Wow, lots of good "technical" information here Thanks. I'm on a budget so the overdrive is not going to happen. Judging from the responses on push starting, I'm going to run without a converter, get pushed off, drop it in gear, and drive away from the push truck.
For those who wanted to know what I was running, it is a 2000 Mustang with a 342" small block. We ran the C/FALT class last year, and ran 205. I was happy with that. The motor dynoed at just over 600 HP an 600 ft above sea level. I had to lean it considerably to get it to run decent at Bonneville, so the actual HP would be much less.
I had a big conversation with Rick Gold at the fuel truck. His advice was to try some nitromethane so this years moter will be a bit different. I will run 358" small block ford. An old NASCAR block and crank, new Crower rods and Mahle pistons. My big expirment this year will be to run mechanical fuel injection and a Methonal Nitromethane blend. It should make lots of power. I understand that nitro likes to be lugged, so maybe the big split in gear ratios wont be so bad after all.
I JUST HOPE I CAN KEEP IT TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!