158 and all that

[JHertzman@xxxxxxx]

In AD7-462 Ken Stevenson of Dallas wrote: 

>>'Nardo is probably valid with his 158 MPH claim.

I can live with that.

>>Comparing Texas to Bonneville is hard to do.

Oh, indeed!!!

>>The salt creates a lot of extra rolling resistance. The salt lake surface
probably has more rolling resistance the road surface salted with a few
crushed tumbleweeds.

Hadn't thought of the rough salt, good point.

Then in AD7-463 B i l l  H a r k e l l  added:  

>> Been there seen that, but only 151 mph.... he was respecting his wife
being in the back seat... :o)

Oh, yes, the Venus-timidity factor. 

But, a couple of points in 'Nardo's recent note stuck with me: 

>> The lit/articles of the day (early `90s) did indicate a 164S top speed of
155 mph.

and, 

>> BTW, my `83 GTV6 has indicated reaching 138 mph (the lit indicates 132
mph).

So I briefly chased the lit/articles of the day, pawing past my cherished
copies of LowRider and Truckin' (and others I won't mention) to reach Road &
Track. The June '90 test of the 164S had 140 (est) while the later test of the
four-cam had 150 (est). Then it dawned on me; Texas is on CST, not est. Might
be it.

Then I got sandbagged by the red cover of ARDONA's "Product Bulletin" on the
164, produced by Alfa Romeo Assistenza Tecnica, Alfa Lancia S.p.A. Public.
PA60492039 printed in Italy and perhaps reflecting Alfa Lancia's opinion
rather than just Orlando's. 

Lovely pair of horsepower & torque curves on p.33. The 164L has a nice fat hp
curve, running within about 6 hp of its peak for about 1200 rpm. The 164S
curve is damned near pointed; about a 500 rpm band for the top 5 hp, with the
apex at 5700 rpm and the curve heading down fast where it stops at about 6200
rpm. I know, that isn't necessarily where the rev limiter is, but rule-of-
thumb is to put your peak horsepower in the same ballpark as your anticipated
speed, and the rev limiter well past the last gain.

Gearing ratios are,
for the L, 18/56 axle, 1:0.916 fifth, 1:2.849 overall, Vehicle speed per 1000
rpm 25.62 mph. 

for the S, 17/58 axle, 1:0.916 fifth, 1:3.125 overall, Vehicle speed per 1000
rpm 23.03 mph. 

The 23.03 mph/1000 rpm of the S, with its indicated 5700 rpm apex, would look
like 131 mph - IF Alfa Lancia's figures were correct. Goosing on up to the end
of their chart, with the power falling rapidly, would produce 142 mph. About
where Road & Track had it.

Just to keep things in perspective, the top speed Fusi gives for the 33
Stradale, (slippery 'looking', if not actually slippery, and with rather
modest frontal area) with 263 hp (SAE) is 161 mph, not much better than a
Texas 'S'. The Tubolare Zagato was 133. The 3.5 liter Mille Miglia 6C 3000 CM,
with 275 CV, was good for 155, and the Disco Volante 136.

Anyhow, 'Nardo is fortunate in his choice of cars, and in the roads he has to
run them on. May you all be so blessed-

John H.
Raleigh

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