18-10-2018, 04:13 PM
(17-10-2018, 06:45 PM)GK5268 Wrote: I have a GPS speedo in my Mk I Ruby, so the mph is much more accurate than the speedometer, on my car, the speedo under-reads slightly as speed progresses, at about 40mph it is about right, then above this it over-reads (I have a magmo speedo).Just saw you going up the hill on the A259 in Newhaven, looked good to me, only a little queue behind you.
On a level "A" road, 45mph cruising is relaxing, I have gone over 50mph (it creeps up) and the fastest was just a tad over 55mph, I did this speed for just a few seconds (on several occasions), I was not confident at going faster, even though the pedal still had travel. I have hydraulic brakes and the twin front damper set-up, so I am confident that the car will stop.
On hills, particularly in 30mph & 40mph speed limits, the slowing speeds from the climb (South Downs) dictates changing down from top into third (then back up, then realising it is going to happen, back down again) I seem to be doing about 30mph in third, engine is revving hard, but changing into top, the revs drop back and the engine starts to labour, so back into third, there is not a happy medium between third & top on some hills if decent progress is to be maintained.
On level surfaces, I change up from third at around 24mph, I can leave the gear lever in top when easing off the throttle to around 18mph, I can increase the gas, or change down into third depending on what the road is doing (this happens in city traffic).
Third gear is quite flexible, but hill climbing at speed it is really too low. I rarely use first gear, but it does have a lovely whine!
My car has a fully-rebuilt two-bearing engine (John Barlow crank), with a late Ruby HC head, 1" SU OM-type carburettor and flatter tappet blocks (this made a noticeable difference in performance going up hills), standard gearbox & axle. Engine still running in, I have been using the car as a daily driver over the past couple of months and have done a number of return journeys of 60 to 80 miles as well as shorter return journeys of 15 to 30 miles, I prefer to walk or ride my bike for local trips.
