Range at altitude

[Scooby24]

I'm quite familiar with Methanol and Nitro methane. I worked at a speed shop in the 60's. High point was with Don Garletts and Swamp Rat II at the 68 winter nationals. He actually said it was make or break in the final round and mixed 70% nitro. Top came off the 426 hemi.

oof, turned it up to 11.

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[Fixbear]

oof, turned it up to 11.

The previous round he blew up the differential. Scatter shield protected the family jewels to a point, but he wasn't walking so well. It was amazing how all the competitors helped each other between rounds and how much could be changed out in such short time. Racing has brought a lot of knowledge to the car industry.

 

[Mach1E]

I had a 83 T Bird Turbo coupe. 2.3 liter 5 speed that had 19 pounds of boost and a waste gate. On trips to RI monthly, I got 29 MPG on a nice day and 42 when it was raining. So apparently the moisture had a factor in the efficiency.

You believe that you went from 29 mpg to 42 mpg because it was raining?

Sorry, but that’s impossible.

If anything you get worse fuel economy in the rain due to increased rolling resistance.

42 mpg in an 83 tbird seems impossible at any speed (rain or not). I bet it was fun with all that boost though!

It was rated at 17 mpg city, 24 hwy by todays standards. The extra boost may have helped you some, but 42 seems unattainable.
https://eightiescars.com/2017/11/20...conomy ratings for the,the early to mid-1980s.

 

[Fixbear]

You believe that you went from 29 mpg to 42 mpg because it was raining?

Sorry, but that’s impossible.

If anything you get worse fuel economy in the rain due to increased rolling resistance.

42 mpg in an 83 tbird seems impossible at any speed (rain or not). I bet it was fun with all that boost though!

It was rated at 17 mpg city, 24 hwy by todays standards. The extra boost may have helped you some, but 42 seems unattainable.
https://eightiescars.com/2017/11/20/1983-ford-thunderbird-turbo-coupe/#:~:text=Fuel economy ratings for the,the early to mid-1980s.

I can only tell you what I experienced. Gas was relatively expensive then. Especially coming off the late seventies. Not like the gas wars we had in the sixties at 12.cents. I didn't believe it either at first. Mostly high 30's. But on fresh plugs and moderate rain, it was fantastic. But for 5 years I made the trip monthly and calculated the milage each tankful..

 

[Fixbear]

You believe that you went from 29 mpg to 42 mpg because it was raining?



42 mpg in an 83 tbird seems impossible at any speed (rain or not). I bet it was fun with all that boost though!

.

It would scare you when you started coming out of a curve and grab 3rd gear. The Boost would come in hard and break it loose. I had my mother take it to Springfield MA with a injection pump for repair. She was a commercial driver since she was 14. And it scared her when it did that. Of the 31 cars I've owned, That one, a Z-28 Can-Am, a 1952 XK-120, and this Mach-E are the best ones.

 

[Mach1E]

I can only tell you what I experienced. Gas was relatively expensive then. Especially coming off the late seventies. Not like the gas wars we had in the sixties at 12.cents. I didn't believe it either at first. Mostly high 30's. But on fresh plugs and moderate rain, it was fantastic. But for 5 years I made the trip monthly and calculated the milage each tankful..

Definitely had something to do with the tune (obviously an extra 9 lbs of boost will affect things).

My guess? The rain made you run lean for whatever reason. But the effect isn’t something we could replicate with other cars.

Best I can find online is that more humidity hurts economy and rain on the roads increases drag.

Would be pretty nice if somehow “drive in the rain” could give people a 25% boost in mileage!

 

[Fixbear]

Definitely had something to do with the tune (obviously an extra 9 lbs of boost will affect things).

My guess? The rain made you run lean for whatever reason. But the effect isn’t something we could replicate with other cars.

Best I can find online is that more humidity hurts economy and rain on the roads increases drag.

Would be pretty nice if somehow “drive in the rain” could give people a 25% boost in mileage!

I think it may have something to do with the air intake and sensors they used. The turbo system also changed the fuel pressure on the injection manifold. Before all the computer controls for combustion. I liked to hypermile, so yes I drafted and was light on acceleration when possible. And the trip also made me cross the highest point of I-90. And the special driver seat was made for 8 G corners. It took 15 to 20 minutes adjust to a new driver. The normal up, down, forward and back, Then hip pads, lumbar, thigh, shoulder and head to keep you in place. Fit like a glove.

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