Top End Limiter
- Thread starter jabird56
- Start date
B
bigslim
Guest
Car handles 120 pretty good. Mine is real stable at that speed.
Mongoose
Keeping an eye out
jabird56, welcome to the best MM site
Before you try to go any faster you might want to research why the limit is set where it is, specifically the drive shaft limitation. Do a search on the metal matrix drive shaft. IMHO the easiest way to remove the limiter is to go with a chip. You'll get more bang for your buck
CRUZTAKER
Found what I'm looking for...
Yes sir, there is a reason for that limiter. The wheels, tires and suspension can handle more, but the stock drive shaft is not rated for much more that continuous 117mph. It will resonate the rear end something fierce, and in the long term cause gear damage.
A chip or EEC reflash will dump the limiter, that the only way to get around it. Find MMX comp. PI driveshaft while their are still some left. We posted recently a list of locations that still have them, and they are as low as $180.
Good luck and Welcome!
-B
A chip or EEC reflash will dump the limiter, that the only way to get around it. Find MMX comp. PI driveshaft while their are still some left. We posted recently a list of locations that still have them, and they are as low as $180.
Good luck and Welcome!
-B
jgc61sr2002
Contributing Member
jabird56 - Welcome aboard. Where are you driving 120 MPH? Keep that up and your new name will be jailbird. Driving a that speed is dangerous to yourself and other motorists. IMHO.
Ross
Senior Member/Rice Eater
Welcome, jabird. There are a number of people on this site who have gone to an aftermarket driveshaft for the reasons stated above. I have gone to 130 and the car felt very smooth, no vibration. I don't argue with the physics explained by people who are smarter than I am on the issue, just reporting my own experiences. Either way, a chip will give you a better driving experience for other reasons, even if you never hit 120 again.
Pantherman
Member
Most production Marauder driveshafts will stand considerably more than 120 mph. Because of small variances (and not just balance) from driveshaft to driveshaft, however, some few will have a problem at 120.9999 mph. The onset of resonance can occur with little warning. If you bypass the limiter without going to a MMX driveshaft, and your shaft plus part of your transmission suddenly drop to the pavement at 140 mph, you will immediately understand why Ford chose the top speed they did.
H
Hemlock
Guest
DENNIS CAN SUPPLY A CORRECT DRIVESHAFT(HE SOLD ME MINE ) YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID . HAVE 40,000+ MILES , AND NO VIBES . CHEERS!!
SergntMac
Shelby GT X2--Back In Black
Okay okay, let's get a handle on the wise-azz stuff. J-Bird is from Nebraska, and I've been to Nebraska. Y'all could drive at 140 MPH until you need fuel, which is all the more reason J-Bird should get the right 411 before we start chewing on each other? Omaha has a rush hour too, I suppose, so what if it's probably more like 15 minutes when compared to some midwest and eastern locales...
J-Bird...Most of the 411 offered here is meant in good will. There is a complication with the OEM drive train that causes LM to set a 120 MPH limitation. After all, the car is sold nationwide, no telling where it will end up winding up, eh? The speed limitation is probably a good thing in this wider scope, if you don't mind L/M being your mommy.
When the OEM drive shaft exceeds 6000 RPM, it will distort and "whip" off center. This causes a vibration you cannot ignore, objects in your mirrors will make you believe you're still on that 3-day bender from your college days. This "out of round" is very hard on tail shaft/pinion bearings and seals. Driving 120 time after time without addressing this will result in seriious disappointment, and the drive shaft could possibly give up, though no reports of that have been posted here. I've read about a few replaced bearings and seals, but no one I can remember has reported loosing the drive shaft.
Nonetheless, this vibration is upsetting and worrisome, and it doesn't have to be so. If you are watching your tach, the only time our drive shaft nears this danger zone is in 3rd gear, OD off. If you are driving at 120 MPH with the green OD light showing on your dash, you are pushing your luck.
If you upgrade the rear end gears to something taller than the OEM 3:55 ratio, this vibration will occur at likewise RPM, but lower MPH. If this is your plan, it's best to include the MMC (metal matrix composite) drive shaft in your upgrade plan. The MMC has it's own "whip" limitations, but they are well above our access, and need to worry about.
Some here have had some luck with drive shafts from the 1999-2000 Crown Vic Police Interceptor drive shaft, you may want to ask about that. But, this alternative has a snag, which is better explained as "you get what you pay for."
I've been in your shoes, J-Bird, I've had to decide what to do, if anything at all. I argued with many here about the need to just chuck the OEM shaft and automatically buy the mandated fix preached here. I held out as long as I could, but found myself in favor of the MMC for another reason, drive line torque and drive line strength. I suggest that you do the same, hold out.
If you're driving above 120 MPH on a regular basis, drop me a line at SergntMac@aol.com for more advice. Until your "seat-of-the-pants" tells you otherwise, watch your mirrors and drive on.
Hell ain't half full yet, right?
J-Bird...Most of the 411 offered here is meant in good will. There is a complication with the OEM drive train that causes LM to set a 120 MPH limitation. After all, the car is sold nationwide, no telling where it will end up winding up, eh? The speed limitation is probably a good thing in this wider scope, if you don't mind L/M being your mommy.
When the OEM drive shaft exceeds 6000 RPM, it will distort and "whip" off center. This causes a vibration you cannot ignore, objects in your mirrors will make you believe you're still on that 3-day bender from your college days. This "out of round" is very hard on tail shaft/pinion bearings and seals. Driving 120 time after time without addressing this will result in seriious disappointment, and the drive shaft could possibly give up, though no reports of that have been posted here. I've read about a few replaced bearings and seals, but no one I can remember has reported loosing the drive shaft.
Nonetheless, this vibration is upsetting and worrisome, and it doesn't have to be so. If you are watching your tach, the only time our drive shaft nears this danger zone is in 3rd gear, OD off. If you are driving at 120 MPH with the green OD light showing on your dash, you are pushing your luck.
If you upgrade the rear end gears to something taller than the OEM 3:55 ratio, this vibration will occur at likewise RPM, but lower MPH. If this is your plan, it's best to include the MMC (metal matrix composite) drive shaft in your upgrade plan. The MMC has it's own "whip" limitations, but they are well above our access, and need to worry about.
Some here have had some luck with drive shafts from the 1999-2000 Crown Vic Police Interceptor drive shaft, you may want to ask about that. But, this alternative has a snag, which is better explained as "you get what you pay for."
I've been in your shoes, J-Bird, I've had to decide what to do, if anything at all. I argued with many here about the need to just chuck the OEM shaft and automatically buy the mandated fix preached here. I held out as long as I could, but found myself in favor of the MMC for another reason, drive line torque and drive line strength. I suggest that you do the same, hold out.
If you're driving above 120 MPH on a regular basis, drop me a line at SergntMac@aol.com for more advice. Until your "seat-of-the-pants" tells you otherwise, watch your mirrors and drive on.
Hell ain't half full yet, right?
J
Jack McKenzie
Guest
I'm getting the DIABLO chip, K & N filter and TORNADO airflow system for mine when I get my tax return. This should give my car a little more omfff! I'll decide later on whether I'll get the MMX driveshaft...
Well all three of my speeding tickets indicate my speedometer is pretty close, there is actually a road in Nevada where once a year
you can go as fast as you want. My personal top speed was at 183 in a Porche in Germany long long ago. From other threads on this site it is recommened you "girdle up" for high speeds But what the hell Hemlock said his has run 141 and is smooth at that speed.
Joe Clancy
you can go as fast as you want. My personal top speed was at 183 in a Porche in Germany long long ago. From other threads on this site it is recommened you "girdle up" for high speeds But what the hell Hemlock said his has run 141 and is smooth at that speed.
Joe Clancy
woaface
Ford is in my Mazda's blood.
greyghost said:
DAMN! Ya sound like my navy brother! He was just honorably discharged from the Navy because of his health. He was a nuke ET on board the U.S.S Kentucky! He loved his job, but now he'll be looking elsewheres. He's "stationed" in Washington state right now, before that he was in Kings Bay.
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Woaface,
Wow, I understand as I was in the USN for 30 yrs and all but 3 yrs was in the Nuc Sub Community. Was a Nuc Mechanic for 20 yrs, and then went forward and was a Chief of the Watch and Diving Officer among other things. Never got on one of the Ohio Class Boomers but had a lot of fun on one of the Los Angeles Class Fast Attacks. Nucs always get good jobs in the civilian community because they have so much to offer. I remember Kings Bay when it still belonged to the Army and was on one of the first Boomers to operate out of there. Wouldn’t know what it looked like now after billions of dollars spent developing the place.
Wow, I understand as I was in the USN for 30 yrs and all but 3 yrs was in the Nuc Sub Community. Was a Nuc Mechanic for 20 yrs, and then went forward and was a Chief of the Watch and Diving Officer among other things. Never got on one of the Ohio Class Boomers but had a lot of fun on one of the Los Angeles Class Fast Attacks. Nucs always get good jobs in the civilian community because they have so much to offer. I remember Kings Bay when it still belonged to the Army and was on one of the first Boomers to operate out of there. Wouldn’t know what it looked like now after billions of dollars spent developing the place.