Quote: if you want to drive it anywhere then gear/tire size and converter needs to be part of your quest for mid 9s because there is no way I would have been able to deal with my car with anything more than a 3.55 gear during drag week
Ray.splurge for a GV and get rid of the 3.55s. That and a cage update.
I wouldnt run DW without a OD trans... can it be done... sure but the OD sure helps to lower the rpm during the drive.... I went with the 518 trans which cost ALOT less than a GV and its a touch more OD.. then I went with 4.10 gears
with the 3.55s, my car was running around 77mph at 3300rpms. under 3000 rpm the car didn't "feel" as good. I figured this was because that is where the multi spark stopped. I have always wondered if the multi spark was really worth it. with my timming turned way down, the A/F was on the rich side during Drag Week which I tried to lean the carbs out but when I put the timing back to where it would belong the A/F would be right on
moral of the story is I don't have high dollar anything in my car, with the timing turned way down, I still managed a 9.90 at 139 and my hood blew up and broke on that pass so I'm not sure it was a full pass.
If you look at the number of small blocks running mid 9s during Drag Week you will realize the number of cars was zero and their combos didn't look to economical to me
Jakes 67 Chevelle ran in the 9s during Dragweek this year, he was the only one doing so in the SB street race N/A class and his car weighs over 3400lbs. BUT he has spent Big Bucks on his combo, like 6k on the trans and converter, 488 gear. Now some info on the motor, 402SB chevy with 23 degree heads 11.1 compression that he shifts at 8500RPMs. He changed the spark plugs and the oil every day. He also checked the valve spring lash every day and would check the springs. Oh the cam in the motor has .866 of lift. The place that built the motor put it on a spinaton to make sure the valve train would live on the street and the track.
That and a cage update. 
