Top speed

[brads56]

Hi to everyone, can anyone out there tell me what my t3 cu 1970cc engines cruising speed should be.
Drove down from Blackpool to Manchester on the M/way, 55mph seamed to be its top speed,is this about right.
Also on my last service they told me that it had the wrong distrinbutor in it,could this be part of the problem.

[Ian Hulley]

Our dear old friend Rich Newton (very sadly missed) had a CU with twin Dells and he was keeping up with our DJ at 70-75 along the A30 a few years back.

Ian

[rainman]

I wouldn't say that's top speed but is comfortable cruising speed, any faster on a long journey and I'd be using an awful lot of petrol and having to stop to let it cool down.

[jason k]

Like rich, I had a cu with twin dells and 85 mph was do able bit 65 to 70 was more comfortable and affordable!!!

[billy739]

check your gearbox and tyres sizes.

the dizzy / timing / vacume hoses can cause problems reducing top speed and increase fuel consumption.


once set nice the can happily do motorway speeds as stated

[BOXY]

My van is a standard CU with Solex carbs and for the first three years was running a 009 dizzie. I've driven from Devon to the Lake District & back and on the flat it's happy at 65mph, will pull to over 70mph for over-taking. I've switched to the right dizzie recently and to be honest it hasn't made any difference to the performance.

Running at 60mph helps out on the fuel consumption, and +70 is probably beyond the safe limits of the brakes & steering in a 30 year old 2 tonne brick.

[lefty67]

same as Boxy, have hit 70mph on motorway but petrol gauge began to move faster than the van. Usually stick to 50-55mph

[bigherb]

Standard CU's in fine fettle with tin tops will reach 80 quite happily once they have warmed through, given long enough they can get to close on 90 on the flat and no wind, you'll be getting around 15mpg though.
Like all aircoolers you have to push them a bit to warm them up thoroughly then will start to sing along.

[jason k]

Running at 60mph helps out on the fuel consumption, and +70 is probably beyond the safe limits of the brakes & steering in a 30 year old 2 tonne brick.

You'd be surprised! We had a GPS 144 mph out of madmatts panel van............


Well his Audi v6 bi turbod six speed 911 boxed panel van that is!!

[stupot73]

On a recent trip from Dorset to Norfolk I got a top speed of 67 downhill. Cruised at 50 - 55 on motorway. Uphill hope for 30!

[mrhutch]

You'd be surprised! We had a GPS 144 mph out of madmatts panel van............
Well his Audi v6 bi turbod six speed 911 boxed panel van that is!!

I shut my eyes and stained his seats when he took me out, never mind the GPS

[faggie]

my old cu camper van would do 85/ 90mph on a good day but i would not recomend it if you want the engine to last this had only modified stock carbs and exhaust , 60/65mph is a more relaxed speed and loads better fuel consumption , if you have not replaced the throttle plate i can guarantee it is worn and not enabling to to get full throttle , either replace or get the slack welded up in the old plate so its as good as new , you can check this out with someone flooring the throttle and checking if the carbs are fully open in the engine bay , never had the nerve to find the top speed of any of my vans, but my old van used to pull 100mph in 3rd gear but it was slightly modified from stock