Tops speed for late 30s trucks?

1938FordPickup

1938FordPickup

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With stock 21/24 bolt engine and 3 speed transmission (No overdrive), what is everyone getting for top speed out of their trucks? I've gotten up to about 60 MPH on the flat roads but it's pushing it in my opinion.
 
The safe speed for any old car/truck is governed by the general condition of the unit, ie., tires, brakes, and suspension.
The gear ratio of the differential can be the greatest deciding factor... The common ratio with be 4.11 with lower ratios found in trucks that were intended for hard work in off road and/or urban/city conditions.
From my point of view, 45/50 would be a good top speed for the average mid '30 through '50 pickup/truck...
One big factor that must be kept in mind with the early Ford pickups, is that they were basically cars with some form of a bed attached to the chassis in lieu of a passenger body..
 
I agree with blucar obviously the rearend is the deciding factor but if you feel like your pushing it I'd slow down, my F1 seems to like 55 anything over that and you can tell its working.
 
So two out two doctors say around 50-55 MPH, I understand the the various factors involved with "Top Speed". I wanted a general consensus from a variety people who have trucks after 1936 and before 1940. I know what my truck can do speed-wise, around 50-55 is comfortable in it's stock configuration.
 
I can get over 60 in my 39 peeekup, but things are noisey and not comfortable. Have you checked your rear end ration. It is marked on the pumpkin. Mine is 3:78.
Clem
 
The truck in the avitar has 3:54s. It runs out nicely to about 65. Then it starts to get busy.
 
The pickup since it is baisically a car should go about the same as a car ---31 4cyl A should go at least 60, to say a mid 30s pickup with a V8 can only go 60 is low, there was a 39 in the family, 60hp, with the engine at ford specs(balance and clearance) it had no problem with 75 on the parkway , this is with a 4.44 rear, fuel mileage fell off some but it was still over 20mpg

46 1-1/2 ton truck 2 speed rear ---I never took it much over 65, never tried top speed, usually it had a 2 ton load, usually tried to go 50-60, sold it to a guy that drove it to california--in 4 days, i suspect he had it over 65 for long times, it was loaded with an airplane for the trip, he averaged 15 mpg for the trip
 
my pickup likes to go about 50,55 mpg, with a 411 and 6.50s in the rear.
i still have mechanical brakes and i don't drive on any freeway just manly 2 lane roads, a good Flathead road!
 

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OK, this is getting pretty wild here with numbers all over the barnyard!
One guy goes 75mph running a 60 hp and 4.44 dif. (wow! is this for real?)
Another guy can get only 65 from a 3.54 dif.
Myself with first a 4.44 could get only 65, then with a 3.78 I get 77, both the same car & 59L engine.
Are we talking about 6.00 16's here on everything or what?
 
Not a truck, but my 37 Tudor with 60 hp and 4:44s feels like it is "ALL IN" at 60 mph....

Maybe it could go faster, but I don't wanna...
 
The more I drive my car (owned it for nearly 2 years now) the faster I go. I still feel like I need to shift at 60, but it motors down the freeway with everyone else. I have driven for short stretches (5-10 miles) at 65.
 
I think we are getting numbers all over is because we are saying how fast we feel comfortable driving(opinion) but if your looking for true top speed (fact) your going to have to find some people willing to put their foot to the floor to know for sure. Now I personally don't want to find out that bad, maybe others might be willing but my pockets aren't that deep. I'm not on the floor at 55 but for me I don't feel I'm going to break anything.
 
I can drive my 39 pickup 65 mph and I have had it up to 70. All my mechanicals are new and rebuilt and we just finished a frame off restoration. I also have a 3:78 rear end and 6.50x16 radial tires.
 
When it comes to a prudent, comfortable speed, for the average stock early Ford V8, one has to sort out the boastful claims from the facts.
In days gone by when I was young and invincible I pushed my '36 over 100 mph on many occasions... Does that mean I would cruise the car at 100 mph.. Of course not. The late model, '41-48, suspension, highly modified 59AB engine and a Columbia with 3.78 gearing, allow my car to safely cruise in the 65/70 range.
I will stand by my earlier statement.... A safe and prudent cruising speed for the average stock early V8 Ford pickup is in the 45/50 mph range.
 
Mine runs and drives very nicely at 55-60 on a good smooth road. Speedometer is dead on with my GPS unit. That is about as fast as I want to drive it.
 
I replaced the 4.27 stock rear in my 49 F1 with a 56 F100 3.73 at a time when I had 15 inch tyres on the back. I'm now back to 6:50/16's and with the 3.73, while it's quite happy at 65 mph (100 km/hr in NZ), I wouldn't mind something closer to 3.5 if it's possible to make the combination fit in either diff.
 
Lawson, you're just an ol' fraidy cat. We all gotta go sometime, what better way than to go out doing what we love?
 
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