highway speeds without overdrive?
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Cleveland, OH
highway speeds without overdrive?
so are highway speeds attainable (comfortably) without overdrive? (im using a '48 flathead V8)
if not, what's the highest attainable speed....?
if not, what's the highest attainable speed....?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Kalispell, MT
Totally depends on your rear end gearing without OD in any 1:1 tranny.
Stock rear in most of these old trucks is upper 3's to mid 4's - engine will be wrung out - 3500 rpms between 50 and 65 mph. If you run a more sustainable 2500 rpms you're looking at 45-55
The engines are tough - guys use blowers to push them around 6K, but any sustained rpms above 2500 and my tranny starts throwing bear lube out around the shift tower.
Stock rear in most of these old trucks is upper 3's to mid 4's - engine will be wrung out - 3500 rpms between 50 and 65 mph. If you run a more sustainable 2500 rpms you're looking at 45-55
The engines are tough - guys use blowers to push them around 6K, but any sustained rpms above 2500 and my tranny starts throwing bear lube out around the shift tower.
Last edited by mtflat; May 7, 2004 at 07:55 AM.
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From: Orange County, CA
The stock rear gear is usually about 3.78, good for take off, bad for top end speed. My '46, with a '50 flathead 6 cylinder, stock 3 spd, and orignal 3.78 rear gear was able to do about 60-65 down the freeway, but you could tell the engine was about at it's limit as far as RPM's go. Expect to travel in the right lane most of the time, these trucks were not built for top speed. Of course, another thing to consider...how safely can you stop in an emergency situation with the stock brakes from '60?
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Cleveland, OH
i have power assist brakes 
. however, its good to know that 60 mph is possible. i wasnt looking to go fast, mainly i was hoping to just be able to travel on the highway at all, haha...
. however, its good to know that 60 mph is possible. i wasnt looking to go fast, mainly i was hoping to just be able to travel on the highway at all, haha...
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Originally Posted by 46fordtruck
The stock rear gear is usually about 3.78, good for take off, bad for top end speed. My '46, with a '50 flathead 6 cylinder, stock 3 spd, and orignal 3.78 rear gear was able to do about 60-65 down the freeway, but you could tell the engine was about at it's limit as far as RPM's go. Expect to travel in the right lane most of the time, these trucks were not built for top speed. Of course, another thing to consider...how safely can you stop in an emergency situation with the stock brakes from '60?
i would guess back then they had high4's to mid 5s
like 4.56-5.45's.... but then again they prolly had smaller tires so the 3.78's reved just as hard as the 4.88's...
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Orange County, CA
No, I am not nuts, stock gearing on a half ton was 3.78, with 3.54 and 4.11 an option. I believe Nate's truck is a half ton, so my post is correct about gearing. Yes bigger trucks (1.5 ton and up) had gearing of 6.67 standard, with 5.14 and 5.83 as options, however we are talking about a 1/2 ton here.
