pushing the wedge past 150mph
Discussion
Biggest problem is finding enough straight road and then enough to stop...
Sure you can change the diff ratio to give you higher gearing but you won't have the power then to max it out so it would be like having overdrive. It also affects all the other gears as well and makes the car a bit slower in gear. Looked at it for the 520 but kept coming to the conclusion that the 3:54 diff is about right.
Steve
Sure you can change the diff ratio to give you higher gearing but you won't have the power then to max it out so it would be like having overdrive. It also affects all the other gears as well and makes the car a bit slower in gear. Looked at it for the 520 but kept coming to the conclusion that the 3:54 diff is about right.
Steve
Cheers Steve, the current setup is fine, but it storms to V-Max (150mph) and thats it .. the rev limiter kicks in at about 6500rpm and that halts proceedings.
Living next to the M3 / A303 means there is always enough road (Joke).
I was wondering if they rate the 5.0 litre griffs / chimps at 165 ish is it just a case of swapping diffs / final drive ?
Will give Peninsula a bell and run it by them.
Living next to the M3 / A303 means there is always enough road (Joke).
I was wondering if they rate the 5.0 litre griffs / chimps at 165 ish is it just a case of swapping diffs / final drive ?
Will give Peninsula a bell and run it by them.
The main problem with getting a wedge beyond 150+MPH is the aerodynamics. The wedge looks fast even when parked up, but they struggle to cut through the air at high speeds, hence why Griffs and Chimps have higher top speeds due to their more slippery shape. You only have to look at the shapes of the Tuscans, Tamoras, T350, and the 400 Rs to see what shapes get through the air best and get stability with spoilers/diffusers.
On a runway day last year my 450 got upto 153MPH and was still accelerating (albeit slowly), it took most of the last mile of runway to get from 130 to 150+ though.
I am not particularly bothered about top speed, its the acceleration that does it for me, and thats one thing wedges are very good at.
Thats my 2 penny worth anyway.
Nige'
On a runway day last year my 450 got upto 153MPH and was still accelerating (albeit slowly), it took most of the last mile of runway to get from 130 to 150+ though.
I am not particularly bothered about top speed, its the acceleration that does it for me, and thats one thing wedges are very good at.

Thats my 2 penny worth anyway.
Nige'
Hi,
Bob.... got it. Tis grunt over drag (aerodynamics). The amount of grunt needed to cleanly jump from say 130 to over 155 would be a big step increase with the current cars aero - perhaps even exponential e.g. 400ish bhp. The land speed record slippery stuff needs big HP numbers to clear 200 mph and to go from 200 - 215 mph they need 30% more grunt. So gearing ain't your issue - aero is and there isn't much you can do here so it's back to pure brute force or don't bother just enjoy the accel. Can't do it on the road or a track and what's the fun in a straight line Clarkson bash up an airfield!! Spend your money on making the car handle and then go and scare a few scoobies - it's great fun (on the track).
GB
Bob.... got it. Tis grunt over drag (aerodynamics). The amount of grunt needed to cleanly jump from say 130 to over 155 would be a big step increase with the current cars aero - perhaps even exponential e.g. 400ish bhp. The land speed record slippery stuff needs big HP numbers to clear 200 mph and to go from 200 - 215 mph they need 30% more grunt. So gearing ain't your issue - aero is and there isn't much you can do here so it's back to pure brute force or don't bother just enjoy the accel. Can't do it on the road or a track and what's the fun in a straight line Clarkson bash up an airfield!! Spend your money on making the car handle and then go and scare a few scoobies - it's great fun (on the track).
GB
2 sheds said: You need to bear in mind speedo inaccuracies as well, it would take a lot of grunt to exceed 155 in a Wedge, as Steve says the gearing has to be spot on, too high and you would loose top end, and you would loose lower speed parformance.
Tim
Understood Tim ... for the record then ... Bouncing of the rev limiter in 5th gear@6500 rpm Speedo about 1/2 Inch beyond 150 on the clock I estimate to be 150 - 155
At these speeds the wedge feels very sure on the road. the rear really does squat down and grip the road
jvaughan said:
2 sheds said: You need to bear in mind speedo inaccuracies as well, it would take a lot of grunt to exceed 155 in a Wedge, as Steve says the gearing has to be spot on, too high and you would loose top end, and you would loose lower speed parformance.
Tim
Understood Tim ... for the record then ... Bouncing of the rev limiter in 5th gear@6500 rpm Speedo about 1/2 Inch beyond 150 on the clock I estimate to be 150 - 155
At these speeds the wedge feels very sure on the road. the rear really does squat down and grip the road
Bloody hell

Basically if you're "maxing out" the rpm you could go a little higher gearing, but as i said might spoil overall performance.
In a big Wedge the last 1000 rpm in top is normally a tad sluggish, as mentioned due to drag etc.
Tim
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