What is the top speed reached here?

[eric wissing]

53Kustom in a previous thread has had his car up to 90. Even though this was down hill and he has an overdrive. I am curious who has gone the fastest? I am not encouraging anyone to break the law!! We have a member who has taken his the the Flats. I don't recall the name or speed. Eric

[Don Coatney]

Eric;

The Bonneville racer is named Eric.

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/member.php?u=108

I have had my car up to 86 per my GPS. It had a lot more to go as I was no where near the red line.

[Rodney Bullock]

Don, Eric. I have been so fast in my car that my hair laid back:p

I think the only folks here that even have an intelligent conversation about speed are the ones that have all the speed equipment for 6 cly mopars. The car would have to be running with all optimum products. I am sure that in the time before the mopar V8 all they had was the 6 cly and they used it. They pushed it and they upgraded it. The only car I have that has all the speed epuipment that a 6 cly can have is my (truck) 235, race cam, dual carb, slit manifold, 4 speed trans with a 355 rear end.The upgrades that this car has had it runs optimum. I have had it up to 105 miles an hour with no vibration or loss of control.

When it comes to my Plymouth(1940) I had it up to 60 mph and it was the scary. My hands were shaking because it seem that at any minute it was coming apart.You must realize now that it's a prewar car and it has alot of things going against it, tires, frame, and the most significate thing that motor. It is bone stock since the day it was born:rolleyes: I love that little car and it's purpose in life is not to break a speed record, it's to make me feel good about myself, besides I have a car that can peel the paint clean off the fender:cool: happy motoring! PS Don, buy a space ship!

[BloodyKnuckles]

Being the idiot I am, on my way to Las Vegas we ran between 85-95 pretty much the whole way.

Locally, I was having a good day, the car was running great and felt like it had so much power on tap I decided to see what it's got. It took about 2 miles and it was slow getting there but I got it up to 110.

A good friend of mine has tried talking me into running it at the Maxton mile just to see what it will do. I may just try it someday.

BloodyKnuckles

[eric wissing]

Eric;

The Bonneville racer is named Eric.

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/member.php?u=108

I have had my car up to 86 per my GPS. It had a lot more to go as I was no where near the red line.

Thanks, Don. Hmm that name seems familiar.

[Norm's Coupe]

I agree with Rodney. These old cars weren't meant to go that fast. I remember as a kid in the late 50's/early 60's. My cousin was always racing and going as fast as he could. I just drove my car normally. As a result, I never had to work on my car, but my cousin was always replacing rods, bearings and rebuilding the transmissions in his cars. Plus, he would go through two or three cars in the time I went through one. That's why I have no interest in putting dual or tri carb set ups, etc. on my car. But, to each their own.

[Normspeed]

I don't think I've had mine over 80 or so. The limitation is the suspension. Even with new radials, shocks, etc she gets kinda "floaty" at that speed. I feel more comfortable at 70 or less.

[53dodgekustom]

My motor is bone stock and very worn out. It was going 85ish on level ground and I had it going 90 downhill. This is with the od and 4.10 gears. Started to sound wound out at 90 but I don't have a tach so I really don't know. Lots of wind noise!

BloodyKnuckles: what is your personal redline on your engine? 4000 rpm? The hp is highest at 3600rpm so there isn't much use spinning it up much more than that.

Just did some calculations, at 90 my car is spinning 2914 rpms. So, it had a lot more left. My motor doesn't have any top end power though. Time for a rebuild and some speed parts.

[RobertKB]

With no overdrive in my cars I keep them between 50-60 MPH depending on which car and which differential gear ratio. My '48 Dodge D25 with a 251 CID from a 3 ton truck runs the best although it has the middle gear ratio of 3.9. This engine has both intake and exhaust valves the same size and I think breathes better. I also think it feels on holiday in a car after pulling a loaded grain truck around for years! I have had it up to 70 MPH just once.

[Norm's Coupe]

I don't think I've had mine over 80 or so. The limitation is the suspension. Even with new radials, shocks, etc she gets kinda "floaty" at that speed. I feel more comfortable at 70 or less.

Norm, I know what you mean about "floaty" in the front end at high speeds in the older cars.

While stationed at Ft. Knox in 1964 I lived off post in Louisville and drove the 60 mile round trip daily to work. One day on the way home I blew a rod in my 57 Ford. While I was locating and having a new engine put in it, a friend at Fort Knox lent me his extra car to drive. That was a 56 Buick convertible that was bored, a race cam, etc., really fixed up to race at the strip. Burned about a tank of gas every 150 miles. One day, while riding around on the weekend my cousin came up along side of me (the racing one) and thought he could out run that heavy Buick. Well, I left him and his Pontiac in the dust in no time. However, in doing so, it felt like the front end of that Buick was going to lift off into mid air. Now, if that happened in a heavy 56 Buick, what would happen in a Plymouth of the 50's or before.

[53dodgekustom]

I have one coil cut in the front so I think this helped with the floating a bit. A little stiffer ride. Still feels like a ship out at sea though. My shocks need replaced though, no idea how old they are.

[BloodyKnuckles]

I changed the shock location on the front of mine and to say it changed the ride a bunch would be a severe understatement! I feel very confident in my car. I have completely rebuilt or replaced the underside of my car. It actually handles very well at speed...even with the bias plies.

As for my redline, I was nowhere near it. I truely feel it has more in it.

BloodyKnuckles

[Phill Powell]

I've driven my 39 Dodge up to 100mph from a standing start over about 2 miles on a 3 mile stretch, used the last mile to pull up to a safe complete stop. I beleave there was more in it but speedo only goes to 100 anyway. Car was bone stock except for 2 barrel carb 251 motor. Nothing on or in the car was new except paint(& filler), was as found with motor that was one of many sitting on floor(seized & tow started). 3.9 diff ratio. Did 95 with stock carb. I beleave that with 3.7 or 3.5 diff & a full 3 miles the 139 record is possible. I understand a big problem at Bonneville is traction.

Phill

[JIPJOBXX]

I like to tell my hot rod buddy's that my old Dodge with the big 216 cubic inch engine and fluid drive will do the quarter in 10 minutes. No need to go fast for style is best as I say! Jon;)

[Plymouthy Adams]

I had my most recent purchase Ply 48 coupe up to 82MPH..no engine and on a very short run...24 foot trailer...sorry..could not resist

[p24-1953]

i have hit 100 twice. one to see if i could and once to prove it with a chase car clocking me. the car is bone stock. ( it tooka couple of miles, but they can move.)

[Don Coatney]

I had my most recent purchase Ply 48 coupe up to 82MPH..no engine and on a very short run...24 foot trailer...sorry..could not resist

Tim;

I wonder what she would do if you (like Norm) left the end of the driveway:D

[wallytoo]

47 mph....

it's a 1.5 ton truck w/2-spd rear...

[Plymouthy Adams]

Don Coatney said:

Tim;

I wonder what she would do if you (like Norm) left the end of the driveway:D

Oooooooooooooch...Hey it had to leave my buddies driveway in Indiana to get here..give it time big guy...give it time..

today I worked a bit in the shop ..been a week since I have been out there...got the right rear of the station wagon in primer..worked a couple inperfections on the 54 front fender and primered them...prime and painted some window latches..put the top coat on my 54 floor pans..unloaded the van from my trip..hanged the camping gear out to air before putting away..put away camping gear..

Me and wife two in WV as photographed by wife one...

 

Edited May 20, 2017 by Plymouthy Adams

[fredsv8shop]

All the camping gear and beer on board in the car with the original 3.54 rear end sloppy spring bushings and all. scary ride lifting at the quarter mile mark and rolled out like a top fueler with tyre shake. Changed the rear end to a 2.73 and renewed all the bushings and will have a go again later this year. Times will be better because the race track crew promised to look after the beer this time

[randroid]

Gents,

One of these days I'd like to see what the old whore would do flat out, but I lived on small winding roads in a town in the middle of the N. Colorado Rockies, and never had the opportunity to go above 55 until we became flatland foreigners a few years ago. Quite honestly, I became very nervous in any car at 65 for several years until friends would be driving with me in their cars on the freeway and I finally built the nerve to open my eyes and watch. This is from somebody who learned to drive on the LA freeway system.

When I got my '48 P-15 twenty years ago all I wanted to do was get it on the road as a very reliable daily driver. It took me about three years of puttering to get it where I wanted it, and it eventually did become my daily driver. Never had a chance to go to top end but I will say that at 50 mph that beauty becomes one with the road; potholes disappear and Elk get out of the way, and in the Winter it's like sitting on an over-stuffed couch in front of a warm fire. That's driving!

With an OD tranny I have been tossing around the idea of learning how to shift in-and-out so as to have six speeds, and I'd get a chuckle out of taking a 60 year-old car through six gears at a drag strip. Might even amuse a few bystanders.

I watched "The World's Fastest Indian" a few weeks ago and have no doubt that somebody will astonish us one of these days. Good luck!

-Randy

(PS - If you think I may have crossed any line by referring to my car as an old whore, let me assure you that it is used only as a compliment. Should you ponder the expression, 'Lady of the Evening', let me assure you that she is a Lady of the Evening, Morning, and sometimes seems happiest in the Afternoon. Figuring that I give her a lot of money for a short ride I guess she's playing her end better than I'm playing mine. Somehow I can't help but feel that's related to top end.)

[central52]

I finally got my 47 Plymouth coupe running this past month. Motor sounds good. Am taking it on the Merritt Parkway here in Connecticut on a weekly exercise run to keep the juices flowing. I get up to 50 mph easily, and problably could go faster, but, boy, it sure sounds like it could use another gear.

I know an overdrive transmission would solve that situation. But, I spent enough to get it where it is now, and am happy I can drive it around town and go to car shows. (But, maybe down the line, an OD tranny for Xmas?) Ed Parauka

[curtiswyant]

That quarter mile picture is fantastic

[BobT-47P15]

Had the convert up to about 70 a few summers ago when there were radial

tires on it. Going down a grade on a highway trip to Arkansas. It does get

a bit scary at that speed. It likes to run about 50 or 55 best. Only hit

57 mph in the quarter at the HAMB drags two years ago....

[Norm's Coupe]

Hmmm.........looks like the car is headed for the wall.