looking on tim's website i saw on the bottom of this page that the L with 3.55 gears ( which i think my 2000 has ) has a theoretical top speed of 176. i was wondering how this could be true.




http://www.timskelton.com/lightning/general/tips.htm

 

I don't see it, unless he's not posting any insane mods.

 

"According to Stan Martin, the theoretical top speed of a Lightning with 3.55 gears and stock tires at the stock 5,200 redline is about 176 (not taking into account the increased diameter of the tires at high speeds)."

It's got nothing to do with horsepower, nor anything to do with my truck. It's just a mathematical calculation based on tire OD, gearing, and the engine redline. It might take 800 HP to get there (due to aero drag, horsepower requirements rise as an exponential function to speed).

 

Tire Size [inches]: 28.4
Transmission Gear Ratio: .71:1
Rear Axle Gear Ratio: 3.55:1
Maximum Engine Speed (RPM): 5200
Top Speed (mph): 174.38

 

Key word here!

 

Look at the big brain on Tim

 

but shouldnt your amount of power only limit the ammount of time it takes to reach your top speed. you could take the motor off your lawn mower and reach 176 with it if you had the right gear ratio, and it may take you 20 miles to get there.

 

all depends on air drag and friction...... you need power to overcome that and it goes up as speeds go up... it is harder to go faster.......

Theoretical= no drag, no friction, no losses

 

No. BTW there is a good article on running a flying mile / top speed attempts in this months Hot Rod Magazine that explains it (required power levels, aerodynamics, etc) very well.

 

 

"Say what again!! They speak english in What?"

 

There is a required horsepower for any speed.

In our trucks, aero is a real issue. heck for that matter spinning our 80lb tires is a big issue.

a lawnmower engine will never get you to 176mph unless you dropped the truck off a cliff.

 

I have no problem believing that,
Remember the ole story I told a while ago when I was showing off to my vette friend. I said Joe lets go for a ride in the L, I got on the Sunrise Hwy,
(back then I ALWAYS shut OD off) a while later I found my spot and WOT I went, he was like ok ok ok thats good, thats good, As I started to realize the motor was screaming like a frigging virgin in a max security shower, I looked down and realized I was doing 135 (or 139, I forget) IN 3rd
(didnt have any problems back then cooking plugs, hehehehehe)
By then Joe was almost crying so I got off it and finally put it into OD
AND NO IT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO OD, TRY IT SOME TIME

If I can go 135/140 in 3rd with 383's, I see no reason 355's cant go 170 in 4th

100% stock NOT HAPPENING, but with a 450-500 HP L I see no reason why not. BTW hasnt Stan done 155 or 165 already ???

 

It's THE issue.

I am installing the DG air dam:

No fog light recesses (will use the DG holes for brake ducts), taller (i.e., closer to the road), and more efficient heat exchanger opening. I will be fabricating aluminum spill plates for the sides of the HE opening to force all of the air to go through or back out, but not allowing it to spill under the truck.

And Street Scene mirrors:


The big problem seems to be the huge grill area. We need like half that area to supply air to the radiator.
I'd like to install the 97-98 smaller grill, but I don't think that it will work with the 99-03 bumper that I will need to use with the DG air dam.

A wiper cowl might help, but they are a PITA to install and the benefits would likely be slim.

 

TIM,

that doesn't make sense!

If you look at all the FAST LIGHTNINGS in the 1/4 mile you'll se they BLOCK OFF all the openings in the front.
Not add bigger ones.

The radiator opening is like a giant parachute on the front of the truck.
Why are you adding two?