The 1200cc powered cars were even shorter than that, Ed; 4.375x3.80= 16.625. You're referring to the 4.125 ring & pinioned cars, and 3.88x3.78= 14.66 final drive, which is still not as long as the Porsche gears.
Ed's Nova running at 140 mph?? Kinda hard to believe. Probably not something I'd be interested in doing.
I would think that Ed's car would be more rear-biased than a Speedster as the driver sits where the VW's back seat would be. The front fenders would also act as airfoils at speed, further adding lift. A little lead added to the front would help.
" A little lead added to the front would help."
We used to hang my friend's younger brother out there. It worked, but he could have weighed a bit more...... I'm jus' sayin.......
Guys I'm not driving Bridget 140 mph. Not even 100. Sheesh.
Gordon Nichols posted:" A little lead added to the front would help."
We used to hang my friend's younger brother out there. It worked, but he could have weighed a bit more...... I'm jus' sayin.......
If you'd drilled some holes in things and the car was a little lighter in the back you could add a little weight in the front and not only would the car not weigh any more but the balance would be that much better. Jus' sayin...
Yeah, you'd probably feel better balanced at much lower speeds.
Ed, your gearbox thoughts are right on.
Gordon, I did 110 plus at the start/finish at LRP. On a parade lap........
Ed, I'd suggest a 2165 in a Spyder(78 x 94). It's lighter, and a shorter stroke revs faster, but has slightly less torque. I know all these guys jaw about thick wall 92s, but I've got 45,000 mines on my Mahle 94s, just saying. With the right heads, manifold, exhaust, and compression, pulls strong right up to 6500. Revs past that, but not making power, so why thrash it?
Cams: I really like my Webcam 86b, similar to the FK-8 ALB talks about. I have 1.5 Pauter rollers, 1.4 works too. And about .55" of lift at the valve.
I've got an FK8 and 94s. That would be a nice combination in a Spyder. 94s give you a lot, and I'd guess a Spyder cools better than a Speedster (it couldn't really be worse).
The reason I recommended what I did is because its a "better 2110" (yes, I know it's bigger), which is everybody's default engine for good reason. I've not tried it, but think it'd be perfect for a W120 and panchitos, which is a very, very sweet combo.
Everybody has an opinion. At the end of the day, you've got to choose what works for you in terms of power/longevity/price. If I was a thinking man looking for value (which is Ed's MO), this is what I'd do.
As of right now it's looking like a Carey Hines-fettled, Jake Raby-built 1915 @ an advertised 120 hp.
I was looking forward to putting an engine together but also I was kind of dreading putting an engine together. I have a lot of other things to assemble.
Great choice Mr Ed !
Yeah, you certainly can't beat a Raby built engine.
And as you said, there's LOTS of other stuff to be doing.
(Damn! Now Carley's got me double-thinking my written Grammar!) 
Wow! I stumbled down this rabbit hole and now I have a head ache. You guys are truly mad.
"You guys are truly mad."
... that's what the dormouse said . . .
Only thing madder than a SOC bunch of knuckleheads spewing "facts" about gear ratios and cylinder wall thicknesses is the Mad Hatter's Tea party. Or maybe the cigar and scotch group out on the patio at the Marriott.
"Or maybe the cigar and scotch group out on the patio at the Marriott."
It's Irish Whiskey, not scotch. C'mon Kelly, you know that by now. 
sometimes it's the Dew, and sometimes something else. Looking fwd to it . . .