My 84 wb with 4.2 and m20 3.36 diff gets flogged by my brothers 82 wb with 4.2 m20 3.08 diff. It also flogged the 83 wb I had with 4.2 m20 3.36 diff.
The engines have both been rebuilt by the same machine shop and run the same cams. When I say flogged, I mean around town at the lights and definately on the highway.
I know that the 3.08 should be slower off the mark but I think that you can run it longer between gear changes gives it heaps more advantage in a drag.
As far as standard cars go, I reckon my other brothers wb statesman with 3.08 diff had more balls than any 253 I have ever driven. For a big car that old 5 litre used to get up and boogie.