Safe Speed for Flat Windshield
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 47
From: Lancaster county, PA
I totally agree with the hood flying up statement! That's a big issue in my opinion ,I have taken my 56 for the old time drags and I drilled a hole in the hood latch and hood so I can bolt the hood down when I run down the track
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 19
From: Austin
Hey RS,
Hmmm... We've got a '50 F1 with 400hp. I wouldn't dream of
going 130mph. Above 70mph it starts to make all kinds of interesting fatal sounding noises - no thanks - We happily cruise at 65mph. How well do your doors latch? My passenger door will open itself whenever it wants.
You Illinois guys walk on the wild side. Post some pics of your truck I'd like to see it.
Ben in Austin
1950 F1
Hmmm... We've got a '50 F1 with 400hp. I wouldn't dream of
going 130mph. Above 70mph it starts to make all kinds of interesting fatal sounding noises - no thanks - We happily cruise at 65mph. How well do your doors latch? My passenger door will open itself whenever it wants.
You Illinois guys walk on the wild side. Post some pics of your truck I'd like to see it.
Ben in Austin
1950 F1
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
I found a formula for top speed based on these two figures and HP (assuming you can match peak engine HP with desired top speed-which I can with the 5-speed). I used Cd of 0.58 and a Frontal area of 30 (worse than the jeep). Results: Top speed 143MPH
The formula is (53.26) X The cube root of (HP/ (Cd x A) If any of you have some more or better information or data, I am all ears. Bob
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
The downfall of you calculation is it is theoretical maximum speed given an infinite distance for acceleration. Unless you plan on running the long course at Bonneville, it is unlikely you will ever approach the max theoretical speed in the real world since the rate of acceleration drops off exponentially.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 19
From: Austin
Hi Bob,
These are really old trucks - I know how mine is put together -
the best we could do but definitely not ISO-9001 certified.
Our F1 speed expert is Arrowheadfred from down in Florida.
Here are a couple of links - I think there is a video of his 110mph somewhere too (He was crazy enough to video the speedometer).
His name is Dale not Fred.
Ben in Austin
1950 F1
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-gauges-2.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...at-a-ride.html
These are really old trucks - I know how mine is put together -
the best we could do but definitely not ISO-9001 certified.
Our F1 speed expert is Arrowheadfred from down in Florida.
Here are a couple of links - I think there is a video of his 110mph somewhere too (He was crazy enough to video the speedometer).
His name is Dale not Fred.
Ben in Austin
1950 F1
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-gauges-2.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...at-a-ride.html
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
The downfall of you calculation is it is theoretical maximum speed given an infinite distance for acceleration. Unless you plan on running the long course at Bonneville, it is unlikely you will ever approach the max theoretical speed in the real world since the rate of acceleration drops off exponentially.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,288
Likes: 1,053
From: NM
You're actually not on the conservative side with your numbers. The only sources I could find for Cd listed ('80's - '90's) pickups at "0.6+ "... with west coast mirrors it adds around 0.10. Using a trapezoidal shape for area, 5' wide at the roof and 6 ft wide at the RB's, using 6 ft for height, gives 33 sf. With all the discontinuities along the body I could believe a Cd as high as 0.8. Having the break between front and rear fenders is almost like doubling up. The vertical windshield is a killer.
If you want to try a different approach, a stock F-1 on flat ground and no headwind, with around 75 -80 SAE Net HP topped out around 80 mph. You can probably back into a (Cd x A) value from that.
If you want to try a different approach, a stock F-1 on flat ground and no headwind, with around 75 -80 SAE Net HP topped out around 80 mph. You can probably back into a (Cd x A) value from that.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 7
From: Moyie, BC Canada
I remember him and the truck, it was the first thing I thought of when I read this thread.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
A 49 F1 with Boss 5.0 mod motor owned/driven by Stan Fox's CART crew chief Don Basala went 95.008 MPH at 2012 ECTA Willmington, OH standing mile. Top speed on a public hiway doesn't impress me (only as a idiot). Show me a timing slip from Willmington or Bonneville.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
You're actually not on the conservative side with your numbers. The only sources I could find for Cd listed ('80's - '90's) pickups at "0.6+ "... with west coast mirrors it adds around 0.10. Using a trapezoidal shape for area, 5' wide at the roof and 6 ft wide at the RB's, using 6 ft for height, gives 33 sf. With all the discontinuities along the body I could believe a Cd as high as 0.8. Having the break between front and rear fenders is almost like doubling up. The vertical windshield is a killer.
If you want to try a different approach, a stock F-1 on flat ground and no headwind, with around 75 -80 SAE Net HP topped out around 80 mph. You can probably back into a (Cd x A) value from that.
If you want to try a different approach, a stock F-1 on flat ground and no headwind, with around 75 -80 SAE Net HP topped out around 80 mph. You can probably back into a (Cd x A) value from that.