I finally got the ***** to get out and drive my truck to work yesterday night... kinda scary with the wheel slop but i wanted to know what is the average cruising speed in a 73 f100 302. I have a 3 speed trans, havent looked at the bolt pattern yet to figure out but pretty sure its either a c4 or c6...

i dont have a tach hooked up but when i get up to about 50-55... i still have power, but it just feels like shes running at 3-4k rpm at that speed. anyone else notice this? My trans shifts fine, im in 3rd by the time im out of a intersection so i know im not running in second down the road... just seems to be laboring a bit at 50-55. i mashed the gas on the way home and got to 65 just fine then slowed back down to 45-50 for the rest of the way...

 

My 76 F-100 is running a 390 engine, 4:10 axle ratio, automatic C-6 trans, 15'' wheels and 235/75/15 tires and at 60 mph it's running 2500 rpm. Overdrive on it would be nice...maybe someday.

OJ

 

76 F-150, 390, 4.11 gears, auto c-6, 15" wheels, 245/85/15 tires, it's cruises comfortably at around 70/75mph... Anything past 80, it can handle it but gets a little cranky...

 

Yeah, at 60 mph the engine produces a loud hum through the mufflers...sounds real good. Seems to be a real sweet spot for it.

OJ

 

60-65 for me most of the time. A blast to 70 or 75 for passing, but I didn't get my truck for high speed, so I'm happy cruising! Original 390 with low original mileage of 35,000 or so, C-6 (Automatic), and 4.10 rear.

 

It sounds like you have some low gears. I originally had 2.75 gears and the 302 would bog until you got well over the speed limit. 75-80 mph was easy cruising. Off the line it had no power at all, though.

I put in some 3.50 gears and it now likes to cruise at a lower speed, but it is really happy at 70 or so turning about 2800rpm. I've never had a V8 that loves to spin as much as the 302.

 

funny any thing i had with c6/410 gears ran 3200 rpm at 60 mph 373s ran 2800 and 354s ran 2500 with my 354/c6 and gearvender over drive i now run 1900 at 60mph good speed/rpm for my 460 with lots of power as the cam is matched for that low rpm