Some fun info regarding top speed

[Masterd]

I was just messing around with a top speed calculator, and thought I'd share my findings.

Assuming we're using a stock A4LD, 225/70/15 tires, and a 4900 rpm redline, the theoretical top speeds for the popular rear end gears are:

3.08 = 172 mph

3.27 = 162 mph

3.55 = 149 mph

3.73 = 142 mph

4.10 = 129 mph

You can bump each of those a bit if your engine redlines higher...my manual says 4900, but Ive seen some go to 5500 before fuel cutoff..

Now, all the need to get there is one of these.

 

[Spdrcer34]

Try this:

Remove the stock speed governors.

Take your 2 ton Explorer with the aerodynamics of a Special-Ed Bus, At stock height, with 28.75" tires, pushed by 160hp......and see if you can go over 129.....with ANY gear ratio.

Ryan

 

[Masterd]

Yeah I didnt want to do the equation to see how much power you'd need to do the 172mph that the 3.08 combo could get you, as Im not a rocket scientist, but I'm assuming at least 550 hp or so?

That being said 160 hp can take mine to at least 105 mph, according to my GPS. I wanted to go further to see if there was a speed limiter anywhere, but thought better of it, there wasnt too much left in it though.

 

[SuRrEaLNJ]

i thought top speed on these things was governed at maximum velocity obtained before something falls off.... wouldnt think horse power or governers would enter the equation...

atleast not on mine

 

[Potomac30]

105 mph in my 1993 Explorer would probably put me in the nervous hospital.

 

[shmiggy]

cant tell ya how fast, but i had her at the OD, on the gear indicator.

 

[Masterd]

cant tell ya how fast, but i had her at the OD, on the gear indicator.

Probably 100 ish

 

[arco777]

Bone stock (3.27s), mine has done 110 according to my GPS.

Cool piece of info Masterd, thanks for posting

 

[Masterd]

Howd it feel at 110?

 

[arco777]

Feels great

The Explorer's the most fun car I have ever driven. Hard to explain, but for example I'd feel better on an autocross track with the X than with my Camaro

I think part of it is that the X is a well balanced vehicle; you don't have more power than you can control and it has the right amount of weight in the right places. Whether I am going fast, powersliding in dirt/gravel, or hard cornering on dry asphalt, it doesn't let go unless I want it to. I feel really connected to it when driving, whereas most other vehicles I feel somewhat distant. I imagine if I had a true performance vehicle like a Cobra R or Ford GT or some Italian rides, the feeling might be similar. They're a little out of my price range though. With tuning I might be able to get some of that performance with my Camaro but I'd never have the reliability of the X.

 

[RedneckRambo]

ive had my 94 up to where the needle hits the bottom of the speedo and was only runnin about 3500 rms in 5th gear but i got the m5od tranny too

 

[Masterd]

Thats where the 3.08's shine...assuming my A4LD has all the gears working , with the speedo buried, it used to only turn 3,000 rpms. Now that she lost 4th gear though, with the speedo buried it likes to run at about 4500 rpms.

 

[damnford]

you can't outrun those red and blue lights.