Speedy Stude!

[mfg]

A 1964 Studebaker Daytona, equipped with the optional R3 engine, four speed transmission, and 3.31 rear end ratio,    was/is capable of an honest …..?….. MPH in first gear.

1) 50…..2) 55…..3) 60….or.…4) 65

[Dwight FitzSimons]

Calculating this would require stipulating the engine RPM at which we would wind up the engine.  I would pick 6200 RPM, the red-line on the tachometer.

Without actually doing the calculation I will guess 60 MPH.

--Dwight

Edited July 22 by Dwight FitzSimons

[mfg]

4 hours ago, Dwight FitzSimons said:

Calculating this would require stipulating the engine RPM at which we would wind up the engine.  I would pick 6200 RPM, the red-line on the tachometer.

Without actually doing the calculation I will guess 60 MPH.

--Dwight

Great looking R3 tach… thanks for posting!

However 60 MPH is not the answer!

[Stacey]

With that gear ratio, I think it woud be screaming at #2. 55 mph in 1st gear. 

[Nelson]

“An honest 65 miles per hour in first” It did have the optional 2.20 first gear.

Edited July 22 by Nelson

[mfg]

13 hours ago, Stacey said:

With that gear ratio, I think it woud be screaming at #2. 55 mph in 1st gear. 

Yes, that engine would be revving up quite high, however 55 MPH isn’t the answer!

[mfg]

13 hours ago, Nelson said:

“An honest 65 miles per hour in first” It did have the optional 2.20 first gear.

I don’t think I’d want to be in the car at that point… but  yes, 65 MPH is the answer!

(According to Bill Carroll’s evaluation of the #3 Bonneville prepped Studebaker Daytona.)

[Nelson]

1 hour ago, mfg said:

I don’t think I’d want to be in the car at that point… but  yes, 65 MPH is the answer!

(According to Bill Carroll’s evaluation of the #3 Bonneville prepped Studebaker Daytona.)

Actually that test was of the #1 Daytona R3 convertible. The #3 was an R4.

[mfg]

1 hour ago, Nelson said:

Actually that test was of the #1 Daytona R3 convertible. The #3 was an R4.

Got it!….. I always confuse those two remarkable automobiles.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

17 hours ago, Nelson said:

“An honest 65 miles per hour in first” It did have the optional 2.20 first gear.

Aha!  With a 2.20 first gear I can see it.

BTW, R3s (& R4s, I assume) can indeed rev beyond 7000 RPM.

--Dwight

[Nelson]

Dwight. I bet you can recall the R3/R4 break in procedure. After 750 miles(?) the engine can be taken to 7000 RPM. 

[Dwight FitzSimons]

12 hours ago, Nelson said:

Dwight. I bet you can recall the R3/R4 break-in procedure. After 750 miles(?) the engine can be taken to 7000 RPM. 

Just from memory that sounds about right.  R3/R4 engines were built precisely and with loose clearances, so I assume those facts would mean the break-in time could be shorter.  I'm not sure that I waited, though, with R3 no. B-86 back in the late 1960s.

Well. I'm off to Morgantown!

--Dwight

Edited July 24 by Dwight FitzSimons