MPH

[Gary Miller]

Hi Nick,

Your top speed is limited by the max rpm of your engine. The CAT
3208 turbo you have is rated at 250hp at 2600 rpm. Max rpm of 2805.

You need to determine what your rear end gearing is. This
information is listed on the axle capacity plate above the doghouse
on the back of the lower dashboard. You likely have a 1:4.88 (4.89)
ratio which puts your max speed at about 69 mph. Considering the
national speed limit was 55 when your bird was built, it's not bad.

Exceeding this speed will overspin your engine and certainly reduce
it's life, short term or long. Eating a valve will be costly. What
you can do is get new gearing in the rear end, or run larger
wheels/tires.

Other considerations regarding the engine are how well and how fast
it gets you to the max speed, and how well you can climb a grade.
Keeping fresh fuel and air filters on it, improving the air intake,
and insuring the injectors/injection pump/governor are properly set
up will help. If you want to go beyond the standard settings, make
sure you keep an eye on other matters like tranny temp, pyrometer,
engine temp, etc... You may need add-ons like a tranny cooler,
larger engine fan and more.

The basic setup was a good one for the time, always room for
improvement if done carefully.

Gary Miller
83 FC 33
Wauwatosa, WI

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Nelson Gougeon"
<1492lost@c...> wrote:
>
> Hi I am the new kid on the block and have a question to ask.Two
years
> ago and many dollars I bought a 1984 bluebird 35footer with a 3208
cat
> turbo.My wife and I are just now starting to use it starts good
and
> runs good however the top speed was only 62 mph on the flats.Had
some
> adjustments made and can do 71mph on the flats (located in
illinois)
> now.My questions are what is the hp on this model is 71 mph the
top
> speed also who works on bluebirds in my area St.Louis Mo. south
central
> ill.Im not a road warrior but 71 mph still sounds a lil slow for
todays
> use.Possibly this is the best i just dont know but i can live with
this
> speed.Would appreciate any advice on this thanks. Nick Gougeon
> retired driver. p.s. sure like my bluebird