The Ford Barn

bucket-o-rust · 03-23-2018, 07:44 PM

I have a 1930 roadster that I put together from parts. It has a 1931 pickup rear end in it.
The parts that I used are all parts that were in excellent condition. I used many new bearings and seals. I used a motor that runs good has no oil leaks and no smoke from the exhaust. When I drive this car it runs and sounds best ar around 37 or 38 MPH. I think a model A should run smooth at 50 MPH. Is the reason I can only go 37 or 38 mph smoothly because of the low speed pickup rear end ?

wingski · 03-23-2018, 07:47 PM

YEP !!!

Mike

MickeyT · 03-23-2018, 08:03 PM

Nope!!!
I was driving my '31 CCPU down the highway just today at a pretty easy 50mph.

J Franklin · 03-23-2018, 08:16 PM

Most trucks had 4:11 rear gears.

1930-Pickup · 03-23-2018, 08:18 PM

My 1930 PU cruises comfortably at 35-40.
LOTS more engine noise at 45.
Screaming with agony at 50.

The engine was rebuilt around 1960, my guess.
Very few oil drips, very little oil burned (no smoke), runs great.
Certainly not a balanced engine (like many folks do today).
And a stock 4.11:1 rear axle ratio.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 03-23-2018, 09:14 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Most trucks had 4:11 rear gears.

OLD V-8-60s & '40 4 Cylinder pickups used 4:44 to 1 gears, even! GREAT Drag Racin' gears!
Bill Slowerthanmost

1930-Pickup · 03-23-2018, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyT

Nope!!!
I was driving my '31 CCPU down the highway just today at a pretty easy 50mph.

Did you do something to achieve an easy 50? Balanced engine? Overdrive? Axle ratio? Tesla motor?

Bill G · 03-23-2018, 11:53 PM

The real key to answering the question lies in knowing for real what the rear end ratio is. I have seen articles with a couple ways of counting revolutions of the wheels compared to the front engine pulley. I have been waiting for the weather to see what mine is. So, I think until you know, everyone will only be guessing.

1930-Pickup · 03-24-2018, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magicbox51

The real key to answering the question lies in knowing for real what the rear end ratio is. I have seen articles with a couple ways of counting revolutions of the wheels compared to the front engine pulley. I have been waiting for the weather to see what mine is. So, I think until you know, everyone will only be guessing.

The author of this thread is using a light commercial pickup truck axle (as stated in post #1), so the ratio is 4.11:1.

J Franklin · 03-24-2018, 12:23 AM

Sounds like an assumption to me. Maybe at some point the ratio has been changed but it does sound as if it is a 4.11

Wick · 03-24-2018, 06:19 AM

All my A's love 45mph that's the happy spot. My Grandfather told me years ago all cars have that one area where they run with no effort.

ronn · 03-24-2018, 07:50 AM

change the diameter of your wheels............ easy fix!

BillCNC · 03-24-2018, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronn

change the diameter of your wheels............ easy fix!

Then re-gear the speedometer cable so it will be correct.

Regards
Bill

Bill G · 03-24-2018, 10:52 AM

That's an interesting thought.... maybe your speedo is reading 50, but you are maybe going faster. Try getting the phone app Speedbox and check your speed with that.

California Travieso · 03-24-2018, 11:14 AM

Your speedometer may not be accurate. I have a Garmin, GPS that shows your speed. If you have an iPhone, you can get an app that will also tell you the actual speed. I hook up both to my Lithium Ion charger that has a couple of USB ports.

Sorry, I haven't been able to post pictures since the new FB server was installed.

David Serrano

Ernie Vitucci · 03-24-2018, 11:35 AM

In my experience, Model A's run best between 35 to 40 most of the time with a 3.78 rear end which seems to have been the normal ratio. Almost all Model A engines has a spot where they run almost effortlessly. Depending on the engine and how it was built and the rear end ration 3.27 3.54 3.78 4.11, the driver must find the 'sweet spot' and then drive the old girl in the 'Sweet Spot' if the driver wants to have peace of mind and a long running engine. For me the 'Sweet Spot' is more important than the speed...Ernie

03-23-2018, 07:47 PM	#2
wingski Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Cave Junction, Oregon Posts: 432	Re: top speed 37 mahjong YEP !!! Mike

03-23-2018, 08:03 PM	#3
MickeyT Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Texas Posts: 195	Re: top speed 37 mahjong Nope!!! I was driving my '31 CCPU down the highway just today at a pretty easy 50mph.

03-23-2018, 08:16 PM	#4
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,962	Re: top speed 37 mahjong Most trucks had 4:11 rear gears.

03-23-2018, 08:18 PM	#5
1930-Pickup Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: southern California Posts: 725	Re: top speed 37 mahjong My 1930 PU cruises comfortably at 35-40. LOTS more engine noise at 45. Screaming with agony at 50. The engine was rebuilt around 1960, my guess. Very few oil drips, very little oil burned (no smoke), runs great. Certainly not a balanced engine (like many folks do today). And a stock 4.11:1 rear axle ratio. __________________ *"That's my wild unsubstantiated guess, and I'm sticking to it regardless of the facts!"* Last edited by 1930-Pickup; 03-23-2018 at 08:27 PM.

03-23-2018, 11:53 PM	#8
Bill G Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Walla Walla, WA Posts: 1,045	Re: top speed 37 mahjong The real key to answering the question lies in knowing for real what the rear end ratio is. I have seen articles with a couple ways of counting revolutions of the wheels compared to the front engine pulley. I have been waiting for the weather to see what mine is. So, I think until you know, everyone will only be guessing.

03-23-2018, 07:44 PM	#1
bucket-o-rust Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: visalia calif Posts: 263	top speed 37 mahjong I have a 1930 roadster that I put together from parts. It has a 1931 pickup rear end in it. The parts that I used are all parts that were in excellent condition. I used many new bearings and seals. I used a motor that runs good has no oil leaks and no smoke from the exhaust. When I drive this car it runs and sounds best ar around 37 or 38 MPH. I think a model A should run smooth at 50 MPH. Is the reason I can only go 37 or 38 mph smoothly because of the low speed pickup rear end ?

03-24-2018, 12:23 AM	#10
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,962	Re: top speed 37 mahjong Sounds like an assumption to me. Maybe at some point the ratio has been changed but it does sound as if it is a 4.11

03-24-2018, 06:19 AM	#11
Wick Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gwynn's Island Va Posts: 1,386	Re: top speed 37 mahjong All my A's love 45mph that's the happy spot. My Grandfather told me years ago all cars have that one area where they run with no effort.

03-24-2018, 07:50 AM	#12
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,787	Re: top speed 37 mahjong change the diameter of your wheels............ easy fix!

03-24-2018, 10:52 AM	#14
Bill G Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Walla Walla, WA Posts: 1,045	Re: top speed 37 mahjong That's an interesting thought.... maybe your speedo is reading 50, but you are maybe going faster. Try getting the phone app Speedbox and check your speed with that.

03-24-2018, 11:14 AM	#15
California Travieso Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Moreno Valley, CA Posts: 946	Re: top speed 37 mahjong Your speedometer may not be accurate. I have a Garmin, GPS that shows your speed. If you have an iPhone, you can get an app that will also tell you the actual speed. I hook up both to my Lithium Ion charger that has a couple of USB ports. Sorry, I haven't been able to post pictures since the new FB server was installed. David Serrano

03-24-2018, 11:35 AM	#16
Ernie Vitucci Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 612	Re: top speed 37 mahjong In my experience, Model A's run best between 35 to 40 most of the time with a 3.78 rear end which seems to have been the normal ratio. Almost all Model A engines has a spot where they run almost effortlessly. Depending on the engine and how it was built and the rear end ration 3.27 3.54 3.78 4.11, the driver must find the 'sweet spot' and then drive the old girl in the 'Sweet Spot' if the driver wants to have peace of mind and a long running engine. For me the 'Sweet Spot' is more important than the speed...Ernie