what runs out first engine or box

[crash_ndie]

Ive been dicking about on http://www.blocklayer.com/rpm-geareng.aspx using my gear ratios for my 2.3td from here (http://www.cars-data.com/en/opel-fronte ... pecs/30951). Now according to blocklayer if my engine could rev to 8000rpm on 31"rims I can 49mph out of 1st gear & 228mph out of 5th , and yes I know it will never get that fast because of drag etc.

So My question is .. dose the engine give out before the gearbox or will the gearing actually do those speeds ?

[RatCav]

The gearing will if properly balanced and lubricated .. The engine however will never get there as the amount of energy it requires will get exponentially larger the faster you want it to go .. most of the energy is lost due to heat and noise.

[gregster]

I dont think a 2.3td would achieve 1/2 that if you threw it out the back of a hercules at 33,000ft...

[RatCav]

I reckon about 180mph terminal velocity .. so yeah not even if you threw it out the back of a hercules at 33,000ft

[Fatbaz]

In reality the gearbox can spin at a faster speed than the engine can ever power it too. Flipping that on it's head if you drive as fast as you can in top gear (say 85mph) then drop it down a gear or two the engine will over rev (driveline is now driving the engine) resulting in smashed valves and pistons, the gearbox will normally survive this abuse.

We see this on truck occasionally where a drive has down shifted too early.

So in answer to your question the engine will destroy itself before the gearbox.

Stuart

[crash_ndie]

there has been times I wish I Could have dropped it out of a plane just to hear that satisfying thud just to say "HA Take that you stupid stuck rounded bolt ! "

So stick with me a min... so if I was to use an electric motor that had 10,000 rpm with 300 nm of torque and a realllllllyyy long extension lead my truck could do 180 mph! ... sounds like a challenge