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Speed, RPM, fun facts

To: MG Nuts <mgs@Autox.Team.Net>
Subject: Speed, RPM, fun facts
From: Skye Poier <skye@ffwd.bc.ca>
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1998 00:51:11 -0700
Until I get a timing light with a tach, I'm not really sure the tach or the
speedo are correct on my B.  For kicks, I calculated how fast you should
be going at certain r.p.m.'s...

My tires are 185/70R14s which the online tire calculater
<http://www.mgb.bc.ca/misc/tirecalc.html> gives a diameter of 24.1"
and using C=2*pi*r = 75.712" circumference.  Multiplied by the desired 
r.p.m. and by the rear axle ratio (11/43), then convert inches to miles and 
minutes to hours.  ie:

75.712 in   3000 rev   11     1 mi     60 min
--------- * -------- * -- * -------- * ------  = ~ 55 m.p.h
  1 rev       1 min    43   63360 in   1 hour

I came up with the following table (rounded to the nearest number):

rpm     mph
----    ---
2000    37
3000    55
4000    73
5000    92

This is for 4th gear where the trans ratio is 1:1
Or, simply multiply r.p.m. by about 0.0184 to get m.p.h.

Is my method sound?  

Here's some more interesting information.  My speedo has the following
written on it:  Jaeger SN 6125/04 1060

Is 1060 the turns/per/whatever?  I can only find references to 1280 and 1240
speedo's in my material.  I compared my odometer to mile markers on the I5
crusing in O/D and found my odometer to be exactly 20% fast (reports 12 mi
when I have only gone 10 etc).

If the above table is correct, my tach is way off.  I timed myself with
a watch to see what r.p.m. would get me 1 mile in 60 seconds (60 mph) and
the tach reported around 4700 r.p.m. again in O/D so either my calculations 
are wrong or I have been cruising at a much lower r.p.m. than I thought!
Which is just as well, because with my tired suspension and not quite
balanced tires I wouldn't want to go any faster for now.  I can dream about
blowing the doors off SUVs though, can't I? ;)

Math is fun.

Skye

--
1966 MGB               GHN3L-70307                __,__\__
The MGB Experience     http://www.mgb.bc.ca/     (_o____o_)

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