Disabling the Governor
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 3
From: Centerville, Iowa
Also, unless you've done modifications to your driveshaft, disabling it might not be a good idea. Usually the governor is placed with a 10-15% safety margin from the point where the driveshaft begins to warp dangerously. When you're driving down the road, your driveshaft is no longer straight. It takes on a arced shape..and as speed increases this curving increases. Unless you've got out for an Aluminum (or Ceramic Metal Matrix [CMX] if you're serious) then you don't want to push your limits with the driveshaft.
Alot of people on my old Cougar forum always wanted to do this, and they didn't realize that their fuel tank WRAPPED AROUND the driveshaft - making things all the more complicated.
What's the limiter at in these trucks with the various engines? Plus..its a truck...
Alot of people on my old Cougar forum always wanted to do this, and they didn't realize that their fuel tank WRAPPED AROUND the driveshaft - making things all the more complicated.
What's the limiter at in these trucks with the various engines? Plus..its a truck...
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
I have never ever heard that before, and it doesn't seem to make much sense to me, so I don't know about that one........but
You should be much more concerned with your tires speed rating than a driveshaft at high speeds.
The speed limiter is around 93-95, all the trucks are the same.
You should be much more concerned with your tires speed rating than a driveshaft at high speeds.
The speed limiter is around 93-95, all the trucks are the same.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 3
From: Centerville, Iowa
Reason that everybody loved to pull MN-12 parts from the Mark VIII's to drop on their Cougar/Thunderbirds. Driveshaft, Transmission, Engine, Rear End, etc all better on the Mark VIII.
The effects I'm talking about would be worse on a long box vehicle, probably. As you accelerate, the driveshaft spins faster and faster. The longer it is, the more prone to 'wrapping' it becomes. Unless you have a perfectly balanced driveshaft (which you have to go to a shop to get basically) you'll have your driveshaft warping under speed. It's not noticable untill you're getting higher up in speed. It's caused by the weight of the driveshaft being thrown outward as it spins. As you increase the rate of its spin, this becomes worse and worse. Possibly these trucks don't suffer from this problem, but I'd expect them to have heavier duty driveshafts then a simple cougar, which means more weight...
I forgot all my physics terms..I'm a Biology person so I couldn't give you teh exact terminology.
The effects I'm talking about would be worse on a long box vehicle, probably. As you accelerate, the driveshaft spins faster and faster. The longer it is, the more prone to 'wrapping' it becomes. Unless you have a perfectly balanced driveshaft (which you have to go to a shop to get basically) you'll have your driveshaft warping under speed. It's not noticable untill you're getting higher up in speed. It's caused by the weight of the driveshaft being thrown outward as it spins. As you increase the rate of its spin, this becomes worse and worse. Possibly these trucks don't suffer from this problem, but I'd expect them to have heavier duty driveshafts then a simple cougar, which means more weight...
I forgot all my physics terms..I'm a Biology person so I couldn't give you teh exact terminology.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Well, I have a manual tranny, may not be the same, but my speed was limited by the max engine rpm of 5500, had nothing to do with anything else I don't think. My Jet Performance chip bumped up the limiter to 6000, so if that's what you want, then a chip will do it, but i wish i could bring mine back down, I find after 5500, the 302 has absolutely NO power, as the curve drops off drastically, and it will actually slow me down if I don't shift before it. But all these guys raise good points, at over 110 mph, the truck is certainly not made for that, the tires included.
Good Luck.
P.S. Stay away from me on the road if you travel at these speeds! lol
Good Luck.
P.S. Stay away from me on the road if you travel at these speeds! lol
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 649
Likes: 0
From: Covington, Tn
That drive shaft thing ( kinda smells to me ) has nothing to do with our trucks. Unless you have bent the thing its balanced from the factory. Your computer is what is limiting your speed. Top speed is like they said 95 -99, and 5500 is top RPM. If you dont belive this run out first gear to 5600 and see if it doesnt shut of the Ign. system.
The reason they did this is because of the factory installed tires. I say if you've upgraded the tires and feel comfortable with speed ( only in the right place , not on the streets ) go for the chip !
The reason they did this is because of the factory installed tires. I say if you've upgraded the tires and feel comfortable with speed ( only in the right place , not on the streets ) go for the chip !
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Any rev limiter will not limit your vehicle top speed. Your motor will never spin 5500 in 4th gear at 90+ mph. It doesn't have the torque to reach those RPMs at that speed. Even a viper can't do that (obv gear ratios and RPM are different). Also, to raise your rev limiter on a stock motor (or one that hasn't been modified to take more revs) will blow it up shortly. A piston through the block or through the hood is not fun.
Your driveshaft theory seems logical, but you'd feel heavy vibrations if that condition were true. I have driven many vehicles over 100 MPH and none of them have dropped a driveshaft, including cougars and T-birds. If the balancing is incorrect, you'll feel it at hwy speeds too (vibration). Now it might not vibrate at 65-70...and vibrate at 120, but if the vehicle is vibrating at those speeds....I'm gonna say get off the gas. lol.
Your driveshaft theory seems logical, but you'd feel heavy vibrations if that condition were true. I have driven many vehicles over 100 MPH and none of them have dropped a driveshaft, including cougars and T-birds. If the balancing is incorrect, you'll feel it at hwy speeds too (vibration). Now it might not vibrate at 65-70...and vibrate at 120, but if the vehicle is vibrating at those speeds....I'm gonna say get off the gas. lol.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 649
Likes: 0
From: Covington, Tn
Ohhhh that stinks too ! Those 5.0 fords cant take all you can throw at them and come back for more as long as they have oil. The limiter is there because of law suits ans tires! Thats it ! Nothing else! Same with the Buick GN, Corvette and the Ford Lighting. TIRES YALL! Law Suits!
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