The Ford Barn

throwback · 10-15-2011, 07:53 PM

I wanted to know what speed I will be able get from a standard fresh rebuild with standard Crank and standard cam 1936 Flathead engine?

Thanks

throwback · 10-15-2011, 07:54 PM

The Pistons are 3 1/16 dome type.

estout81 · 10-15-2011, 08:16 PM

Probably 80-85 MPH.

Tinker · 10-15-2011, 08:21 PM

Just a thought, but top end speed is relative to transmission and rearend gear sets.

The 20s- some 60's 3-4 speed transmissions, top gear is 1:1. That is where you end. Add an overdrive and 80 is obtainable and sustainable.

Brendan · 10-15-2011, 08:47 PM

i can go 50 in my 36 pickup with 411 gears

throwback · 10-15-2011, 10:38 PM

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With a stock 36 flathead what transmission do you recommend and acceleration for city driving is also of importance, what rear end gear ration do you recommend?

Thanks!

tiquer · 10-15-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by throwback

With a stock 36 flathead what transmission do you recommend and acceleration for city driving is also of importance, what rear end gear ration do you recommend?

Thanks!

Don`t worry if you are light on the throttle the rest of the traffic will be able to keep up.

34coupe · 10-15-2011, 11:22 PM

Call your local old car club,have someone give you a ride in a stock 36, Dave

danliveshere · 10-15-2011, 11:31 PM

How fast do you want to go with mechanical brakes and rag tires?? Great advise to join up with a car club and see for yourself, but if you do alot of city traffic and also go down the interstate, then you may want to install a columbia or mitchell overdrive.

40 Deluxe · 10-16-2011, 03:02 AM

Buy or borrow a GPS unit, find a straight, level stretch of road, and have at it! Accurate, real-world, first-hand results!

JM 35 Sedan · 10-16-2011, 05:29 AM

I have taken my '35 sedan up to 75 and I know I could have gone faster but didn't care to. This was with a rebuilt 030 over engine, stock 3 speed transmission, 4.11 rear and 750x16 rear tires. I usually run ~ 60 on the interstates. Most want to pass me but many just keep pace with me to check my car over.

throwback · 10-16-2011, 07:30 AM

Thanks all that replied. The engine is at the machine shop. I was wanting to know the speed the engine is capable of and what transmission and rear end would produce the best results. The mechanical brakes are a concern when driving in city traffic. I will probably use juice brakes or discs for higher confidence of stopping.

Thank You!

jimTN · 10-16-2011, 08:02 AM

3:78 rear gear is best for all around running, will allow highway speeds.

Brendan · 10-16-2011, 08:55 AM

i still have mechanical brakes, and i drive my truck as much as i can, i drive alot in the city and take back roads, and have gone over some steep hills, hear in California i can drive my truck most of the time. i don't drive in the rain. make sure that you have good tires and your brakes are adjusted good and you have no play in your brake rods, and cross shaft.
Brendan

Ol' Ron · 10-16-2011, 09:31 AM

Depends on how hi the hill is.

Brendan · 10-16-2011, 09:55 AM

Hopland grade in lake county to Mendocino county , climbed in 2nd and down the other side in 2nd had to have my hand on the shifter to keep her from popping out od 2nd, i went 20 mph all the way

Charlie ny · 10-16-2011, 10:01 AM

TB,
With a 3:78 rear gear and a fresh 21 stud motor my '35 2 door
would do 75 all day with a Stromberg 48.....little things start to add up
like for instance compression ratio...how much have the heads been cut,
condition of the carb and dist.
Charlie ny

Barry-ct · 10-16-2011, 02:15 PM

Why go so fast and miss all the things along the way............. My 50 F-1 has 3:92 gears in it and that's fine. It wasn't built for interstate use and I'll stay on the secondary roads and enjoy the ride.

Bruce Lancaster · 10-17-2011, 03:56 PM

Ford actually had a spec for this!
There is in the Service bulletins a section on performance testing...it gives acceleration, top speed, and mileage standards for the dealer to use if a customer complained about any of these things. If the car met the standard, they could essentially tell the owner he needed driving lessons. If the car failed...the dealer needed to get to work!
From the August 15, 1938 bulletin: They lump '35 and 6 together in some columns, give '35 only in others...
With 4.11 rear the thing needs to be able to go 84.5 MPH and give 15.6 MPG on a Zenith Mileage tester to pass muster at the dealership. With that gear there is a huge drop in mileage between the 40 and 60 MPF columns!

PeterC · 10-17-2011, 05:09 PM

Bruce - 85MPH with a 4:11 seems unrealistic for any sort of distance - would you know the RPM that would require assuming stock tire/wheel combo?

10-15-2011, 07:53 PM	#1
throwback Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lee's Summit, Missouri Posts: 225	What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? I wanted to know what speed I will be able get from a standard fresh rebuild with standard Crank and standard cam 1936 Flathead engine? Thanks

10-15-2011, 07:54 PM	#2
throwback Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lee's Summit, Missouri Posts: 225	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? The Pistons are 3 1/16 dome type.

10-15-2011, 08:16 PM	#3
estout81 BANNED Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Utica, Ohio Posts: 522	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? Probably 80-85 MPH.

10-15-2011, 08:21 PM	#4
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? Just a thought, but top end speed is relative to transmission and rearend gear sets. The 20s- some 60's 3-4 speed transmissions, top gear is 1:1. That is where you end. Add an overdrive and 80 is obtainable and sustainable. Last edited by Tinker; 01-02-2014 at 12:08 PM. Reason: Grammer... grammer... grammer

10-15-2011, 08:47 PM	#5
Brendan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: At my kitchen table in Santa Rosa, Ca Posts: 2,903	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? i can go 50 in my 36 pickup with 411 gears __________________ If it would have been a snake it would have bit ya! i can't spell my way out of a paper bag!

10-15-2011, 10:38 PM	#6
throwback Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lee's Summit, Missouri Posts: 225	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) With a stock 36 flathead what transmission do you recommend and acceleration for city driving is also of importance, what rear end gear ration do you recommend? Thanks!

10-15-2011, 11:22 PM	#8
34coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lewiston Idaho Posts: 371	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? Call your local old car club,have someone give you a ride in a stock 36, Dave __________________ Wanted: 1933-34 Ford roadster project-parts anything roadster Now go out in the garage and build something !

10-15-2011, 11:31 PM	#9
danliveshere Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cairns , Australia Posts: 744	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? How fast do you want to go with mechanical brakes and rag tires?? Great advise to join up with a car club and see for yourself, but if you do alot of city traffic and also go down the interstate, then you may want to install a columbia or mitchell overdrive.

10-16-2011, 03:02 AM	#10
40 Deluxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: now Kuna, Idaho Posts: 3,778	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? Buy or borrow a GPS unit, find a straight, level stretch of road, and have at it! Accurate, real-world, first-hand results!

10-16-2011, 05:29 AM	#11
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? I have taken my '35 sedan up to 75 and I know I could have gone faster but didn't care to. This was with a rebuilt 030 over engine, stock 3 speed transmission, 4.11 rear and 750x16 rear tires. I usually run ~ 60 on the interstates. Most want to pass me but many just keep pace with me to check my car over. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

10-16-2011, 07:30 AM	#12
throwback Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lee's Summit, Missouri Posts: 225	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? Thanks all that replied. The engine is at the machine shop. I was wanting to know the speed the engine is capable of and what transmission and rear end would produce the best results. The mechanical brakes are a concern when driving in city traffic. I will probably use juice brakes or discs for higher confidence of stopping. Thank You!

10-16-2011, 08:02 AM	#13
jimTN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Powell, TN Posts: 2,508	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? 3:78 rear gear is best for all around running, will allow highway speeds.

10-16-2011, 09:31 AM	#15
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,857	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? Depends on how hi the hill is.

10-16-2011, 09:55 AM	#16
Brendan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: At my kitchen table in Santa Rosa, Ca Posts: 2,903	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? Hopland grade in lake county to Mendocino county , climbed in 2nd and down the other side in 2nd had to have my hand on the shifter to keep her from popping out od 2nd, i went 20 mph all the way __________________ If it would have been a snake it would have bit ya! i can't spell my way out of a paper bag!

10-16-2011, 10:01 AM	#17
Charlie ny BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,019	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? TB, With a 3:78 rear gear and a fresh 21 stud motor my '35 2 door would do 75 all day with a Stromberg 48.....little things start to add up like for instance compression ratio...how much have the heads been cut, condition of the carb and dist. Charlie ny

10-16-2011, 02:15 PM	#18
Barry-ct Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Newington, Connecticut Posts: 1,374	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? Why go so fast and miss all the things along the way............. My 50 F-1 has 3:92 gears in it and that's fine. It wasn't built for interstate use and I'll stay on the secondary roads and enjoy the ride. __________________ Barry 50 F-1

10-17-2011, 03:56 PM	#19
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? Ford actually had a spec for this! There is in the Service bulletins a section on performance testing...it gives acceleration, top speed, and mileage standards for the dealer to use if a customer complained about any of these things. If the car met the standard, they could essentially tell the owner he needed driving lessons. If the car failed...the dealer needed to get to work! From the August 15, 1938 bulletin: They lump '35 and 6 together in some columns, give '35 only in others... With 4.11 rear the thing needs to be able to go 84.5 MPH and give 15.6 MPG on a Zenith Mileage tester to pass muster at the dealership. With that gear there is a huge drop in mileage between the 40 and 60 MPF columns!

10-17-2011, 05:09 PM	#20
PeterC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Connecticut Posts: 855	Re: What speed will I be able to get from a stock 1936 flathead? Bruce - 85MPH with a 4:11 seems unrealistic for any sort of distance - would you know the RPM that would require assuming stock tire/wheel combo? Last edited by PeterC; 10-17-2011 at 06:35 PM.