Best 1st gear ratio with 2.94 differential

3.09 for sure. Multiply the gear ratio by the first gear ratio. The target sum should be as close to 10.00 as possible for arguably the best take off ratio.

2.44 X 2.94 = 7.17 - Not to great.
2.66 X 2.94 = 7.82 - An improvement, not so great though.
3.09 X 2.94 = 9.08 - Getting pretty nice here.

(Side note to what I’m doing later;
I myself will be using 3.55’s in the future with a OD manual trans which will end up at 10.959 calculated with the 3.09 first gear.
(Honestly I keep forgetting what the OE manual trans first gear is.)
The truck OD trans I have has the .71 OD gear. (IIRC)
Leaving me with a decent ratio for the Hwy @ 2.52 & a 245/60/15 tire at approximately 27 inches)