Will they decrease the speed on the speedometers again? (sports car, Corvette, engine)

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz

It was a dismal time, not only were they detuned of power but they also got heavier due to new government regs and then the EPA stepped in and they were fittied with EGR valves, cat converters and such. And they were detuned because the EPA made the gas companies take out the lead, plus insurance companies started jacking up the rates on muscle cars.

I be honest: I am soooo glad that leaded gasoline is illegal......it should have been banned in 1980, not ca. 1996.

Why I say that is lead in the air is a poison and its effects are now becoming readily apparent as in damaged children exposed to it vs. the younger kids (born since 1985) who seem significantly 'calmer'.

Too; lead levels per ounce were being lowered in fuel even back in the 'leaded gas' days starting ca. 1971.

[NWPAguy]

Originally Posted by Mopac1980

I believe it was until later when they've had the 85MPH display, I've seen a 1993 Suburban that had the 85mph display just the other day.

I have a 1994 Mercury Sable with an 85mph speedometer (55 is highlighted, of course) and I think the 1995 models had 85 mph speedometers as well.

[S6Sputnik]

Originally Posted by NWPAguy

Cars should have speedometers which go to at least 100 mph, and 120 is a better number.

Mine is at 180mph and I have seen it at 145mph got out of a ticket for 115mph but that was in Michigan so it does not count.

Most cars with 150hp or more are good for 125-135 ungovorned. My 1991 Audi stationwagon with 220hp would top out at 150mph from the factory (they came with V rated tires) and a $500 chip would lift it into the 165mph range. Speed is relative to the things moving around you!

[Mopac1980]

I once seen a 1995 Chevy full size Van for sale and the speedometer only went up to 85mph.

[Tennesseestorm]

Originally Posted by HighPlainsDrifter73

I believe you're right Mopac. I have a 1976 Cadillac with a 100 speedo. Also a 1981 Camaro Z28 and 1979 Corvette with an 85. I can't count how many times I buried all of those speedometers. Imagine a Corvette with an 85 speedo. Utterly ridiculous.

I might be wrong, but I think some GM cars dropped to 100 mph speedometers in 1974.... at least the ones that got a redesigned instrument panel that year. Chevrolet and Pontiac kept the 120 mph in '74, but dropped in '75 to 100 mph. Cadillac, Oldsmobile and I think Buick dropped to 100 mph in '74, as all of those got a new instrument cluster style in '74, but I could be wrong about the Buick. I saw a fuzzy photo of the dash of a '74 Buick, but may have a 120 mph speedo.

I will have to do some research to be sure though...

here is a '74 Cadillac...
http://i.ebayimg.com/19/!BQ2HyGQ!2k~$(KGrHgoH-EEEjlLlyOEvBJ6+J!BEEw~~_12.JPG (broken link)

here is a '74 Oldsmobile... also a 100 mph speedometer...
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=63275 &g2_serialNumber=2 (broken link)
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=63321 &g2_serialNumber=2 (broken link)

[Fleet]

The 100 mph speedometers aren't too bad, but the 85 mph ones are just plain ridiculous!
The 120 mph speedos, I think, are the best compromise. With a 150 mph one, there are too many unused numbers (90-150) and most used (0-80 mph) are crowded.

[steel7]

Its not worth it to go over the speed limit. My 85 olds maxes at 85 mph & i dont plan to go over 70 mph. I cant take the chance of getting caught & paying a hefty fine,etc.

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by Mopac1980

Will they ever decrease the speed on the speedometers again like they did back in the 1970s?

I know for awhile in the mid to late 1970s the top speed for the speedometers was 100mph and towards the end of the 1970s the top speed of the speedometers was either 80 or 85mph, will we ever have to go through those days again?

This person was telling me that it seems that the speedometer cables on newer cars are improperly adjusted. They seem to be going 10 miles a hour slower than the posted speed. So the clearest answer she could see is that the new cars' speedomer cable were wrong.

[AlfredB1979]

I doubt it.

Technology has come a long way from where alleged MPG increases only came from neutering engines to where 1980 model Ford 4.2L v8 engines in Mustangs were good for about 105 horsepower.

It's come a long way from my 94 Ranger and its 85 MPH speedometer, but even with 100 MPH in my 03 F150, the speed limiter knocks it out at about 93 MPH...haven't tested it, though, but the truck gets 23 MPGs doing 70 while only turning 2200 RPMs...

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz

My old 76 Cutlass had a 110 mph speedo, but every 77 Cutlass I ever saw all had 85 mph speedos.

My old 75 Nova also had a 120 mph speedo, but in 77 they changed to an 85 mph speedo.



Ha-ha-ha! You're telling me.

I've been tuning my turbo Buick and have pegged it out several times, the fastest being 122 mph. The only way I know is because of the scan tool I have tied into the ECM.

But if it was Regan that got it lifted, how soon afterward did it happen? because I know my car (1987) model has the 85 mph speedo with the 55 highlighted in yellow, and I think I've seen came across a few later model cars that also had it....and Regan stepped out of office in early '89.

My 77 Camaro has a 130mph speedo. The Ford Ranger I had owned many years ago had one of the 85 speedos, I managed to get that thing fast enough on the highway that the speedo was bouncing at the peg.