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Fri Jan 14, 2005 4:11 am

I am thinking of putting a 36 horse engine in my 57. i was wondering what the average top speed of one is? thanks

mike

Fri Jan 14, 2005 4:42 am

If I remember right, the top speed provided by factory was 115km per hour that equals 70 miles per hour on highway (if the engine is in top condition)

Fri Jan 14, 2005 4:46 am

thats about right. my 57 would get 72 max.

Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:38 am

This speed remained the same till the end of the production. My 1984 Silver Bug can make 120 km per hour when floored(it´s a 40horse) and its a bit heavier then a ´57 oval...

Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:42 am

My stock 36 in my 55 tops out at 80-83MPH and will cruise on the flats-no wind at 75+.

Matt

Fri Jan 14, 2005 10:55 am

By the book,the top speed is 68mph!Do you need a 36?Im pulling my lomileage motor out of my'60;It only has 90,000original miles!Doesn't smoke or leak,just too damn slow for me!

Fri Jan 14, 2005 11:21 am

well i was thinkin of doing a cal look type job on my 57. and it would be pretty cool to have a cal look 57 with a 36hp. its either that or a 1776cc.

Fri Jan 14, 2005 11:28 am

you can get a set of kadrons,and modify a set of intake manifolds to get the okrasa look!Gains like 10 extra hp!

Fri Jan 14, 2005 7:18 pm

What the heck is wrong with my 36hp? I just had it completely overhauled by Rimco and assembled by Small Time Restorations back in '98. Then it just sat for 4 years. Now I've got probably around 300-400 miles on it but it won't go past 55mph. Help!!!!!

Sat Jan 15, 2005 9:31 am

Relax...drop your right hand off the steering wheel...the lever thing between the front seats should be in the down position. Pull it up slightly, press the button and let it down as far as it will go...works every time. :lol:

Sat Jan 15, 2005 9:51 am

John, I think Glenn needs to drag that in-the-box 36 horse Judson out, and stick it on his 36'er.... :D
Seriously, though, Glenn, if that thing won't go past 55 mph, I think points, plugs, condenser, rotor, cap, wires, carb rebuild/tune, and a valve adjustment are in order. I'll bet, after sitting for 4 or so years, it could use that, no matter how new the parts Frank put in it were..add an oil change to that list while you're at it, Glenn. Probably all of that will make a ton of difference. My 55, after sitting for months on end, needed a little looking-at before it would take on the 163 or the 15 or the 8....

Sat Jan 15, 2005 2:46 pm

I think asking someone how fast their 36 will go is like asking a women her age or weight...your never going to get an accurate answer!

My rebuilt 36 in my Oval will cruise all day at 100 kph (about 62 mph). It might hit 120 KPH on flat ground with a tail wind. Long story short the factory says top speed is 68 and anything more is not only spooky with bias ply tires but unreasonable.

If someone says their 36 will go 75 ask them what size tires they are running! If it is anything but 560 x 15's it's just an illusion!

Now if you want to know how fast a Formula Vee will go in a draft with pretty much a stock 40 HP...that would be about 115.

John

Sat Jan 15, 2005 2:49 pm

My 57, with an unmolested 36hp with 68k, ran the 1/4 at 22.5.

Sat Jan 15, 2005 4:40 pm

I just got a 57 Oval with a 40 HP engine. what would you thik?

Sat Jan 15, 2005 7:44 pm

Dave wrote: I think points, plugs, condenser, rotor, cap, wires, carb rebuild/tune, and a valve adjustment are in order...add an oil change to that list while you're at it,...

I'll try it Dave, thanks. Hopefully it'll give it some much needed improvement. I'm tired of having to drive the side streets to get somewhere. It took over an hour on PCH just to get to California Pacific/J Bugs. Usually a 20min jaunt on the I-5

Sun Jan 16, 2005 2:42 pm

l227vw@yahoo.com wrote: What the heck is wrong with my 36hp? I just had it completely overhauled by Rimco and assembled by Small Time Restorations back in '98. Then it just sat for 4 years. Now I've got probably around 300-400 miles on it but it won't go past 55mph. Help!!!!!

every restored engine needs to run for several thousands of miles to free itself up. My original fourty horse in my ´61 started to free up after 5000 miles ...

Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:57 pm

Earlier in the post I said:

"My stock 36 in my 55 tops out at 80-83MPH and will cruise on the flats-no wind at 75+. "

I am running stock bias ply tires - my engine was slow during break in and could do these sppeds til over 5000 miles.

Yes-36s got his fast-especially with a quality balanced build.

Matt of Matt's Parts

Mon Jan 17, 2005 6:57 pm

Earlier in the post I said:

"My stock 36 in my 55 tops out at 80-83MPH and will cruise on the flats-no wind at 75+. "

I am running stock bias ply tires - my engine was slow during break in and could NOT do these speeds til over 5000 miles.

Yes-36s got his fast-especially with a quality balanced build.

Matt of Matt's Parts