Ron,
Not sure if the ratio's can be changed, you'll have to ask some of the other Autotranny experts out here.
As for the ratio feel, it's hard to say on this... My 85 MKII has the W58 5-speed, but the 81 MKI has the A43D Auto w/ a 3.73 Non LSD rear. So I'm assuming that it's the same setup as your MKII. Problem is that my setup is in a lighter weight MKI w/ the lower HP (116 crank) 5ME. With this setup, it accelerates okay, but I'm not going to win any drag races with it. Shawn Pease has driven it several times & he mentioned that it feels pretty quick for this particular drivetrain setup. Back in February of this year, I got a chance to drive another 81 MKI that had the W50 5-speed (and the same rear diff ratio), and I noticed that it pulled much quicker.
It's been a few years since I've driven a MKII w/ a A43DL/DE automatic w/ the 3.73, so I can't give you any comparisons at the moment.
Unfortunately, I don't know of any active PacNW members out in your neck of the woods.

Closest thing that we have related to Port Angeles at the moment, was a Fun Run up to Hurricane Ridge that we did back in the Summer of 98 (we're overdue for a Fun Run "somewhere"). There are a handful of PacNW members across the Strait in Victoria, BC, but it's been awhile since we've heard from them. Wish I had more answers, sorry!!!
