Way back in my early 20's I had a Full Size (they didn't make the tiny ones then) 81 GMC Jimmy full time 4x4. Originally it had a 305 small block and with big fat 32inch all terrain tires it could barely maintain 60mph on the highway against a head wind. Because of that and the fact it only got 12 mpg I swapped in a 400 small block with 202 heads out of a 79 Monte Carlo SS. Had the block and heads rebuilt (added the hardened seats so it could run unleaded gas), put in an RV cam, Eldelbrock intake, headers, and kept the Rotchester 4bbl carb. It was a monster and with more power it got 17mpg.
Because it was 4x4 it had a locking transfer case and locking rear diff, which means if you got on ice or snow 3 tires would spin, and the extra front would NOT spin so it would still steer. I discovered that I could shift the transfer case from low to high without putting the transmission in neutral if I hit the lever hard just as I lifted off the accelerator. The 400 had so much torque combined with all that rubber and lockups I could from idle at a stop light just floor it in low gear, the engine would roar and literally jump across the intersection. In 3 seconds the 350 automatic had revved up through all three gears and made it to 60mph. Then one second to slap it into high, stomp the pedal, the low stall torque converter would kick in, the transmission would downshift and it was once again accelerating hard.
What typically happened in the stop light racing I did in it...
The hot rods, and ricers would laugh at me when I revved to get them to race. Then when the light changed I would leap out across the intersection before their cars had barely started moving. During my 1 second shift they would gain on me a little but still not be caught up. Then hooked up in high gear I'd start pulling away, they would just lift and give up.
The shocked and surprised look on their face as the big truck jumped out across the intersection while they were still smoking tires was just priceless.
