Longest Drive to date
 

So it was actually my wife's idea but she wanted to take the 39 to a family get together in Raleigh which is any 2.5hrs visa the country route. Definitely the furthest trip I've taken at about 110 miles each way Lots of rubbernecking and thumbsup along the way... lol. A little chilly, as my heater isn't functional right now. I do have a small 200w plug in cheapo from Amazon that takes the chill of and works as a defrost when needed. Curious to what RPM you guys are turning at highway speeds. We installed a rebuilt 59a that has a mild Isky cam. I'm turning 2700 at 55 and about 3000 at 60 and getting around 15mpg. I would love to have one of the Mitchell overdrivess but I spoke with them ant he's only done 2 for 1 ton trucks and said he doesn't have the manpower or time to tackle a tonner.

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Deleted. Sorry, my mistake.

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7.50x17s? Usually about 34" in diameter. Really your numbers seem ok to me, for an old one ton pickup. I drove a 38 tonner for years. The 38's had a standard 4:11 rear ratio. Guessing the hill folks won out in 1939 because the standard became 4:68 or thereabouts. Mine did very well out on the freeway. My way of looking at this is almost all f250s through the years 60s,70s,80s had 4:11s and 7.50x16s @ 32" diameter, so they were about the same as yours, and a bit lower than mine. Now for me, I live in serious hill country and always wished my tonner had your lower axle (and it's juice brakes, please) to eliminate some of the downshifting on the grades.... You proably don't need to go over 60 and 3000 rpms ain't so much for Henry's finest!

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I run out of R.P.M.'s on Michigan highways. Traffic headed "up North," is almost always going higher than the posted limit, and I feel as if I'm holding up their weekends. Once, I managed to creep up on several dozen 6x6 trucks in a convoy of National Guard troops as they also were R.P.M. limited while getting up to their annual training in Grayling Mi. We all waved and waved while I slowly passed them. My car forgave me later on and we remained friends.

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If owned that car and wouldn't be doing freeway drives often, I'd just leave things as is. After spending much dollars to install a Mitchell, how often would I use it - would I really benifit ? Personally however I'm fortunate that my '47 with the sightly larger engine has a dealer-install BW Overdrive unit in the drive shaft assembly positioned about 8 inches in front of the differencial. Stock engine turns about 2700 rpm at 65 mph, which feels like the engine's "comfort" zone. It can run at 70 mph but feels like its straining ? Regardless, I don't get to use it often as most my driving is around town or small neighborhood country roads.

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Thanks all. She doesn't seem to mind 3000 rpm and doesn't seem too busy granted the 2700 seems about perfect to the ear. Honestly, I was super impressed and overall comfortable ride. The dips in the rode do provide for a nice bounce in the seat but not an uncomfortable jarring. Now if I could just get a working heater:D

Dropped my lab pup off for training on Sunday after our Saturday trip and the kennel is about an hour from the house out through the country so we hit the road again.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...iA&oe=693E549A

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...9w&oe=693E6AB2

Re: Longest Drive to date
 

Now that's a nice looking truck, enjoy.

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I would be extremely happy with the numbers you posted since it's truck. It's a really nice lookin' vehicle on top of everything else.

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Same with me. That truck looks really clean and straight. Usually the tonners are used Hard, and put away Trashed. I'm loving it!

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Thanks for the input y'all. I drive it every chance I get! Can't ask for better advertising for the business!

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It would be a perfect truck for the stock ford hot air heater. I had one in my 38 , best heater defroster Ive ever seen or had in a 30's ride.Tim

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I'd be very happy w/those numbers!

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It has the truck heater but I'm pretty sure it needs a core and will need to be rewired. The truck is 12v now so I would need the voltage reducer for a heater as well. The previous owner said the fan worked when he last had it running but it was not working when I got it (it was 6v at the time)

I've looked into the restoration process but there is limited info out there. I think mine is a car heater from 39, from what I've read the truck heater had a petcock on the bottom and this one does not.

Here's a pic from when I first bought the truck and before I redid the interior.
https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net...nw&oe=693F68F9

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I agree, that’s a great looking truck!!!….Id drive it all I could too!!….whats the pups name?….Mark

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Thank you! The pup is Maggie, my other lab will pretty much agree out of hunting this year and duck hunting is the passion, so Maggiewill take lead next year. 've been building wooden duck boats for over 20 years. I actually restored an 1870s scull boat. I think it would be neat to have a buddy of mine build a home made trailer using an old axle/parts to tow it behind the truck.

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So neat it's pratically mandatory now that you've suggested it. Somewhere I have a nice old forged steel trailer coupler with ball that has gotta be 1 1/2" diameter. I'll look for it. You'll of course need a bumper clamp hitch too.