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Re: Sonett III top speed Posted by Andy [Email] (#759) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Andy) on Mon, 18 Dec 2000 23:03:35 In Reply to: Sonett III top speed, TJ, Thu, 14 Dec 2000 23:23:45 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
According to the Sonett III Service Manual, 4th gear speed is 18.1mph per 1,000rpm calculated running a tire of 11.8 inch (300mm) outside radius.
Most cars will not reach red line in top gear because they are pushing too much air for the power output of the engine to overcome at that RPM. Every car eventually reaches a point at which the engine is expending more power pushing the car through the air than it is using to overcome inertia forces in the reciprocating engine, the friction between drivetrain parts and between the tires and the road. Slim aerodynamic cars reach this point at a higher road speed than big boxy cars.
I had my '67 96 V-4 up to an indicated 96mph on a slight downhill on I-81 outside of Roanoke VA before I did the 3/4-cam/Weber/lightened-valve-train conversion. After the conversion I could pull over 70mph in 3rd gear and never peaked it out in 4th. That Weber drank a lot of gas at that RPM though.
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