well, this has been a good read for an old guy...I ran a 71 big block Camaro in 1973 in a stock gas class...I was sold on B&M Auto while everyone else was still using 4-speeds....I exchanged my core trany for a B&M, valve body, torgue converter, 3500 stall...coupled w/ a 373 rear end...I could have went higher, like 4.11 but this was my daily driver...being an old muscle car guy, I was always wondering if I could just get this setup in my XF...what a 1/4 miler this would be...keep lookin' you are on the right track....