The gears would make the most noticeable difference upon acceleration. I would still want to change over to the 4V as soon as possible though if I did do the gear change.
Difference between 3.55:1 and 3.80:1 with a stock 302, 4bbl and a C4 tranny is going to be the difference between driving around town and having fun with the 3.80 and being pretty well miserable if you take the car out on the highway at highway speeds of 60-70 you are going to tach up more RPMs then you really want to. With the 3.55's you'll still have gear enough to goose it and have fun driving around town AND be able to drive it at highway speeds without wishing that you had Overdrive
If I really didn't drive my Maverick on the highway I would go 3.80 but I do like to drive my maverick to work so when I do my rear gears I'll probably go 3.55 to be safe also and I have a 4 speed manual. So I'll go 3.55 and then cuss myself for not going 3.80 because I'll want more seat of the pants torque
Wow. Disc brakes as an early upgrade for performance ? I am behind.I went engine, trans, rearend, gears, 11.89 in the qtr and still have DRUMS all around! Opps!
I've been running 4:30's in my blue car for about 5 years now and have had it on the highway several times, however I don't like to run it over about 60mph, usually keep it around 55 if I drive a very long distance. I briefly ran a set of 3:89's in it (till I broke the minispool at the track) and I really loved them. I was actually passing cars on the Interstate and was cruising at 70 with no problem, I believe about 3500. I will be repairing the 3.89's soon and putting them back in permanently very soon. I think 3.55's would be boring for me but they would probably be okay. I was really surprised at the times I turned at the track between my 4.30's and 3.89's. My fastest time yet was 6.97 with the 4.30's and 7.03 with the 3.89's. Not a lot of difference.
I told my friend i was looking for a nice set of gears and he said man your killing me i let go of a detroit locker 4.10 posi for an 8 inch that would work perfect. He would have given it to me he gives me anything i ask for..