Neither my iron, nor my Aluminum six would see the other side of 4,000 rpm with single barrel. The two barrel twin stick would do about 4200 on a downhill long stretch and that was it. It was like driving a uhaul with a rev limiter. You'd think downhill, but that standard shift would not let it. It sped up if I pressed the clutch pedal down. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from U.S. Cellular -----Original Message----- From: Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx> Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 12:03:10 To: <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [AMC-list] so that's why I did this!!! I don't recall what rpm I ran my "built" 196 up to, but I DO recall what it would do stock. With the original 1909 1V carb on it it would only go up to about 3800 rpm in high gear flat out. I recall that distinctly! 126 hp @ 4200 rpm, but it won't touch 4500 rpm in gear!! Might in first or second, but wouldn't in third on a level. Would run just a couple hundred more on a slight downgrade, drop a couple hundred on a slight upgrade. Raced a friend in his old Vega out in Idaho on a back road that was straight and level. I could get right behind him and could have pushed him in the draft, but if I pulled out to go around I couldn't! That was with stock exhaust and ignition. I later put the 2V on but didn't see what it would do like that. You'd think I would remember what rpm the later engine ran, but I don't. I'm sure it would turn 4000+, it was similar to what Tom has except for the Pertronix (standard points, hotter coil). I guess I remember that first time running it hard because I was a bit surprised it wouldn't run anywhere near the peak hp rating... ----------- Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 19:25:47 -0700 From: tom jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx> These were just upshift speeds, not sustained; peak then throttle up and shift. Funny, the thing that limits high upshift speeds in a practical sense is the T-96, the synchros basically suck. They are more like "suggestions" that the gears mesh, please. The "old" engine (same one before work-over) ran to 3000 OK, but it wasn't that happy doing so. Same ignition for now (Pertronix and epoxy coil) but good carb and much improved exhaust, but I think the new valve springs are the reason it didn't break up and grumble. I don't know what would limit practical maximum RPM for this motor. The TSM specs it as 138hp@4500, so we've been calling that "maximum". Valve float? The springs are pretty weak! Would valve float let a pushrod drop out? They're like foot long soda straws. Weird torsional vibration? Would anything like that happen to any modern-ish six below 6000+? I plan on not finding any of these things out, just thinking out loud. My budget isn't big enough to ask such questions. I am curious though. -- Frank Swygert Publisher, "American Motors Cars" Magazine (AMC) For all AMC enthusiasts http://www.amc-mag.com (free download available!) _______________________________________________ AMC-list mailing list AMC-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com _______________________________________________ AMC-list mailing list AMC-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com