3.08 gears are the "kiss of death" for these sixes, a very good rear gear ratio is a 3.55--very well rounded ratio--it will wake up the smallish motor and let it run more freely--if you do this first it may save you a lot of motor hop-up spending--it's really a wake-up move. The original '62 Chevy lls were equipped with 3.55s, then in '63 they switched to 3.08s and performance plummeted. I had a '63, and the '62s would embarrass me. Switched to a 3.55 and wow what a difference--almost like going from a two-speed PowerGlide (1,82 low gear) to a three speed Turbo hydramatic (2.54 low gear)when you hit the "go" pedal---OOOOPS--I see now I came 'waaay too late with my suggestion!!
I assume that is a recommendation for the auto equipped cars, or at least the 2.85:1 3spd through 1974. In 1975 to 1977 they had a 3.11 first gear, and then 1978 and 1979 had the 3.50 first gear. 3.55 is a bit deep for those wide ratio gear boxes.
