Thank you all, I would probably hop the engine up later (I'm thinking a turbo on the 228 would be different) but at first a pair of carbs and split exhaust are probably all it's gonna get.

I was most concerned about having too big of a dead space between gears.

If a +.030 261 is doable with this with a 3.50:1 9" then I should be able to do this with a 228 and say 3:73 or 4.11 for 65 between 2200-2400.

Thanks again.