blgitn - Post # 3 :
My standard Zenith (made for Model A) works quite well at speeding my '28 Phaeton along at 60 mpn. My 1930 Std. Coupe, with it's '34 4-cylinder 'C' engine and it's "A' Zenith purred along nicely at 60 mph, although it did like running at 55 mph a little better.
I have had a 'B' intake manifold with 'B' carburetor ready to go on one of my cars for about 20 years now, but have never had the need to put it on, even though it threoriticly should 'go' a little faster.
My late '31 Dlx Coupe does have a Stromberg 97 on it, along with a host of other 'improvements' for 'Touring'. It is a strong and powerful running machine - More than I need or care to use. 'Speed Kills' is a slogan that does have some meat to it.
Even though all of my cars (whether Zenith or Stromberg) are quite capable of comfortably cruising at 60 mph, I seldom do so. But it can be done, easily. There are a number of reasons (subject for another thread) why I don't feel comfortable with a 72 year old man driving an 85 year old car at a sustained 60 miles per hour speed. Although both of my cars have the capacity to go 65 mph, I feel MUCH more comfortable driving at 55 miles per hour, which is quite a respectable speed for Freeway driving.
A lot has to to with the caution that comes with maturity (I like that word better than, say, 'Old', or 'Aged'). And too, along with maturity comes a lessening of skill and ability to successfully compete with YOUTH (anybody under 50) ! If one were to think of driving on the Freeway and at Freeway speeds (60 mph), one must think in terms of a Race Track, where skills, agility, reaction time, vision, a tolerance of risk, etc. all play a role. One that has the potential of being a 'life or death' contest.
I choose not to play.
- Doug Vieyra