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Thread: Top Speed in a Unique??

  1. #21
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    Dec 2004
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    Prince Frederick, Maryland, USA.
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    Geary, I love this picture


    Tony
    Unique 427 #4279480 Precision Engine Machine Company 427 s/o 483.47 stroker close ratio toploader 3.31 jag rear

  2. #22
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    Mar 2003
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    birmingham, alabama, USA.
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    47
    Looked at the speedo on the back straight at Loews in 4th gear....135+...front end was not touching the ground very hard....touchy steering....then had the ephiphany "I built this thing" going into NASCAR turn one!!!!!
    dickieboy7
    Unique 289FIA-Green
    351C-4V cobra jet
    Toploader
    did it myself..and fix it

  3. #23
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    Jan 2003
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    Harrisburg, PA, USA.
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    657
    Pride in accomplishment is a wonderful thing.

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    simi valley
    Posts
    152

    top speed

    I love life and all body parts functional. After 1 year 105. But who knows. maybe 106 some day. The beauty of it its as much fun to me at 45 as it is 105 or more for those with you know what!

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Niceville, FL, USA.
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    137
    Quite a few years ago while attending a DSCC event on the Sebring FL race track, the instructor riding with me stated, "this car really pulls hard and you need a larger speedometer." I glanced over at the speedo and it was pegged at over 160 mph (my speedo only reads to 160). Sometimes I was hitting my rev limiter in 4th with a wide ratio top loader transmission with 133 rears.

    Have no idea how fast I was going because I glanced at the speedo a second after I took my foot off the gas peddle and was moving my foot to the brake peddle to start braking for the next corner. The car was vibrating so bad at top speed that the road became blurry (I guess the muscles in my eyes couldn't keep up with the vibrations), so I never looked at the speedo on most laps and concentrated on trying to focus on the approaching corner. As soon as I got off the throttle my vision of the road immediately cleared up. The instructor also stated that the car was too fast. At first I had thought that was a compliment, but then realized he meant I was driving the car past it's limits. The 4-piston Willwood brakes with racing fluid couldn't keep up with the speed as I could only make about 3 circuits before my fluid boiled over and I lost partial brakes. That was real scary the first time I lost brakes. Luckily I lost the brakes on one of the much slower straights after coming off one of the long, faster straights. I anticipated it the next couple of times on the track after replacing the fluids. After the thrill wore off, I came to my senses and thought to myself, "Are you crazy? The terrible vibration was probably because the car was getting ready to fly and no brakes? What am I thinking?." The more I thought about it, the more scared I became about what might have happened. That's when I also realized why the instructor said to pull into the pits and let him out and what he meant by "the car was too fast.". I consider myself lucky that I didn't kill myself that day. Have never attempted this again. Pretty much lost my desire to drive anywhere near this fast after that.
    Last edited by Jerry Cowing; February 3rd, 2011 at 12:18 PM.
    Jer

  6. #26
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    May 2005
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    Roseville, Ca., USA.
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    523
    Great story Jerry, let me know your tire diameter, your rear end ratio, and what your rev limit was set at and I can calculate your speed.
    Rod
    Roseville, Ca.
    289 FIA #9152 "The Flintstone Cobra"

  7. #27
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    Jan 2003
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    Harrisburg, PA, USA.
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    Rod as I recall Jerry runs 133 rears. (Sorry Jerry - Ya missed a typo.)

    -Geary

    Another image or two for ya'll

    -Loading problem & fighting to save it
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    Last edited by Aggressor; February 3rd, 2011 at 11:01 PM.

  8. #28
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    May 2005
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    Roseville, Ca., USA.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Aggressor View Post
    Rod as I recall Jerry runs 133 rears. (Sorry Jerry - Ya missed a typo.)

    -Geary
    Alrighty then, lets just use the information we have and some assumptions.
    tire size? lets say 26 1/2" diameter
    rev limit? lets use 6000
    rear end ratio? 1.33
    OK then that puts the speed at 356 MPH,
    Rod
    Roseville, Ca.
    289 FIA #9152 "The Flintstone Cobra"

  9. #29
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    Dec 2004
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    Prince Frederick, Maryland, USA.
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    Quote Originally Posted by RJacobsen View Post
    Alrighty then, lets just use the information we have and some assumptions.
    tire size? lets say 26 1/2" diameter
    rev limit? lets use 6000
    rear end ratio? 1.33
    OK then that puts the speed at 356 MPH,
    Definitely feels like 356 MPH

    Kinda like the wind chill factor.
    Tony
    Unique 427 #4279480 Precision Engine Machine Company 427 s/o 483.47 stroker close ratio toploader 3.31 jag rear

  10. #30
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    May 2005
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    Roseville, Ca., USA.
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    That would explain the vibration and blurry vision
    we could call it the Cobra factor
    Rod
    Roseville, Ca.
    289 FIA #9152 "The Flintstone Cobra"

  11. #31
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    Dec 2004
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    Prince Frederick, Maryland, USA.
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    That's it Rod.
    The "Cobra factor"
    Tony
    Unique 427 #4279480 Precision Engine Machine Company 427 s/o 483.47 stroker close ratio toploader 3.31 jag rear

  12. #32
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
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    Niceville, FL, USA.
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    Quote Originally Posted by RJacobsen View Post
    Alrighty then, lets just use the information we have and some assumptions.
    tire size? lets say 26 1/2" diameter
    rev limit? lets use 6000
    rear end ratio? 1.33
    OK then that puts the speed at 356 MPH,
    Rod,
    You were close. According to my calculations at 6000 RPM the speed would have been 154 mph. I have a 6500 rev limiter and this calculation would have been 167 mph.

    Anyway you look at it, both of these speeds are too fast for a Unique running Goodyears. I had them squeeling on all the corners and could feel the tires fold over on the wheels and settle in each time I entered a curve. After reading Alan's thread about his tire coming off the wheel and flipping his car, I count my blessings even more that I didn't crash that day.
    Jer

  13. #33
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    Nov 2003
    Location
    Cincy, OH, USA.
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    376
    Hey guys my OH $hit story was at Mid Ohio on the back straight I'm not sure of the speed around 140? The car lifted off the ground and made an immediate stage left. Let off the throttle and was able to gain control to manuver the next right turn. I would reccommend a front spoiler to keep the air from the underneath.
    Scott
    4279454
    SA 428
    3:54

  14. #34
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    Nov 2003
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    Mississippi Gulf Coast and Central Florida
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    2,153

    Exclamation

    Quote Originally Posted by RJacobsen View Post
    That would explain the vibration and blurry vision

    And why the instructor wanted out... Yeehaw!!!
    Paul

    289 USRRC
    1964 289 5-bolt block
    Toploader and 3.31 rear

  15. #35
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    birmingham, alabama, USA.
    Posts
    47

    Wink rear end

    I think Jerry means he has a 3.31 rear end ....
    dickieboy7
    Unique 289FIA-Green
    351C-4V cobra jet
    Toploader
    did it myself..and fix it

  16. #36
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Niceville, FL, USA.
    Posts
    137
    Quote Originally Posted by rldunn7 View Post
    I think Jerry means he has a 3.31 rear end ....
    Yup, transposed a couple of numbers. Minor mistake. The 1.33 rears meant I would have gone 384 mph at 6000 RPM, so I guess 3.31 rears is a little closer. What's a few numbers amongst friends? Flying for the Air Force, I used to travel at twice that speed when I went supersonic (650 Knots+). A little different sensation however breaking the sound barrier and not touching the ground or worrying about whether the tires can take the speed.
    Last edited by Jerry Cowing; February 7th, 2011 at 04:24 PM.
    Jer

  17. #37
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    Jan 2003
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    Harrisburg, PA, USA.
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    Let's see now ...... so with a 12,000 rpm FE and proper tires ....hmmmmm!!!!!!
    Attached Images Attached Images  
    Last edited by Aggressor; February 7th, 2011 at 08:46 PM.

  18. #38
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    Jan 2003
    Location
    Shepherdsville, KY, USA.
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    Question Rear Ends

    Since we are correcting:

    Never have seen a 3:31 rear end

    Maybe it's a 3:31 Differential!!!!!!
    Rick
    427 S/C , 427 Side-oiler, 4 Speed Close Ratio Top Loader, 3:73 Gear
    #4279405

  19. #39
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    Dec 2004
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    Prince Frederick, Maryland, USA.
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    Here is a rear end
    Tony
    Unique 427 #4279480 Precision Engine Machine Company 427 s/o 483.47 stroker close ratio toploader 3.31 jag rear

  20. #40
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
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    Harrisburg, PA, USA.
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    Good call Tony. You know one when you see one.

    I think I know her ...she owes me money as I recollect.
    Last edited by Aggressor; February 8th, 2011 at 08:24 PM.

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