gun or other accurate means of measurement as their standard, only their own speedo.

 

faster then a speeding ticket

 

I've gotten my Formula up to 140 mph. 3400 rpm, with .62 overdrive and 3.08 dif. I had a 305, TBI spacer, Edelbrock headers and Flowmaster catback 3" and K&N

I haven't tried my new motor yet for top speed but I get to 120 mph with the t roof off and windows down in the same distance that I did with the old 305. I now have a 350 making approx 300 hp and 375 lbs tq. Maybe this summer I'll try again.

 

I topped out my 86 T/A at approx 155mph.
3.27 gears, T5, and Edelbrock carb setup on my 305.
5000rpm in 5th gear.