Date:         Tue, 12 Dec 1995 14:27:29 -0800
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         eugp@uclink3.berkeley.edu (Eugene C. Palmer)
Subject:      Speed

Freaks,

Tailing a truck down a hill through the southwest in a '71 bus I hit 90 (in
gear).  This was a stock engine with the exception of an 009 distributor
running at 9 degrees BTDC.

In my '63 bus with an 1835 motor with dual carbs etc., I could cruise at
80-85.  I burned these heads up pretty quickly (this case is now The Old War
Horse, still running).  The speedo was undoubtably off though, so figure
75-80, 85 peaks.  This transaxle had early reduction gears (for 15" wheels),
with 14 inch wheels and tires on the car so revs were higher than stock.
Very high that is.

My buses all have or had; tight steering, gas shocks, heavy-duty anti-sway
bars (5/8") front & rear, good tires, pressure checked.

My '71 with a 1600 single port engine with dual carbs held a steady 70
across Arizona, New Mexico.  #3 exhaust guide failed about 5000 miles later.

Eug,
smushed '71