4into4, you make a good and valid point about the high rear gear, definitely adds to the picture here. My rear gear is the typical 3:31, not "to high" but still up there as it concerns a "hole shot" to 60 mph. BUT, I also have the close ratio top loader with a pretty high first gear ratio. The combination means 65 mph in FIRST GEAR, hardly a drag race setup.
I would guess even with your 2.73 ratio when coupled with a lower first gear in the trans actually gives a lower overall ratio than I have! I can almost run third gear across the finish line, but shift into fourth right at the "back door". My calculated top speed is around 175 mph, maybe with a "little engine work" (
) I could get there.
Low 13's sound about right for your setup, stock 302, even if you had lower gears. All though, I suspect the higher gears are actually HELPING not hurting as it tend to limit wheel spin. Some guys have run a faster ET by starting out in SECOND gear and avoiding first all together. This often results in severe clutch damage though...
My stock 302 Excalibur, with good rubber and ULTRA LOW gears ran a 14 second ET! How embarrasing is that.