More Tracks R Going 1/8 How to gear a low HP Car??

I've got a Dart Sport with a 360 weighing 3,540+ running mid-low 11's in the 1/4 and low 7's in the 1/8. Running 4.86 gears with 30"x9" radial slicks was already a lot, shifting just under 7000 and touching valve float in the lights. I tried 5.13 gears in the 1/8 and it didn't help. More gear can also overcome traction limits of the car/track.

There is always that "depends on your combo, your results may vary". Converter and spring pressures are likely factors but I can's say how much. I do know that it's easy to get into valve float without even realizing it. It starts before the car noses over on your shifts and/or at the finish. I also felt that too much gear would hurt longer stroke engines because they would blow through the usable torque range too quickly. Again, these are just my theories which may or may not be entirely sound.

I built my combo to the edge of the rules because I was trying to go as fast as possible within those class rules. For bracket racing, it best to stay on the conservative side. Consistency, predictability and reliability is what wins races, not necessarily being as fast as possible. Either way, you don't want to shift 2-3 "just" before the lights when you should be judging the finish line against your opponent. But I don't think that shifter 2-3 very early to max out your 1/8 mile rpm's is the best way to go either.