5k RPM/speed ratio - was V8 engine swap

[MHLIGGINS@aol.com]

<<My '84 5kS goes just over 60mph at 3000 rpm.  Is this a year-to-year
difference, or a turbo/NA difference, or a shot torque converter?>>

	That's correct for most 4KQs, that how our '84 5 speed is geared as well.  If
I remember correctly that indicates a 4.11:1 ratio for the final drive.
[Someone will correct me if that's incorrect... ;-) ] Gives MUCH better
acceleration with the n/a engines than the tall gears would.  The taller gears
also penalize the car on the top end and would make the n/a cars run a good
bit faster (top end speed) in fourth than in fifth due to the torque curve.
Not sure how it would affect the FWD cars with auto trans, though.  If I
recall correctly my son's '83 FWD car had tall gears and would run 95 in
fourth but only 88 in fifth.  (We'd played with it a bit and had the power
bumped from the stock 75 hp to almost 100 hp, but had BIG exhaust on it, which
killed the torque curve.)

	Later.
	--ml