85 MPH, Texas speed limit

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  • Gerard F.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • July 1, 2004
    • 3803

    #16
    Re: 85 MPH, Texas speed limit

    Originally posted by Duke Williams (22045)
    Summer, 1967 -just turned 21 - LA to Vegas - increased revs to 5000 on the 3.08:1 axle 327/340 HP SWC when I crossed over to Nevada, which had no speed limit at the time - 130 MPH indicated, no traffic.

    ...made the approximate 40+ miles to the Strip in 18 minutes.

    It doesn't get much better than that. It's what high powered sports cars are all about!

    The only better time I had on the road was the two Silver State Classic Challenges I ran in 1989 and 1990. First year the '88 Merc 190E 2.6 five-speed maxed out at about 132 @ 5100.

    The next year the Saleen Mustang I prepared and drove made high 150s at 4500.

    Duke
    Fall of 1970, on a brand new unopened road just completed, 3 mile stretch straight as an arrow, almost level, I figured I'd test my 67/327/300/3.08.

    The speedo was showing 135, the tach at 5300, not sure the exact speed with the two year old Michelin X radials. Stopped my test when a slight crosswind shifted my front end across the road. The front end was floating and I was about to take off. Worried about the two year old tires, and the convertible top (my original), I ended the test on the third run.

    I'll never forget the sound and the roar, and the compression on the convertible top. At age 25, it was quite a rush, and never to be repeated again with my 67.

    I guess we were a little crazy when we were young.
    Jerry Fuccillo
    1967 327/300 Convertible since 1968

    Comment

    • Duke W.
      Beyond Control Poster
      • January 1, 1993
      • 15497

      #17
      Re: 85 MPH, Texas speed limit

      I think most of us have come to grips with our mortality since we did crazy things with cars, motorcycles, boats, airplanes... whatever back when we were young and immortal.

      Duke

      Comment

      • Stuart F.
        Expired
        • September 1, 1996
        • 4676

        #18
        Re: 85 MPH, Texas speed limit

        Jerry;

        The phenomenon you describe with your 67 at 135 is typical with the C-2's, as I'm sure you know by now, i. e. "Larry's Wing Effect". We didn't know back in 63 when my buddy and I went to Vegas. We tried to see how fast ours would go (340hp w/3.36). When my buddy was driving, I could swear I saw 150 from the passenger seat, but the needle was bouncing cause we were nearly flying! (lots of wheel slip too with OEM U.S. Royal tires - crazy, huh?). It was, no matter what speed we were actually going, very unstable. On one of my stints, I was cruising along about 130 or so and hanging on for dear life. We came upon an area that looked like an imminent rain shower so I opened the headlights and experienced an immediate improvement in front end stability. It just pulled the front end right down. We, unknowingly, learned something about aerodynamics that day, and I have continued to open the headlights for higher highway speeds to this day.

        I often wondered if anyone else had a similar "open headlight" experience with a C-2.

        Stu Fox

        Comment

        • Ronald L.
          Extremely Frequent Poster
          • October 19, 2009
          • 3248

          #19
          Re: 85 MPH, Texas speed limit

          Stu, at 100mph the 427 keeps the front end down that puts me a 4000rpm and the side pipe noise is so loud you won't stay at that velocity long.

          Comment

          • John D.
            Very Frequent User
            • July 1, 1991
            • 874

            #20
            Re: 85 MPH, Texas speed limit

            67/327/350HP/M20/3:36 = well matched combo in my opinion

            Comment

            • Stuart F.
              Expired
              • September 1, 1996
              • 4676

              #21
              Re: 85 MPH, Texas speed limit

              This may be just my imagination, but it seems that most of the big block C-2's seem to adopt a "nose up, tail down" attitude even at speed with that extra weight up front where as a small block tends to exhibit a full body lift. Either way, I'm sure they are both a hand full.

              Stu Fox

              Comment

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