Hi roverdriver...
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Originally Posted by roverdriver
it does seem theoretically possible to achieve 70 mph from 22 hp, (Is that rated hp or brake hp?)
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That's road horsepower - power at the drive wheels.
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The streamlining of the modified car in this thread could in no way be described as highly efficient,
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I disagree. The shape of the car is pretty optimal - focus your attention on the rear, where the majority of drag reduction is achieved, and he's got it right. He also significantly reduced frontal area.
The big question mark is the impact of the exposed suspension/wheels on Cd.
A quick search uncovered a
source (quality unknown, but the figure is consistent with others I've seen for this style of car) that estimates the Cd at
0.80 and frontal area at 25 sq. ft. for a "roadster" style T.
Plug those numbers into the tool and you see a couple of interesting things: the speed at which half the power is being "spent" on aerodynamic drag is 20 mph.
Halve the Cd figure, reduce A by a reasonable amount (as he did), reduce the engine efficiency value for an old tech, low compression motor, and it's still within the realm of possibility to approach 70 mph with the power it had.
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I would have loved an opportunity to study that car and see what else he did to it.
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Agreed. It's too bad it met its fate at a railway crossing.