How far at 50 MPH

B

bdtutton

Senior Member
I have been thinking about taking my 1930 Tudor on a trip that will require me to maintain 48-50 MPH on smooth level roads for about 40 miles each way. I have only had the car since last year and believe it is basically stock, but it seems to run well at 50 MPH. I regularly drive the car 9 miles to work and 4+ of those miles are at 50 MPH and it seems happy.

With 3.78 gears it will be running 2100 RPM for 40 miles each way and I was wondering how much strain that would be for the engine. I run full synthetic 10-40 oil that I change every 500 miles.

What do you think??
 
No problem at all doing this.

Watch coolant temperature.

Advance the spark timing a click or two at the higher speed.
 
bdtutton said:
I have been thinking about taking my 1930 Tudor on a trip that will require me to maintain 48-50 MPH on smooth level roads for about 40 miles each way. I have only had the car since last year and believe it is basically stock, but it seems to run well at 50 MPH. I regularly drive the car 9 miles to work and 4+ of those miles are at 50 MPH and it seems happy.

With 3.78 gears it will be running 2100 RPM for 40 miles each way and I was wondering how much strain that would be for the engine. I run full synthetic 10-40 oil that I change every 500 miles.

What do you think??
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That's way overkill on the oil changes, especially synthetic. Its not 1930 anymore...oils are MUCH better now. Do what you are comfortable with though.
 
1930-Pickup said:
That's way overkill on the oil changes, especially synthetic. Its not 1930 anymore...oils are MUCH better now. Do what you are comfortable with though.
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I take my stock 29 Tudor on many 60 -100 mile trips, I like to cruise at 45-48 miles/hr .. I carry a extra couple fuses, fan belt and a few basic screwdriver and wrench’s ... never used them but they are there .. take your time and avoid freeways !!





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Too fast in a car with stack engine without an over drive if you want to keep the middle main bearing. It will do it for a while but.......
 
I would dare to say ZERO STRAIN, particularly if your engine has a balanced crankshaft.
My rebuilt engine with balanced crankshaft and stock rear end just eats up 50 mph with no vibrations or apparent engine strain. I also use Mobil One and change it every 500 miles. What's another 20 minutes and $25 a few times a year to feel best about your car.
 
Synchro909 said:
Too fast in a car with stack engine without an over drive if you want to keep the middle main bearing. It will do it for a while but.......
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I would second this post.

However, I would also ask about the rest of your cars running gear.

Is the following rebuilt up to specs, front end, springs, shocks, BRAKES!

Blow an engine and you just end up on the side of the road.

Other things happening could put you in a different place. Enjoy.
 
I have run from Long Island, New York to Northport, Maine and back cruising at 60 mph with a stock 3.78:1 differential, stock transmission, no overdrive, stock 19" wheels and babbitt bearings. My 1931 Coupe has been running at 55 to 65 mph sustained on the interstates and highways for almost 50,000 miles!
Full synthetic motor oil has been used in my Coupe since it became available. I change the oil once per year, and I do not use any oil additives.
 
I cruise at 50 mph on good roads .I have cruised at 50 fou many years and have never hurt any of my engines . They all seem to like this speed and cruise with comfort . I run 3.78 gears and run the original proper size wheels and tires on all but 1 . Some run 5.9 heads but no major mods . I use Walmart 20w50 oil that is made by Mobil and sold at a lower price . I feel that it is unsafe to drive at speeds less than 50 mph on the main roads . Not for the sake of disagreement but I would drive mine at 50 mph as far as I needed to go as long as the roads permit .
 
I cruise at 50 mph on good roads .I have cruised at 50 fou many years and have never hurt any of my engines . They all seem to like this speed and cruise with comfort
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I also like to run 48-50 on good roads. I drove from GA to KY a few years back with 3 other A's with no issues. I was running a stock engine.

TerryO
 
I thought my car was cruising happy between 40-45, but turns our my speedometer is way off. The car was cruising along between 50-55. Didn't seem to be straining.
 
CB919ER said:
I thought my car was cruising happy between 40-45, but turns our my speedometer is way off. The car was cruising along between 50-55. Didn't seem to be straining.
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Haha, Mine too. I was surprised when I had my GPS in the car one day and it showed 45mph and the speedo read ~38mph. Faster I went, the farther off it became.
 
back in the day the car's were driven east coast to the west coast without any issues on roads a lot worse than we see Michigan
i doubt 40 miles will hurt it
 
I agree with Purdy on oils, except I use Pep Bros 20-50. You are spending money on oil that doesn't need to be spent, especially if you change oil every 500 miles.
 
Jim Brierley said:
I agree with Purdy on oils, except I use Pep Bros 20-50. You are spending money on oil that doesn't need to be spent, especially if you change oil every 500 miles.
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Back to oil again. We use Walmart 20-50 and add blue bottle of STP for the final 1/2 quart needed.

Last time we had pan off, it was spotless. Change once a year.

We do not drive car in winter. Enjoy.
 
I use Chevron Delo 20-50 that is meant for use in diesel engines. It is supposed to have better wearing characteristics than other non Delo oils. I buy my Chevron Delo at Costco. I like it. I change out the oil when it shows that the oil is getting dirty, which is usually between once or twice a year. I never let an oil change go beyond a year between changes. Of interest, with our 1931 model A pick up, we have 3.27 ratio rear end gears. Balanced, full pressure oil, 5 to 1 head, and the other needed upgrades have been done to the engine. As smooth as silk, I can run it up to 40 mph in second, before smoothly shifting into third. It doesn't behave like a model A at all. All I can say is Wow! 50 MPH for ever would not be a challenge at all for this pick up.
 

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My thinking is that 50 mph is better for engine at cruise than 40 mph cruise. Very smooth running at 50 and you won't be lugging it. That is only 2200 rpm which is the 40 hp rpm.
 
Purdy Swoft said:
I cruise at 50 mph on good roads .I have cruised at 50 fou many years and have never hurt any of my engines . They all seem to like this speed and cruise with comfort . I run 3.78 gears and run the original proper size wheels and tires on all but 1 . Some run 5.9 heads but no major mods . I use Walmart 20w50 oil that is made by Mobil and sold at a lower price . I feel that it is unsafe to drive at speeds less than 50 mph on the main roads . Not for the sake of disagreement but I would drive mine at 50 mph as far as I needed to go as long as the roads permit .
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Agree with Purdy, 48-52 is good cruising speed all day long. I've taken many road trips without issue. If your cooling system and engine are good you should have no problems.
Larry
 
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