with my 454 putting out around 500hp and my velle having a 3.31 rear which should i use? i will try and get a cam (hydro roller) that is in the 230ish duration and 550ish or less lift and im building it at 9.5-1 cr, the rear tires are 295/50/15's and with the .64 ratio im running 1850 ish on the highway and 2400 or so with the .82 at 70mph..... i like to go to cruises a long ways away, so i'd like the 1800ish rpms but im not sure if it will lug the motor down. i've also thought down the line of changing grears to 373's so it would work even better... it's a cruiser/show car... and it's FAT at 4200 (i've added a LOT of stereo stuff etc.) the TKO500 is more ideal but i'd rather pay the extra $$ for the stronger tranny when i do go to the track on occasion (just to beat up on ricer boys)

with my 454 putting out around 500hp and my velle having a 3.31 rear which should i use? i will try and get a cam (hydro roller) that is in the 230ish duration and 550ish or less lift and im building it at 9.5-1 cr, the rear tires are 295/50/15's and with the .64 ratio im running 1850 ish on the highway and 2400 or so with the .82 at 70mph..... i like to go to cruises a long ways away, so i'd like the 1800ish rpms but im not sure if it will lug the motor down. i've also thought down the line of changing grears to 373's so it would work even better... it's a cruiser/show car... and it's FAT at 4200 (i've added a LOT of stereo stuff etc.) the TKO500 is more ideal but i'd rather pay the extra $$ for the stronger tranny when i do go to the track on occasion (just to beat up on ricer boys)

I would do the .64 and swap the gear, a 3.55 would be nice or a 3.73.

I keep thinking someone cares about fuel consumption, but I might be out to lunch.

i have the .8 o/d, with a 275 tire(28") and 3:73's, 383(procharger) and an rpm hyd roller-pretty much anything below 1900/2000 it likes to buck a little, so i run around in 4th gear-when i get up around 40-45 mph, 5th is fine-i had considered maybe the .6 would have been a better choice, 5th would not have been usable at lower speeds with the cam-i think i can cruise around 22/2300 on the road now, so its not to bad(i think the rpm drop is something like 300 rpm, 4th to 5th

I keep thinking someone cares about fuel consumption, but I might be out to lunch.
:) i already spend $40/day being a courier, the $$ ain't a big deal but i would like to just have a longer cruising area before filling up:)

With a 454 and hydraulic roller cam you describe, you will do fine with the .64:1 final drive. My Chevelle has a 3.42:1 rear gear with a .76 6th gear and I can lug my ZZ502/502 down to 40 mph with no bucking. I can also ease back on the gas without downshifting to take her back up in speed. I am actually thinking about 3.08's to see how she works. Do not under estimate the torque of a BBC!

The .64 will give you a wider gear spread. If you don't like it, you can change rear gears to compensate somewhere in between the two. I personally think the .82 is geared too low for a final overdrive ratio. Just my .02

We had a Ram Air with a T56 and that thing ran at 70 MPH @ 1700RPM. She ran like heck and still got 32mpg!

But, like the others have responded, you might like a 3.55's or 3.73's. Then for sure the .82 would be usless.

Regards, Jody

i bought an Ls1 ta today and on the way home it was running around 1800 on the highway, ran fine, so i think i'll be fine with the gear/.64 combo, i've also talked to my new engine builder and his choice of cam was exactly what i was thinking and he asked about my cruise rpm/speed... :) coming together slowly