The Big 2.7L "Monster"

Hey, I got a 2332 -- does that count??

 

Tom, can't wait to catch up w/ you.  Likely, even w/ a 2332, I will have trouble catching up w/ your Speedster.  Whoo-hoo, will be fun tryin' . . .

Kelly, anything is possible so I look forward to all the different cars in the group.

Keep in mind the pilot is a huge element and while Rich can make it fly, I am new to this car and it's "habits" especially that first gear. Ha, ha...

Tom, you can let Danny show you how 1st gear works 

Danny--it started out to be 2056 but Jake wanted it to have a bit more grunt so he added a small stroker crank 0f 74mm to enhance the down low power and increase the torque which created a 2143 engine when coupled to the 96 mm bore.

 

It does go---not like your monster rocket ship, but it does go!

The big feel difference on Jack's car is when you put your foot into it at 70 and it takes off. Lots of head room.

> On Mar 25, 2015, at 2:23 PM, SpeedsterOwners.com <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

Yes Jack, it does go, quite well. 2143, I'll try to remember that. Remember letting me drive it?

 

Rich, sorry about that, you weren't prepared......

 

And at the top of page 2, El Frazoo is NO slouch when it comes to speed, he'll keep up just fine. 

If torque is addictive (and I assure you it is), then speed is exhilarating.

 

And yes, having some headroom at 70 mph is very useful.  The range between 70 and 90 is always available.  Above 90?  Gonna need 50 extra pounds (or more) in the trunk.

I've been told Spyders start to lift the front end above 100. Not true, for me. 125 was enough for me though. Still pulling strong. Ask Cory, he was there.

I never kept anything in my front boot.  Both of my spyders got front end light above 100.  If (when) I build another spyder it will have a radiator in the front.  Hopefully that will help problem.  These cars are so light that even a little bit more weight may make a diiference.  I'm 170 lbs.  A 200 lb person, an extra passenger or even some tools or radiator in the front boot I think could make a difference. IMHO.

I've gone 110-115 before a bunch of times solo. Maybe it's my ride height/stance/alignment but it's never been a problem.

90 was my top speed. The car definitely wanted to do much more and it was very stable  but I just didn't want to do more.

 

I'm so through thinking I'm gonna live forever. I have had too many chances to check out---like 4 missed approaches at Charlotte in almost zero zero wx. And some others.

 

Easy peasy from here on out for me. 

Perhaps all those missed chances to pass into the afterlife means you ARE going to stay here a while longer than you think. 

 

My family thinks I'm a cat, but that can't be right because I've used up WAY more than my 9-fold quota on lives. After my latest Joey Chitwood impersonation last year, my wife decided that perhaps the safest place to be was right beside me, since I appear to be indestructible. I'm not sure about all that-- I'm pretty certain I've got a sell-by date just like everybody else. Mine just hasn't come up yet, for some inexplicable reason.

 

Like Jack, my car is rock solid at 90, but empty it gets pretty light in the front over 110. It tracks much nicer loaded for a trip with tools and spares. I can't really lower it more and still be street-worthy, so I'll probably put in some more caster when I get the chance. some sort of air-dam would be ideal, if it didn't look stupid (and it would). Honestly, the car is not all that much fun over the ton: but it says "speedster" on the side, so I guess I'd like to know I'm not guilty of false advertising.

 

My perspective is changing, though. I've got good insurance and the desire to let the company win. 

Speaking of speed:

I'd rather be doing 55mph through the tight twisties than 100mph on Hwy 80...

Me too. Got none. Can I use yours?

We'll leave the light on, Stan.

Gentlemen,

I need a little help, here.  In the past I have been successful at 137 on a Boxster 2.7L; 128+ on a Volvo S60R (big turbo).  While the S60R is a heavy AWD car the Boxster had no problem handling at 137.

Are you guys saying the 2.7L Monster in Rich's car will not handle safely at 100+?

I only top 74+ on my old Speedie with 1776 cc, but felt it had more to go.  That was on a VW pan and it did feel a bit loose at that speed.

Rich, you ever take your Monster past 100 mph?  In a race track of course.

The only correct answer to that question is: it depends.  The others here can tell you quite well upon what.

Tom, I think I mentioned to you during our test ride that I didn't drive much above 80 and that was with the earlier smaller engine. I'm sure the car is capable of much more, but above those speeds (for me at least), it becomes an intestinal fortitude issue. You can test it out and let me know 

 ... but of course...

 

What kind of Cretan would drive that fast on a (gasp) public road!?!?

 

At 70, you still have 2,000 or more RPM's To explore.

 

Since a picture is worth a thousand words...

 

Think we looked at these physical principles before. Our cars will inherently have more lift than modern cars since they have no ground effects. Something that is flat on the bottom and round on the top will always generate lift. Air moving slower on the bottom than on the top will cause lift of that object. Like a wing. Bernoulli's principle.

I would think that a small, discrete air dam up front would do wonders for the lift problem.

A small, discreet air dam...

Um...  oh.

 

Seriously, you could do a 1"-2" lip of hard black rubber several inches back from the front of the car so it would be nearly invisible like most cars have now.  I would be it wouldn't be noticeable unless you looked closely.

Oh boy. You see kids, once it's out on the internet, you can't take it back!

 

FYI, that second video I shift into 4th at 90-95(3.44 R & P), just sayin'.

Yes, a front spoiler will create a different airflow underneath and lower the pressure there, defeating, to some degree, the tendency for the car to lift at speed.  Would be very effective on a Speedster, I believe, but most folks don't like the look, and of course there is the problem of street-ability.  Cars are already low, and the spoiler would just as easily end up snagged on a curb, driveway, or other object in the road.  If done, I would go w/ fiberglass or plastic, vs. the bricks Rich suggests.

Well, if Ron can get his car on the road one of these years, he can tell us how well is air dam works. Remember, he mounted his oil coolers up front and fabricated the air dam which looks a lot like a chin spoiler.

I think my builder must be related to the owner of SAS.

We're into the last stage-instead of trying to get the fuel injector computer to 'talk' to the crank fired computer (it wasn't happening) my mechanic installed a second sensor in the other throttle body.

Mine will have a front mounted oil cooler, but no chin spoiler.  Instead, it will have a small scoop to force the air up into the cooler, which is mounted horizontally.