Proof the old girl can still do it

BILL WILLIAMSON said:
Old31,
Minerva was AMAZINGLY smooth at that speed, her 19" Firestones had NOT even 1 balance weight & was smooth @ ALL speeds. She had full FLOAT-A-MOTORS & A RUBBER exhaust hanger & we could just hear the engine humming nicely & BOY, did the exhaust heater get HOT!:eek:
Bill W.
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Bill, how was the steering at 70? A little squirrely or solid?

Do you have a pic of the rubber exhaust hanger. Good idea.
 
Often when younger people are looking at one of my As, someone will ask "How fast does it go?" I'm sure we have all had that. You should see the confused looks on their faces when I say "I don't know, I've never bothered to find out."
That said, when we travel outback, I cruise easily at 50 mph with camper trailer behind with my 26% Mitchell O/D engaged so log as I don't have a head wind.
On most highways over here, 100 kph (about 62 mph) is the limit so there is no point trying for more.
 
old31 said:
Bill, how was the steering at 70? A little squirrely or solid?

Do you have a pic of the rubber exhaust hanger. Good idea.
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Steering was very secure & smooth, whoever rebuilt the front end & steering box, must have done an excellent job!
The exhaust had a glasspack & out under the running board, like a NASCAR set up. The hanger was just a universal rubber clamp on one, I don't have a pic.
I only ran her that fast, ONCE! Without the Weber, the Mallory dist, counter balanced crank, etc, she would never have run that speed.
Vermin is BONE stock & will be a 45 to 50 car.
Bill W.
 
MY 29 CCPU has a strong engine but is happy at 42-45. It will go around 50 or so on flat ground with no headwind. I suspect she might have the 4:11 Rear end.

Works fine for me in Hilly Ky.
 
i have several Model A's and I drive them highway at 37-42 and both the car and myself are very happy. One of the local idiots routinely drives his at 60 mph. The first thing I check in the daily newspaper is the obituaries to see if his name appears. Unfortunately he will probably take someone with him! Wayne
 
I had mine up to 65...once... I would never do it again.

It was on a Sunday on a short stretch of divided highway, going downhill with a tailwind, and with the help of a dragonfly that had landed on the back window and was flapping its wings HARD.
 
KGBnut said:
I had mine up to 65...once... I would never do it again.

It was on a Sunday on a short stretch of divided highway, going downhill with a tailwind, and with the help of a dragonfly that had landed on the back window and was flapping its wings HARD.
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EDid you acknowledge yourself later, why? Why did I risk my life and abuse my old car. Wayne.
 
I run a ryan overdrive and 3:54 rear in my 30 tudor.. it is a great highway car yet does well in the mountains as well. I have climbed pikes peak and plenty of other Colorado passes and mountains, blue ridge, grandfather mountain and more. It does just fine.
I do run a snyder 5.5 head.

Cruises well at 62-63 with the overdrive and more if I need. Front end/steering and brakes of course are great as I keep them in top notch shape.
My stock '31 160B Slant window TS is bone stock and will still do 60 + OK but cruises nicely at 50-55.

Larry
 
old31 said:
I kept it going for about a half mile. It still had more to give, but 60 felt like 80. Enough for me.
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Is that a digital speedometer in a Model A?
 

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At speeds above 60, you won't be texting with the cell phone in one hand and steering absentmindedly with the other. The first time I drove an "A" I asked the owner how fast it would go and was told, "as fast as you care to drive it". This piqued my curiosity, so I put the pedal to the metal and discovered that, with a worn suspension and steering, 45 was as fast as I cared and an arse-puckered drive at that.
 
This brings back poignant memories of my Dad. He had my Roadster in high school and college. His thesis on graduating from Engineering School at the University of Maine, was on the maximum speed of the stock Model A.

I remember him going through this with me when I was in Engineering at college. He had all kinds of information like friction in the journals, piston rings to cylinders, volume of the combustion and fuel rates of the carb and air flow intake, ****** friction, wheel bearing friction, tire to road friction, etc. His final analysis was that the engine maximum speed for a stock car was 72 mph. I am really amazed at how close this seems to be in "real life". Gosh I wish he was still here for me to talk to!
 
 
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I cruise both my roadster and cabriolet (both stock) at 45-50 all the time. Both cars run well at those speeds. I ran the roadster up to 60 once and it was a very uncomfortable, scary ride.
 
My coupe has a T-5 in it with a stock 3.78 rear end. Nearest I can tell the 5th gear is about 15% overdrive. I am Running a stock engine with a Stromburg 97, Mallory dual Point and a tube header. The car likes about 50-55. I am also at 6000' elevation. I have pushed the car to 65 but it doesn't like it.
 
My 1930 Town Sedan has the Mitchell OD and the Snyder 5.5 head, no play in the steering, and newer Goodyear tires. I usually cruise at 60, but 65 is just fine, and at that speed, there is no drama.....it tracks very nicely, does not wander, and has minimal vibration.
 
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