I am wondering how much impact the baja body does to the top speed.

My buddy's ratrod has 1776 engine and 29" height wheels can do 95mph. However, on my 1915, same tire size, plus freeway flyer, that speed is never achievable (the tuning on my engine is not done though)

what your baja can achieve?

Your top speed is determined by how well the heads, carb(s) and cam work with your gearing.

Don't have any right now but the fasted one I had was a 1971 Baja stock 12 volt transaxle 2180 DDS cam Dual Weber IDFs 31" Michelens 120 mph.

Slowest 1600 cc 28" tires stock 12 volt gearing 80 mph

In between 1968 Baja 3 rib transaxle 1835 single Zenith 90 mph
Same 1968 Baja same 3 rib 1776 W 130 cam single 40 IDF 100 mph

I never worry about how fast my Baja can go, for me its more about off road handling and torque.

Dirtjunkie wrote:

I never worry about how fast my Baja can go, for me its more about off road handling and torque.

So true Off road a small engine and great suspension will pass a big engine with stock supension. Now great suspension and a big engine is a thing of beauty.

I have a tired 1600 w/ Zenith in my Baja with a bugeye kit (crappiest aerodynamics of all), stock '75 trans, 235 mudders. 78 mph in the dirt was fast enough for me. Catching unexpected air at 60 mph was DEFINITELY fast enough.

Kyle

the cars are too light for some crazy top speed stuff. Look at a wiffle ball


Then look at your baja...your trying to drive a wiffle ball 75mph...Sounds a little nuts don't you think?

i dont think it matters how much the car weighs.
a whiffle ball that weighs ten pounds has the same air resistance as one that weighs two ounces.
the top speed depends on how much resistance there is (air resistance, tire flex resistance, or friction in the any moving part) and how much horse power you get from the engine

but i dont have a top speed that i can give you, i dont have a bug YET

I think the wiffle ball only needs a 25 HP 1200 cc V Dub engine to go 85 mph.

My fasty with 33" tires, 1915, and 091 trans cruises at about 80. I pushed it up to 95 once to check it out, but it started feeling a little light in the front so I backed it down. So I guess its 95 for a top speed, only limited by aerodynamics though.

Try a sub 8 second ride.
www.youtube.com/watch?...r_embedded

If you ever look at a wiffle ball it moves all over the place. The VW baja is the same way lots of mass in the wrong end, lots of things sticking out in the air stream. then with the windows down it's more of how safe you feel than in how fast it will go.

I can have the wheel cliked a little over to 10 o'clock on a windy day pass and intersection and have to clock the well to 2. it's just the chang in the wind to keeping you from staying in your own lane.

Semi's passing you at 75 are loads of fun on a windy day. You can feel the airpressure push the car to the side and as the truck goes by it will suck the car back in. or the trailer will block a cross wind that your corecting for etc. etc.

If your looking for top speeds buy your self a Vett, Vipor or Veyron

Specialone70 wrote:

i dont think it matters how much the car weighs. a whiffle ball that weighs ten pounds has the same air resistance as one that weighs two ounces. the top speed depends on how much resistance there is (air resistance, tire flex resistance, or friction in the any moving part) and how much horse power you get from the engine but i dont have a top speed that i can give you, i dont have a bug YET

My 2180 with 33" tires and a 3rib with close ratio 3rd and 4th tops out around 70mph (guessing) but it gets there real quick

FLBaja wrote:

My 2180 with 33" tires and a 3rib with close ratio 3rd and 4th tops out around 70mph (guessing) but it gets there real quick

Yes they do. With 5.36 RP and 1.21 4th 70 is around 4500 rpms.

0 mph, no motor, no tranny, no axle's, no rearwheels....

It's parts move faster at this moment then the car itself.