Great read on the 9" RE joker.
Back in the day I used to have a 71 Ranchero. It was totaled while sitting in front of my house. I ended up pulling the engine & tranny and putting it in a 66 Fairlane. If only I had known to keep that rear end.........
re. Chevy auto's. This'll show how long it's been since I've been into muscle cars but back in the day the 400 was considered the unit to have, that or a Munsey 4 speed

Dave