Rebuilding my 700hp 408

Just my two cents here but almost every guy I know who built a stroker small block, claims that the low 1st gear in the 904 is not required with a stroker motor. I believe guitar jones reported that his car ran the same et after getting rid of the low gear. Last summer I saw several stroker motor small blocks at my local track with severe traction problems while still using the low gear with the increase displacement.most of the faster cars in the low 9 second range with 500 inch motors are running a 2.28 1st gear to tame the launch because of excessive torque. Maybe put the 904 in for the et but not for the low gear.
Just a thought.

Duane