Top Speed?

[OllieWinchester]

Just wondering what the top speed of a Mk1 1.6 would be. Are there different final drives on different models of Mk1? Mine is indicating approximately 80mph at about 4k rpm, just wondered what the maximum speed is, both realistically and theoretically (Eg, on the limiter in 5th).

[OllieWinchester]

Also, can anyone confirm the capacity for the fuel tank? I was under the impression they were 40 litre tanks, managed to cram 39.2 litres in yesterday which made me proud.

No doubt someone will be along to tell me its a 45 litre tank and my efforts were poor in the extreme.

[J.P.W.]

l am going to provide the unhelpful answer that l confirmed the presence of a 180 km/h speed limiter on my Jap import last summer. Never really felt the need to drive it any faster so it's OK with me!

[OllieWinchester]

Don't think I've exceeded that sort of speed anyway. How does the limiter work then? Do you notice when you get to it? I know its not going to be like hitting the wall a la E60 M5 at 155mph, but can you feel it? Will it not go any faster, even downhill with a strong tail wind?

[snotrag]

Not sure if theres any differenc to a 1.8, but I'm pretty sure it must be more than 40 litres.

You cna go further round than the empty mark if you've got the balls, the scales waaaay off on the fuel gauge.

[MX-5 Lazza]

The early mk1s were 40L. Later mk1 went up to 45L (10G). Mk2+ are 50L.

[OllieWinchester]

So my 39.2 litres was quite an achievement then?

Back on topic, does anyone know what speed my 1.6 mk1 would be doing at the rev limiter in 5th if I were to find a big enough hill on a private test track?

[Herman Toothrot]

I've a 1.8 with the low ratio 4.3:1 Torsen diff, the 5 speed gear boxes I think are all the same. My clocks only go to 110mph but I've hit 7200rpm in 5th down the back straight at Goodwood, I think at the time I worked out that was 133mph.

[franv8]

On the private race track, mine's been bounced off the factory limiter (I'd say 112-114 leptons). It doesn't have a great deal more there.

Early Mk 1's the limiter is a pair of contacts in the speedometer, and can be disabled by removal of the adjusting screw from the back of it. I leave mine in place - I bought this car originally to start having fun without getting illegal on the roads, and as before, it wouldn't yield a lot more go.

(It's an early 1.6 Eunos btw).

[T5SOR]

The most I have ever managed is 118 units, which is when the speed limiter kicked in. This is easily removed via a screw in the back of the speedo.

I have only ever managed to get 30 quids worth of petrol in the tank max!! And that's on any of the 3 I have had

[MX-5 Lazza]

I've done an indicated 150mph. I only stopped accelerating then because the speedo only goes to 150mph so there was little point going faster. It was still accelerating well though so reckon it might make as much as 160mph which is where I would run out of revs in 6th :-)

[OllieWinchester]

T5SOR said:

The most I have ever managed is 118 units, which is when the speed limiter kicked in. This is easily removed via a screw in the back of the speedo.

I have only ever managed to get 30 quids worth of petrol in the tank max!! And that's on any of the 3 I have had

I know about the factory limiter, I want to know what (theoretically) my Mk1 1.6 would do, bouncing off the rev limiter in 5th.

[Doctor Bone]

Off topic Ollie but where abouts are you in Winch? I work/live at the royal county hospital.

[Munter]

Take it for a run in 5th. Work out what RPM it's doing at 70. Then extrapolate up to 7200 rpm red line.

e.g. if 3500rpm = 70mph then 1rpm = 0.02mph. 0.02mph * 7200 = 144 MPH

I can't quite remember if 3500 = 70 mph though.

[OllieWinchester]

How strange, I work as a call taker up at Highcroft. Live on Quarry Lane, just up from the Black Boy.....

The Black Boy is a pub, not one of my neighbours.

[Herman Toothrot]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I've done an indicated 150mph. I only stopped accelerating then because the speedo only goes to 150mph so there was little point going faster. It was still accelerating well though so reckon it might make as much as 160mph which is where I would run out of revs in 6th :-)

I think its the diff that gives you your tall gearing rather than the 6th gear, when I was looking to see if the 6speed box would be a worthwhile mod for me everything pointed to it just having closer ratios not a wider range.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Herman Toothrot said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

I've done an indicated 150mph. I only stopped accelerating then because the speedo only goes to 150mph so there was little point going faster. It was still accelerating well though so reckon it might make as much as 160mph which is where I would run out of revs in 6th :-)

I think its the diff that gives you your tall gearing rather than the 6th gear, when I was looking to see if the 6speed box would be a worthwhile mod for me everything pointed to it just having closer ratios not a wider range.

Correct. I believe the effect is of the first 5 gears being slightly shorter than the 5 gears in a 5-speed with a 6th gear as a higher ratio for cruising.

[GravelBen]

T5SOR said:

The most I have ever managed is 118 units, which is when the speed limiter kicked in. This is easily removed via a screw in the back of the speedo.

My '89 Eunos has never quite made it to the limiter the most I've had out of it is an indicated 175 Km/h (~109mph). Thats on the flat though rather than downhill, and it is a little tired with 133k miles on the clock.

[Doctor Bone]

OllieWinchester said:

How strange, I work as a call taker up at Highcroft. Live on Quarry Lane, just up from the Black Boy.....

The Black Boy is a pub, not one of my neighbours.

Lol! Yeah lovely pub. Was up there today!