727 Lower Gear Set for street/highway use

BT67Dart said
You are right about the cruising speed RPM, I should have worded that in a better manner. What I was getting at is that you can run a higher rear gear (say 2.94 vs. 3.23), getting lower cruising speed RPM, and still have a decent low end gear set/torque to start.

All of the OD options I have read about require significant frame changes, can't see doing that personally. The GV overdrive gearset is expensive and photos of the installation shows a fair amount of floorpan changes.

I hear what you are saying, just trying to minimize the fabrication and cost impacts. Maybe it's just not possible without going that path, at which point I might simply forego highway driving and leave it as a street car

You can have an excellent, quick driver with 3:23 gears and a 3 speed with 1:1 3rd. You just might have to change your expectations of highway cruise speed. Around here, there are freeways everywhere and 75 mph is a minimum drive speed. My D100 has a 46re with 3:55 gears. It’s about (in my opinion) the perfect combination for a driver. I drive 75-80 down the freeway at 2400 and still have plenty of starter gear for stoplight fun. If you’re concerned about chassis modifications, look in to the extreme automatics 2004r for a small block mopar. Very little massaging has to be done and that can be a great trans. Lots of $$ though. Personally I think a 42rh should be used by more guys in the mopar hobby. Everyone would drive their garbage much more.