I want the car back to stock performance. That does not require a gear change from the stock gear. Yes, I could make the car quicker. I don't care how quick it is as long as it's not a slug. I have other toys to play with when I want to drive hard. But I do need to stop the engine's self-destruct cycle and can't embalm yet another 400 for a 20 year nap. Restoring factory performance should not require major changes on an engine that has not been modified previously. If it does, something is wrong with the plan and the process. I have faith that Pontiac knew how to build an engine in '69 just as they did in '68.