60 miles per hour all day long

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

So the people who state that they have driven their A's for hours at 60 are liars?

You shouda seen the fish that got away! Maybe some stretch the truth somewhat. Some don't care how often they will need to rebuild or replace an engine, and some just believe. The engine could be replaced in 1940 for about $100 or less. Parts & labor. I wouldn't drive max RPM all day.

[wensum]

Our speedster with Light body and greatly improved engine plus F150 gearbox with 42% overdrive will cruise effortlessly at 60mph, however we find the condition of the roads is the limiting factor and often we are reduced to 50mph just for safety reasons.
The light body makes the standard suspension too stiff, and despite removing leaves, four at the front a one at the rear to give a more supple ride, plus greased leaves, the lack of rearward movement of the axles due to transverse springs and radius arms gives a sometimes severe ride when encountering road irregularities.
Keith

[pooch]

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

So the people who state that they have driven their A's for hours at 60 are liars?

With a stock rear end, a stock engine, and no overdrive, no I would not call them liars if they drove for hours at 60 MPH,

I would call them stupid or people with more money than sense, and a good tow insurance policy.

[Patrick L.]

This is much like talking politics isn't it. About as productive too.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

This is much like talking politics isn't it. About as productive too.

True, asking about something that people have not done but believe will happen on both sides of the question.

[updraught]

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Originally Posted by wensum

Our speedster with Light body and greatly improved engine plus F150 gearbox with 42% overdrive will cruise effortlessly at 60mph, however we find the condition of the roads is the limiting factor and often we are reduced to 50mph just for safety reasons.
The light body makes the standard suspension too stiff, and despite removing leaves, four at the front a one at the rear to give a more supple ride, plus greased leaves, the lack of rearward movement of the axles due to transverse springs and radius arms gives a sometimes severe ride when encountering road irregularities.
Keith

Maybe start a new thread, there were plenty of sports built on bare chassis during the 20's.

[Tom Wesenberg]

VW in the 60's used to advertise that you could drive the bug wide open, but they had a small carb to limit the speed to about 72 MPH, or was it 62 MPH.

I agree with everyone that says 60 MPH for a stock Model A is foolish, and very hard on the engine. I would no more think of driving my Model A wide open, than driving my modern car wide open.

Now, I wish this thread would hit the road at 60 MPH all day long.

[J Franklin]

I think this thread is a good one especially for newcomers to the model A. It might give them pause before taking their newly acquired A out on the freeway and then needing a new engine or grave sight.

[WHN]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

I think this thread is a good one especially for newcomers to the model A. It might give them pause before taking their newly acquired A out on the freeway and then needing a new engine or grave sight.

Well said!

[Railcarmover]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

VW in the 60's used to advertise that you could drive the bug wide open, but they had a small carb to limit the speed to about 72 MPH, or was it 62 MPH.

I agree with everyone that says 60 MPH for a stock Model A is foolish, and very hard on the engine. I would no more think of driving my Model A wide open, than driving my modern car wide open.

Now, I wish this thread would hit the road at 60 MPH all day long.

The car was one of the first to use a wind tunnel for design.100km per hour or 62 mph was their standard.Horizontally opposed 4 cyl takes the strain of wide open throttle better due to the natural balancing effect..

[Patrick L.]

Now, I wish this thread would hit the road at 60 MPH all day long. end quote

Me too.

So, to continue it anyway.

There was someone awhile back that kept insisting he drove his 'A' at WOT every time in 1st and 2nd. To each his own.

About 40 years ago a friend virtually stole mine and went sight seeing with it. When he came back coolant was flowing down the hood and running boards and the left side of the engine was covered with oil from the filler/breather. Needless to say I was a bit upset with him. He just said he was trying to drive it as he remembered driving them. Its the same 1961 engine today.

When I get to thoroughly restore one and find it can go '60 all day long' that'll be fine, but, doesn't mean I'll do it. But, I wouldn't use a completely stock engine today either.

[dean from bozeman]

Ask anyone who has driven or has been a passenger in an original, low mileage Model A (let's say less than 50,000 miles) about the ride. I've driven a 32,000 mile original "A" and was a passenger in a 4,000 mile original "A". Those were the two best riding A's that I've ever been in. The ride, the acceleration, the feel is better than just about any other "A".

Could those A's drive at 60 mph all day long? I don't know. However, they are a testament to how an engine with the original specifications would run. They are a testament to the benefit of using original materials. They have proven to me that we don't need to "improve" the Model A to get a comfortable, smooth ride. The original materials and specs are just fine.

[H. L. Chauvin]

If one reads all different Model A Forum posts for the past 20+ years, appears at least 95% of Model A owners are continually asking questions about:

"How do I fix my oil burning, worn out knocking Model A with a leaking head gasket and leaking manifold, noisy valves, lead chips and water in the bottom of the oil pan, poor compression, and poor brakes."

Hmmmmmmm !!!! Appears one rarely reads comments stating:

"Hey guys, just reporting, (with absolutely "NO" mechanical modifications), I drive my standard Model A 60 MPH All Day Long !!

In my humble opinion, "everybody" is completely and totally missing the point!

I mean .... wake up .......... the Russians are hacking our Forum messages !!!!

[marc hildebrant]

At a car show in Longmont, Colorado, I had a chance to talk to a Model A owner with a original car. Interior was shot and the paint was gone. Engine was original and worked fine. As he was leaving, I asked what speed he would drive on the interstate on the way home. He said, "55 mph". Car drives fine and is smooth running.

The family had stuff roped all around to the car...looked like the old show Beverley Hillbillies.

I believe that a new Model A could drive 60 MPH with now problem for quite some time.

Marc

[pooch]

If only the people with foot on the pedal just knew how much bending up and down force there is on that flimsy crank and centre babbit when the pistons change direction at 87.6 times per second at 2628 RPM..

Count one one thousand, your crank has just been subject to 87.6 pulls and pushes up and down
.

[frank55a]

Many have said the Model A design speed was based on the roads of the day. You need to read the attached article.

This 3 year old strictly stock tudor known as the Phoenix Flyer which had established the record from LA to Phoenix, returned 3 years later and after 64,000 miles to better the time by 2 hours and 24 minutes over one of the most grueling 892-mile speed tests in the west. The entire round trip of 892 miles from LA to Phoenix and back to LA over burning deserts sands and steep mountain passes was made by this 3 year old car at an incredible average speed of 61.03 MPH.
Further just prior to this LA to Phoenix run the PF ran 500 miles over Muroc dry lake at an average of 66.66 MPH.

[WHN]

Originally Posted by frank55a

Many have said the Model A design speed was based on the roads of the day. You need to read the attached article.

This 3 year old strictly stock tudor known as the Phoenix Flyer which had established the record from LA to Phoenix, returned 3 years later and after 64,000 miles to better the time by 2 hours and 24 minutes over one of the most grueling 892-mile speed tests in the west. The entire round trip of 892 miles from LA to Phoenix and back to LA over burning deserts sands and steep mountain passes was made by this 3 year old car at an incredible average speed of 61.03 MPH.
Further just prior to this LA to Phoenix run the PF ran 500 miles over Muroc dry lake at an average of 66.66 MPH.

We know only one thing as a fact. The Model A Ford was designed in 1927, using technology know at that time.

Your article is great reading. However, we don't know what if anything was done to this car after 64,000 miles. We don't know now much longer after the record run this car was drivable.

Back in high school I burned up a perfectly good 55 Chevy in less that three months. My parents were not happy, and I still don't learn anything about taking care of cars. I know now, cars aren't $50.00 anymore.

Fact, the Model A Ford was a good improvement over the Model T, but not a great high speed road car given other brands of the day.

[pooch]

Pretty soon this thread will have the ole A doing 95 MPH, lasting 250000 miles with no oil or air filter and getting 55 MPG.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by frank55a

Many have said the Model A design speed was based on the roads of the day. You need to read the attached article.

This 3 year old strictly stock tudor known as the Phoenix Flyer which had established the record from LA to Phoenix, returned 3 years later and after 64,000 miles to better the time by 2 hours and 24 minutes over one of the most grueling 892-mile speed tests in the west. The entire round trip of 892 miles from LA to Phoenix and back to LA over burning deserts sands and steep mountain passes was made by this 3 year old car at an incredible average speed of 61.03 MPH.
Further just prior to this LA to Phoenix run the PF ran 500 miles over Muroc dry lake at an average of 66.66 MPH.

Note the last 2 paragraphs of the article. The car was "torn down for inspection" at 64,000 miles and had "practically no wear". The driver said that was because it was "so perfectly lubricated". So all that is needed to drive at 60 all day is to use "HyVis" oil! Wonder who sells it these days.

Seriously, though, this report does show that the mains and rods do get enough oil at a continuous 60+ MPH. So the stock splash system is not the limiting factor. The stock fan, water pump and radiator must have worked OK too. The steering and suspension must have OK too. Nothing in the report about repeatedly running off the road and rolling over! Brakes? Not an issue with no traffic.
So why say an A cannot run 60 MPH all day?? This one did!

[WHN]

I would like to think that we all agree the Model A is a great car and fun to own.

I enjoy reading everyone's comments.

All of you guys are great. Keep the issues going!