Best Rear end Gear For Acceleration 0-60

Im putting in a new 400 with the edelbrock performer heads, weiand intake, new pistons, performance cam, etc, with a fresh newly rebuilt C6 (with 0 miles since rebuild, it was originally in a 77' Mark V).  My car currently has a 302, FMX, and a 2.75 rear end gear and my Toro lawn mower can accelerate faster than it.  What rear end gear should i put in for the best 0-60 acceleration and what time can i expect? low 6's?  Top speed is not important to me as i never go to the track, its the fast acceleration I want, part of the reason i chose a 400, all that TORQUE :) 

get a 3.73 or thereabouts gear. 4.11 is too steep, you can never take it on the highway then, and you'll get tired of it.

I'd go with a 3.50 myself.  That 400 is gonna make a TON of torque.  Anything more would be a waste.  My 72 that had a 400 in it was all stock other than a VERY mild cam.  The cam was  milder than the Edelb. performer cam.  It even had the 2 barrel carb on it still.  With 2.75s the thing was a lot of fun.  3.50s would have made the car a real blast.

Depends on the size tire also, I think the 350 is a great all around street gear. If you run a 28" tall Tire tahn I would pick the 373.  I ran a 350 on my mild 460 and it was a great on the street.  with street tires  I was running sub second 0- 60 mph. Around 83-85 in the 1/8 mile with sticky tires. If you want to have fun on the street and dont mind buying tires frequently try a pair of dirt track tires on the back. They  hook great  but are soft and will wear out quick if you have a heavy foot. I think I ran Acers for a while ,On the steet they rocked but track performance was a little less than a good DOT Slick. I rember they would hook when you punched the throttle from a roll or off the line with no foot brake. Other street tires would just incinertate.

I have a 3.7 ratio with a 27" tire and it is great except for longer highway cruises (1-2 hrs). Where it kinda gets a little loud and tiresome holding your foot on the pedal.

Edited by 302ford - 23-March-2010 at 1:57PM

i have 3.50s and it is a good street gear, but Rich is right. Tire size will make a difference.
Brendan

I have way too short of a tire on my GTS right now, and with the 4 speed, I spin at 3300-3400 around 70 according to the speedo, which is going to be off a bit.

Old thread...but inserting my 2cents.

Edited by BackInBlack - 05-July-2011 at 9:53AM

I have to kick start old threads...start some trouble.

Something to think about.....a big block stroker will put about the same power to the ground with 2.75's as a non-stroker with 3.70's.  A stroker will generally be cheaper than a 5-speed/overdrive and a whole lot easier to install.

My obsession also began when got beat by a Civic with three teens inside. Be careful what you wish for 10 years and 3 engines later the beast runs low 11s and I keep wanting more power! It may never end . If I stay gainfully employed we may have a 9 sec Torino inthe next 10. I will be 52 in 2021. Hopefully our cars will not be outlawed by then.

Just a standard C6 with a shift kit that i bought for $200 off craigslist. A recently purchased 9.5" 4500 stall converter from Revmax performance conveeters,LOVE IT! Summit 411/1 gears with a Summit mini spool and Strange S/S 31 spline axels.   
My stock 28s gave out when the car broke into the 12s. Two passes from the moment it ran 12.9s broke an axel. Got to love a 9" Ford. Drove home on one leg and a broke axel shaft!

4.11 on a 472 ci, it's a bit too short, i'll try a 3.75, i'm sure you just spins the tires with this gearing and stall

Nope, don't spin ..the stall wraps it up to abot 6500 at the stripe. Ill be switching to 29.5 tires when my 28 M/T Drags are used up.