390 w/open chamber heads

Thanks Moper...that's some really good real world info!!! You said "17mpg with 3.23s and no overdrive. It also is done at 5500", you're describing exactly what I am looking for...who needs 6500/7000 RPM when you have overdrive unless you want to go 200 miles an hour.
I'm going to have to do some calculating to see how correct RRR was when he said to run 4.10s. You gave me some cam specs but if I have someone like Hughes make a cam for my set-up shouldn't I end up with exactly what I want in the engine performance?? Or is it a lot cheaper just to but what you describe??
As for the RPM intake, couldn't I mildly port the performer and call it even. Remember, I don't need tons of flow by keeping my RPMs under 6K?? Or does the RPM intake greatly increase torque at low speeds?? Plus it leaves me a couple of hundred $$$ extra for those heads, crank and pistons (I already have the rods and valves).

Treblig