We'll see how much the BFG DRs help, soon. I am hoping for mid 13s out of this thing.

 

have you seen a dyno graph of a stock 5.0?? it falls on its face above 5000. btw, my stock tach is within 50 - 70 rpm or so @ 6200 vs. my autometer.

 

heres some numbers from a stock 5.0:

RPM - HP
3000 - 144
3300 - 155
3500 - 169
3800 - 179
4000 - 185
4300 - 186
4500 - 187
4800 - 184
5000 - 181
5300 - 170
5500 - 159

These numbers are from a buddy of mines from a few years ago from a stock 5.0, which was perfectly in line with other 5.0's at the time.

I dont know how all of a sudden stock 5.0's dyno 210 nowadays though...

 

The optimum shift point would be somewhere above 5000 rpm for this motor (probably 5100-5200 rpm). That way the next gear is more in the "meat" of the powerband. How many 5.0s are stock? Most have at least a K&N, mufflers, !silencer, timing bump, etc. That would raise the shift point a couple hundred rpm higher still.

 

Using the HP numbers given above, and a standard 3.35 1st gear T5, I come up with 5500, 5500, and 5000 for 1/2, 2/3, and 3/4 shift points. The higher shift points on the 1/2 and 2/3 are due to the rather big rpm drop from the large gear spacing.

That said, you cannot depend on the stock tach for a reliable shift rpm. They can be WILDLY off - mine was over 1000 rpm too fast under full throttle acceleration (was fine driving around town).

BTW...those numbers are about right for a stock 5.0. With all the bolt-ons and open exhaust, my 88 made 237 RWHP (228 through the mufflers).