What is average highway speed for the model a?

Cast iron drums, and an overdrive just make the car far more usable. I personally like the new radiator that Sndyers sells (the expensive one) added to this list too.

These three things just make the car so much more enjoyable.
 
Mine's all stock except for cast iron brake drums. It's comfortable at 30-35 mph. I try and stay off the main (high speed) roads.
 
BRENT in 10-uh-C said:
Let's chase a Rabbit for a bit and discuss this. Exactly 'why' are we not wanting to sustain 60 mph or 2,500 RPMs?
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Brent, I have a question: Assume a customer bought a brand new Model A in 1930. Every component had been built to within factory tolerances. The new owner follows the factory maintenance schedule to the letter.
He drives at 60 MPH whenever possible. How many miles will this Model A last before needing an engine rebuild?
Thanks for your reply!
 
Hi,


I'm not Brent, but I know that the relatively small-displacement European engines built in the mid-1950s had a life expectancy of about 80,000 km.
 
40 Deluxe said:
Brent, I have a question: Assume a customer bought a brand new Model A in 1930. Every component had been built to within factory tolerances. The new owner follows the factory maintenance schedule to the letter.
He drives at 60 MPH whenever possible. How many miles will this Model A last before needing an engine rebuild?
Thanks for your reply!
Click to expand...

IMO, likely 40,000 to 50,000 miles provided the engine was serviced properly. Things then vs. today are different, -and much better for longevity. Modern oils are better, ring compositions are better, valves are better, etc. etc. As noted above, driving a vehicle at ½ speed does not make an engine last twice as long when comparing mileages. Ford's machining tolerances and Q/C were much better back then than what we see coming out of some of the older rebuild shops. Many guys have cobbled engines in their Model-As where shortcuts were taken, or shoddy craftsmanship was performed. That is why so many Model-As won't run. Dad used to say that People only believe what seems believable to them. Unless someone has experienced a truly restored Model-A, -or driven a low-mileage, unmolested Model-A, they just can't believe a Model-A can capably cruise at 60 mph for extended periods.
 
Speaking of which, the idea of the Burtz block with five mains and inserts appeals to me more at my age than having to crawl under the car every 10,000 miles, take off the oil pan, and check the clearances and monkey with shim packs:)
 
My cabriolet is capable of cruising at 60 on the freeway and the engine is still running at what feels like a comfortable speed. Stopping comfortably in traffic is what keeps my speed down. I need to keep a lot of extra room for safely braking, and as the traffic gets heavier, I find newer cars slip in front of me, taking away my safe braking distance. That necessitates me slowing down a lot.
 
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