Hang-on
You're putting a 500 in a Barracuda, and you think you need a 3.09 low gear?
That 3.09 is a torque multiplier, to the tune of 3.09/2.66= plus 16%. We use it behind low-torque engines to help get them off the line.Or behind engines saddled with very low-perf. street gears.
Somehow I'm having trouble imagining a low-torque 500.....
or a 500 with 2.76 gears........
I never said I needed it, but that I plan to use it. I didn't need it behind my last 440 either, but improvements to 60' times don't just happen; you have to be creative when options are available.
Engine and 1st gear ratio are only pieces in the entire puzzle of getting hp to the pavement; you must take rear tire size and rear axle ratio into consideration in that calculation as well. Rather than you having to look through my build thread, my expected tire size will be 30.5" or 31" and the two rear axle ratios I currently have available are 5.38 and 4.10; however that could always change as well. Plus, the 4-speed is only expected to be in temporarily as I plan to install my T56 the winter after I get it on the road and all the bugs worked out.