1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

governor...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-15-04, 10:05 AM
  #1  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
thebake03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
governor...

Does the 84 GS have a governor on them? I can't get my '84 GS 5-Speed to go over 100 MPH even though it is only reading 5K RPM...
Old 07-15-04, 10:31 AM
  #2  
paradox

 
RacerX7fb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
No
Old 07-15-04, 10:42 AM
  #3  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
bouis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: The South
Posts: 2,203
Received 572 Likes on 266 Posts
It's got a governor all right; it's called twenty year-old cats. I've never seen one with the original exhaust that made anything near the original 100 hp.
Old 07-15-04, 10:52 AM
  #4  
Code and Rotary Hacker

 
rx7_freek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Jackson, Michigan
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Think he's talking MPG, not HP.
I know I've had my stock '81 over 100MPH before.
Old 07-15-04, 10:53 AM
  #5  
Code and Rotary Hacker

 
rx7_freek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Jackson, Michigan
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oops...meant MPH...too many acronyms to finger fooodge! lol
Old 07-15-04, 10:57 AM
  #6  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
bouis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: The South
Posts: 2,203
Received 572 Likes on 266 Posts
It takes horsepower to go fast.
Old 07-15-04, 11:03 AM
  #7  
Code and Rotary Hacker

 
rx7_freek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Jackson, Michigan
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Guess I figured that's a given...but your response wasn't clear to me I guess, sorry...thought maybe you had mistakenly read HP. As I said, I have reached 100 MPH with my '81 with original exhaust. Maybe my exhaust was clearer than his or something? I don't know...anybody else's rex go > 100MPH w/stock exhaust?
Old 07-15-04, 11:07 AM
  #8  
What... it won't fit?!?!

 
Nivvinabon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Huber Heights, Ohio
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I could get mine easily up to 100 MPH before I had overheated it... Has Dowel Pin Leak now... I'll drive her untill the engine blows blue smoke non-stop darn it!

But now, yea she can still get up to 100 w/ stock exhaust... Granted my exhaust is old and falling apart, and is held together w/ Tin Cans and Mechanical Wire. She does have some trouble getting up to 100 though... Haven't able to go any faster, too much traffic where I drive, and Cops... <.<
Old 07-15-04, 12:51 PM
  #9  
brilliantly stupid

 
faye x7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Rockford, IL
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
These cars can easily make it over 100. I've had mine up over 115 before. Make sure you've got fresh oil/plugs/cap/rotor/wires...ya know, basic **** like that. ...lessee...fuel filter..maybe fuel pump is going out on you? Carb needs to be tuned. Clogged cats...or maybe your engine is very tired.
Old 07-15-04, 05:28 PM
  #10  
84SE-EGI helpy-helperton

 
LongDuck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,314
Received 359 Likes on 250 Posts
As you can probably gather from the responses, there is no designed 'governor' on these cars to either rev-limit, or ignition-limit the top speed. These cars were designed and built in the 1980's when freedom was still alive and well!

With that in mind, you should probably start looking at either airflow (intake), exhaust, or fuel to see if any of these are causing a restriction and keeping your car from performing the way it should. Obviously, if you have high mileage and/or losing compression, this is an engine mechanical problem that will limit horsepower production and thus, top speed.

For airflow, check your air filter to make sure that it's not clogged up with leaves and dirt. Check the hot-air inlet to be sure that it's not stuck open allowing hot air to be sucked into the intake all the time. Check the carb for anything that could be preventing the butterflies from opening fully.

For exhaust - your cats present the largest constriction against flow. When these collapse internally, they will completely block the air passage, preventing good exhaust velocity necessary for power generation in a rotary engine. Choke a rotary engine and you'll overheat the exhaust and decrease power dramatically. At full throttle, you'll find that there is A TON of exhaust pressure on a good, open exhaust system.

Fuel; check your fuel filter under your driver's side rear wheel well in front of the rear axle along with the fuel pump. The fuel filter should be replaced every 2-3 years to be safe, and an old, clogged filter is the cause of many cars that just don't perform like they used to.

Have a look at these and report back,
Old 07-15-04, 05:46 PM
  #11  
Lives on the Forum

 
Kentetsu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Grand Rapids Michigan
Posts: 11,359
Received 14 Likes on 11 Posts
I used to get my '85 GS up to 120 with no sweat, until the fuel filter became clogged. That was with the exhaust system original and intact. If the fuel filter has not recently been changed, I would start there.

From what I understand, the single best upgrade you can make is a full Racing Beat exhaust system to open up the flow. Good luck!
Old 07-15-04, 09:59 PM
  #12  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (17)
 
Stevan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Jax, FL.
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I think the best bang for buck would be to remove the cats and put in a straight pipe, $80 at a small muffler shop in my case. I cut the flanges off with a sawzall and the guy welded them to the pipe. I did get a Primaflow though. ($238)

Steve.
Old 07-15-04, 10:34 PM
  #13  
love the braaaap

 
85rotarypower's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Bognor, Ontario
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Sorry to hijack your thread, but talking about butterflies not opening fully, I have a little question about that. On both the carbs I have rebuilt, there is a spring that prevents the butterflies from fully opeining. Its on the main linkage, and I think its called the subreturn spring. Its a rod with a spring around it with one end on the linkage and the other mounted in a fashion to act as a spring to hold the throttle closed. There is a "T" shaped nut kinda thing at the end of this rod and that seems to preven the throttle from fully opening. On both my carbs it didn't allow the throttle to be opened more than about 80%. Why is this? I removed the spring and rod from my carb. Will it affect performance in any way?

BTW, to give the carb gurus an idea of how much it was limiting the linkage on my car, when I converted to mechanical secondaries, they would not open more than half way. This might explain why the secondaries didn't feel like they opened too much when they were still vacuum operated.




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:43 AM.