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08-12-2023, 12:17 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 254
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Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
Took my 54 Meteor (Canadian Ford, we had the flathead one more year than the USA) last week on a big road trip, by myself for five days. The wife and I already did a cruise this summer, and I wanted to go back to my hometown to look around, reminisce etc. Not only did I get a real kick out of seeing all the places we used to live, and met a few people from the past, but the car absolutely kicked butt!!! I averaged 20 - 22 Imperial MPG (Borg Warner Overdrive). It didn't burn any oil the first 3/4 days until one evening the OD stopped working (I think the 70 year old solenoid is getting flaky). I was on the highway that night for about an hour at 65 mph and climbing steep hills so running it a bit hard. The next morning the OD worked fine (always fixes itself the next day lol) and when I filled up with gas I finally had to add a litre of oil. That was at 1000 miles.
The oil is still fairly clean too. It's on it's fifth oil change since I woke it up from a 55 year sleep two years ago. That engine never ceases to amaze me and it never skips a beat. I adjusted the points before the trip and it also made a noticeable difference. I could only get 20mpg if I babied it before, this time I drove it normally and got better mileage. At the start of the trip, I brought the car to the guy I bought it from and he was real pleased to see it. He is a che!y guy, but had that car for ten years in his garage. He was supposed to restore it for his wifes very elderly aunt, but was not able to. I found out the Aunts name is Francis (still alive at 93) so that is what I'm going to name the car. He had never heard of the Borg Warner Overdrive and thought it was amazing. Every time I "kicked it down" he laughed so hard!! I camped out every night and the large trunk in the car came in handy for my gear. One add-on I did beforehand was a trunk light. So glad I installed that. Made a real difference when I got back to the campsite at night. It was an amazing trip I will never forget and the car really made it a joy. Got so many waves/thumbs up/smiles etc. |
08-12-2023, 12:52 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 10,447
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
Canadian 1954 Meteor Sales Brochure |
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08-12-2023, 12:55 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 10,447
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
Flathead V8 in Canadian 1954 Meteor. Illustration from the original Sales Brochure |
08-12-2023, 06:43 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: ohio
Posts: 987
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
Really nice, glad you had an over all good trip. THANKS for sharing !!!
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08-12-2023, 06:56 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: 36 miles north of Albany NY
Posts: 2,972
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
Glad you had fun, did you take any pictures of your trip that you can post?
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08-12-2023, 10:12 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: NE Iowa
Posts: 1,670
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
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08-12-2023, 03:21 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Qld, Australia
Posts: 4,240
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
That makes me envious,
My 33 is is the shop getting the brakes and cooling sorted,(cooling was blocked radiator and water passages) brakes on the mend. But I will head off some where as soon as its done. These are great cars to travel in, a pleasure to drive and you meet lots of people. Lawrie |
08-12-2023, 04:53 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 254
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
Thanks guys, I mostly took video and plan to put it all in a youtube video sometime over the winter when I have time.
Today the car rolled over 94000 on the way to the store. It had 86k on it when I got it two years ago. No regrets racking up the mileage. Right now I'm working on getting my late father's 57 Monarch ready for a big road trip with my son and nephew at the end of the month. Can't wait for that one!! |
08-12-2023, 04:58 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 254
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
Here is a picture from one of the campsites. We went here dozens of times when we were kids. I had the whole place to myself for almost 20 hours. Quiet little lake in northern Alberta. That car took me down some crazy roads!! Haha.
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08-12-2023, 05:20 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 8,569
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
__________________
The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 |
08-12-2023, 09:12 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Point Loma, San Diego, CA
Posts: 431
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
Thanks for sharing!
An extended road trip is the ultimate accomplishment for the owner of a vintage flat head. Everything tweaked, adjusted and repaired. Confidence to cruise an extended distance from home. It's certainly my ultimate goal. |
08-22-2023, 03:35 PM | #12 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 14
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
That’s great! It’s amazing what those old flatheads can do
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08-22-2023, 04:50 PM | #13 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 3,833
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
This proves that the flathead V8 is a very reliable engine. When properly maintained, they will take you on epic adventures.
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08-22-2023, 04:51 PM | #14 | |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Illinois
Posts: 3,833
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
Quote:
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08-22-2023, 08:08 PM | #15 |
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Sask. Canada
Posts: 2,427
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
Great to hear. I'd been wondering when you'd have another video up of the Meteor and I guess you have the material for it now. I'm always impressed at how relaxed my 52 Merc sounds on a smooth highway at 60 mph. The Mercomatics got the lower numerical axle ratio. 3.31 as opposed to the 3.73 in a standard. 4.10 in overdrive equipped Mercs. So your Meteor would be turning quite a bit higher rpm if the overdrive was not engaged.
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https://www.youtube.com/user/roosty6/videos Last edited by RalphG; 08-23-2023 at 08:24 AM. |
08-23-2023, 06:54 AM | #16 |
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Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: ohio
Posts: 987
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Re: Ran my Flathead over 1200 miles last week, it was great!
Thanks for sharing !! Nice trip & NICE CAR !!!!!
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