Whats the top speed i can expect with stock drivertrain?

[sykanr0ng]

When the Bronco was designed the average highway speed limit was 70

The national 55 mph speed limit didn't come along until 1973 (and generally was not obeyed).

The police ticket drivers going excessively slow on highways for obstructing traffic, even when there is not a posted minimum speed.

Most of the time manufacturers make their cars and trucks able to keep up, and the models that wouldn't were bought by people that usually knew the limitations.

 

[Bletch]

I have a 73 with a healthy 351w on 35 BFG's and a stock 3 speed transmission on the column and can cruise nicely at 70-75 gps. I don't think I've gotten it over 75 but cruising the interstate it feel solid at 75. There's more in reserve, but who needs to go faster than that. And I'm not sure what rpm's I'm turning at that speed.

 

[Steve83]

Frank's '75 with '88 5.0L & AOD, 4.10s, and 33s was smooth & comfortable with the cruise set at 95mph for a few hours. But it had a lot of poly in the suspension, body mounts, and trans mounts; power steering; power brakes; and shoulder belts on half of a cage.

 

[blubuckaroo]

With everything stock, ours has seen a pegged speedo (100 mph) a number of times.
After the upgrades it was a lot quicker to get to that speed.

 

[Scoop]

ive read elsewhere that i wont be seeing those higher speeds because of the 3 on the tree. Anyone here have the stock 3 spd trans and stock gears getting over 70?

The 3 on the tree shouldn't have anything to do with it. 3rd gear is 1:1 same as the C4. You can swap in an overdrive tranny, but with the aerodynamics of a brick and stock hp overdrive will not help much.

I cruised from CO to TX - about 800 miles point to point - last fall. Here's a couple pics of the garmin! (69 half cab, 302, 3 spd, 30" tires, uncut, no lift)

 

[POSoffroadingNJ]

Awesome guys thanks so much for the responses.

 

[JAFO]

Newly rebuilt 302. 3 on the column. All stock with 3.50 gearing. At 60 mph I tac at 2200. Have had it up to 75 mph and had plenty of top end left I am sure. I really never drive over 70 and most days I am cruising around at slow speeds. If you had to make a fast turn at high speed I am sure over the BRONCO goes. When I need to go fast I get in my wife's Audi.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I think everybody will agree that a Bronco is not a good choice for going fast. Most people will (wisely) back off before actually reaching the drag induced top speed.

Recently I was in a jury duty pool and one of the questions was "what was the fastest you had ever been in an automobile, driver or passenger?" I was shocked at the percentage of people who had never been over 100 MPH. It was over 50%. Including a retired police officer (who's comment was "I think I got the cruiser up to 85 once").

Even our own racer, Todd Z., who owns a race Bronco had never been over 100 MPH until I was driving him back from SEMA a few years ago. I know that race Bronco has what it takes to get over 100 MPH with no problem.

 

[POSoffroadingNJ]

Again thanks for the responses as long as I can do 65 I'll be happy

 

[Past_Miner]

ive read elsewhere that i wont be seeing those higher speeds because of the 3 on the tree. Anyone here have the stock 3 spd trans and stock gears getting over 70?

The high gear in the 3 speed is 1:1, just like any other non-overdrive transmission. The transmission itself won't have a lot to do with the top speed and the shift mechanism won't have anything to do with it. It's mostly limited by max allowable rpm of the engine, which is determined by overall gear reduction. Lowe rear end gears and small diameter tires will lead to higher engine rpms at lower speeds.

 

[sykanr0ng]

I think everybody will agree that a Bronco is not a good choice for going fast. Most people will (wisely) back off before actually reaching the drag induced top speed.

Recently I was in a jury duty pool and one of the questions was "what was the fastest you had ever been in an automobile, driver or passenger?" I was shocked at the percentage of people who had never been over 100 MPH. It was over 50%. Including a retired police officer (who's comment was "I think I got the cruiser up to 85 once").

Even our own racer, Todd Z., who owns a race Bronco had never been over 100 MPH until I was driving him back from SEMA a few years ago. I know that race Bronco has what it takes to get over 100 MPH with no problem.

For several years during the 55 mph national speed limit there was a law requiring speedometers to show no more than 85 mph.
It surprised me how many people actually thought the car could not go faster than that.

 

[Joe473]

Again thanks for the responses as long as I can do 65 I'll be happy

Old tired 302 with this tired timing chain and gears made it to Connecticut and back doing 70-75 the whole way. Very stable. No lift, new bushings, front disks, good alignment, Roll bar, 30 x 9.5 tires with 3 on the tree.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Steve83]

I was shocked at the percentage of people who had never been over 100 MPH. It was over 50%.

I was shocked by the number of users on the NLOC '93-95 discussion forum who were scared to drive over 85mph. Around Memphis, that's normal traffic speed on most of the interstate, and even some of the surface streets.

 

[DaveLev]

We can legally do 80, and most do 85+ where I reside. I took my stock 289, NP435 4 speed, 3.50 gears, dana 20 trans case, and 33 x 12.5 x 15 tires for a "butt puckering experience" of a drive last week hitting 90 MPH+ for 10+ minutes, and I can tell you it was rather frightening. When cars zip past you at 85 and you're going 65 in a legal 80 MPH zone, you want to go faster, sure. But the question you need to ask is "should I be going this fast in this brick on wheels", and the answer is no, it is not safe or designed to do this.

 

[blubuckaroo]

Back when mine was stock but with 31" bias-ply tires I pegged the speedo a number of times. I figure with the uncorrected speedo, I was doing better than 110 MPH. It did take a lot of highway to get to that speed though.
Now with a better engine, and overdrive, getting to that speed is a piece of cake. ;D

In my family we have a history of always checking the top end performance of our cars.
Sure it's scary to go that fast in a Bronco, but I can think of a lot better ways to die than old and sick in bed.%)