Top Loader to a TKO600, Any Regrets?

[decooney]

Originally Posted by Jeff Frigo

I have a wide ratio top loader in the car already, with a 3.73 gear.

Jeff,
For what its worth - IF you really love the butter shift Top Loader and do not drive the car on the highway for long stretches very often, you might consider a change to the rear axle ratio first before you give up that TL. I run a TKO 600 in a another car, but can't seem to let go of the TL in my FE Cobra. You know what I mean...Wow, 3.73 is crazy low in a big torquey 454 like that, no need for it in a 2500lb car. If you can pick up a second rear diff center section with 3.31 or even 3.08 and try it, it will transform your car. I think its more fun to drive too as it makes 1st gear more usable without always blowing off the rear tires, especially with a 3.08 - acts like a slingshot. A WR TL has a low enough first gear to work with and its not so low that its unusable. I've tried 3.31 and 3.08 in both of my FE powered Cobras. I prefer 3.31 for around town for trips say under 100 miles at a time. If I was doing longer drives I'd do a 3.08 rear. I have 3.31 now, and might go back to 3.08 myself down the road. For now, 3.31 with a WR TL is still really nice - especially if you have a larger cam in your FE and want to keep the rpms up a little to run it in sweet spot while crusing around.