good info...how different is the .509 cam from the Comp XE284? would i need a different intake to allow it to breathe properly?

the tranny is an iron case, i have read that only 4th gear is really weak, and needs to be avoided while driving aggressively.

i think a cold air intake would be pretty easy to do, with some shadetree modifications.

should i aim higher than the 12s? i thought that was pretty fast, but i am getting the impression from the tone of the posts it is pretty slow, relatively speaking.

a little background: the engine came with the car and it is a mystery. it looks totally stock, but my friend, who owns and works at his auto repair business (Automotive Service Center in Tacoma, WA) thinks it is a stroker. he is an old school mopar guy, he got me into mopars with his 70 bee, and i respect his opinion. he thinks we should change the cam as well.

i was loooking at the vexer ratio calculator and i can go:
0-36 mph in first (shifting at 5,500 rpm)
36-67 mph in second (same shift point)
67-103 mph in third gear (same shift point)

if i shift at 6,000 rpm:
0-40 mph
40-73 mph
73-111 mph

the ratios are: first - 3.09:1, second- 1.67:1, third - 1:1, fourth - 0.73:1

this is with a 28" tire and 4:10s. are those ratios useable?