I run a 284XE in my 'Cuda with 3:55s in the rear. Compression is 9.72 : 1. Heads are Indybrocks with PBM valves and minimal port work. 1.5 :1 Rockers. Cam was installed at 104.5*. Torque is NOT a problem. Actually it is a problem, you can't use full throttle in 1st. gear without blowing the tires off. Part of this is due to a little too much gear reduction in 1st. gear, but mostly it's just more torque than the tires can handle. It was just as bad when I had 3:23s in the rear. It pulls hard from right off idle to the rev limiter [ 6600 ]. I shift at 6200. Very flexible engine with a broad power band. It will pull down to 1400 in 5th.gear [ equal to 2:41 rear gears ] without bucking and pull up smoothly from there. If I had it to do over again I probably would have used the 285 HL.