<VV> Re: Ad - Turbo question?

[Frank DuVal]

Padgett:
Your seat of the pants ratio, oops, I mean my seat of the pants ratio of 
speed to RPM is the same as yours and Harry Yarnell's. I came by mine as 
I drove my Spyder regularly from 1976 to 2001 and most of the time the 
speedometer didn't work. So I just doubled the RPM two digits  to get 
mph. Many a trip on I-95 from Richmond to the Washington DC area was at  
3800 rpm  to 4500 rpm the whole time. I even checked the tachometer with 
a calibrated strobeoscope at my friend's house near DC after one of 
those 4500 rpm trips because I just didn't think the Spyder was good for 
such high speed driving for 75 to 100 miles without stop. The tachometer 
was right on. Maybe this is why my turbo always runs at 475 °F + !  As 
far as rev limiting, the only rev limiting I know of on my Spyder is the 
flow limitation of the turbo, YH carb and size of valves. There is no 
wastegate or ignition governor. Maybe points bounce and valve floating! :-D

Frank DuVal

Padgett wrote:

>
>> However, the caller is of the impression that a "properly
>> restored" turbo should be able to go "80-90" mph.
>> Despite the fact that I have had the turbo rebuilt and the car worked on
>> over the years, I can not ever recall the car having that kind of speed.
>> It's very likely that the local mechanics, not expert in Corvair 
>> rebuilding,
>> did the best they could and the car is still not up to its potential.  I
>> usually don't go that fast in our Volvo turbo, or my Mercedes AMG55 
>> turbo.
>
>
> Is there a "1" missing ? Believe the 400+ hp AMG55 turbo can easily 
> exceed the ton and a half. My 110/PG cruises easily at 70 mph even 
> with some suspected head issues. Think the Spyder was rev-limited to 
> about 105. 90 mph with a 3.55 and stock sized tires would be 4500 rpm 
> which is wound pretty tight for any duration.
>
> Low gears were common in the 1/4 mile era when muscle cars often hit 
> redline in top around 110 mph. With the right gears, they would go far 
> faster. Probably the limited top speed was a good thing since the 
> tires GM put on new cars were not the greatest and lift at speed was 
> an issue.
>
> Padgett