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Safe top speed

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:53 pm
by EKjimmy
Hi guys,
I've been scouring the net and the forum but haven't really found an answer to my question - knowing me it's probably on the forum and i've missed it.
Anyway, I don't really believe the top speed supposedly being 80mph.
What would be a safe top speed for a grey and hydramatic? Given that mechanically it's bog stock with the exception of steel? timing gear. Tyres are 185/70 r13 (so a little smaller than standard bias plies).
I've had her bopping along at 60-65mph before, revs a bit but seemed to deal with it fine.
Was just wondering what everyone else thinks is safe enough that nothing will self destruct

Thanks,
Jimmy

Re: Safe top speed

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 11:12 pm
by Cal
I'd say 60 to 65mph. Anything above that and mine starts to moan and groan. With the tyres you have though, the speedo might be showing 65mph, but you'd be lucky if you were actually doing 55mph

Re: Safe top speed

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:05 am
by Blacky
Use this calculator to find our your speed differential when using non standard tyres -

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Re: Safe top speed

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 4:18 pm
by Harv
Cals about right - she should do 60-65 mph all day up hill and down dale with just a driver in it. 5 mates and a trailer will slow things down a bit.

Depends a bit though on what state the old girl is in. Mine had been sitting for 10 years before I bought it... the timing gear didn't like it and gave up the ghost (despite having oil flow), as did the thrust bearings.

Cheers,
Harv.

Re: Safe top speed

Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 10:21 am
by EKjimmy
Hi all, made it comfortably sitting at 60-65mph (about 100kmh according to the GPS) ran like a charm:)

Re: Safe top speed

Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 10:46 pm
by vmx-mxr
You'll be right Jimmy !

Better be - we've got a sedan body to pick up this week :wink:

Safe trip home

"Old Man" Mac :D

Re: Safe top speed

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:24 pm
by Marty K Bird
I think in the old days we squeezed nearly a tonne out of a stock one down a long straight ....but not safe

Re: Safe top speed

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:34 pm
by EKjimmy
:shock: Not with my suspension...or lack of. rear 1 inch from bumpstops, as for the front.....well it's on them already :lol:
form before function while i'm young enough to enjoy it

Re: Safe top speed

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:25 pm
by Mick
Marty K Bird wrote:I think in the old days we squeezed nearly a tonne out of a stock one down a long straight ....but not safe
that long straight would have been off a cliff or yor speedo was out

Re: Safe top speed

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 3:27 pm
by fb cruisin
I stretched the legs on mine on the highway once and got it up to 85mph . It still had more in it but I wasn't game, to push it too far.

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 3:57 pm
by Devilrod
EKjimmy wrote::shock: Not with my suspension...or lack of. rear 1 inch from bumpstops, as for the front.....well it's on them already :lol:
form before function while i'm young enough to enjoy it
I thought that was factory? You're never to old to sit a car on its bump stops.

Re:

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 4:02 pm
by Mick
Devilrod wrote:
EKjimmy wrote::shock: Not with my suspension...or lack of. rear 1 inch from bumpstops, as for the front.....well it's on them already :lol:
form before function while i'm young enough to enjoy it
I thought that was factory? You're never to old to sit a car on its bump stops.
kinda yes and no :think: i still think it's a good idea and go ahead and do it then i drive the car and call myself all sorts of f#%kwits :lol:

Re: Safe top speed

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 4:14 pm
by EKjimmy
:lol: It does get annoying sometimes, but i don't really care 8)

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:44 pm
by Devilrod
Mick wrote:
kinda yes and no :think: i still think it's a good idea and go ahead and do it then i drive the car and call myself all sorts of f#%kwits :lol:
Never said it wears thin sometimes....

Re:

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 1:28 am
by Mick
Devilrod wrote:
Mick wrote:
kinda yes and no :think: i still think it's a good idea and go ahead and do it then i drive the car and call myself all sorts of f#%kwits :lol:
Never said it wears thin sometimes....
after being in part of VIC for a few days it's ok for you guys (to have very little suspension) didn't really drive on a bad road :) you want to drive on some of the goat tracks we have to put up with and i'm talking major highways :x