"I've read of 50's vintage AD trucks going well over 200K miles."
I am not following the banter/bragging, but does someone know of a 216 or a low-pressure 235 going 200K without a rebuild (or, at least a valve job)? I'll bet my 1954 A-D high-pressure 235s were lucky to go 50K miles before lower-end rebuild?
Or, is that 200K road miles on the truck, not on the original engine? Kingpins, rear axle seals, etc, etc . . ?
I did sorta step into it with that comment. Can't factually qualify the 200k and I was referring to the engine. I made the mistake of repeating what I've read on forums where the writers related high mileage figures from personal experience with an air of authenticity. I mean it was on the internet, has to right.....right?
Even on my truck I can't absolutely say the indicated 50,0523 miles are in fact actual. I do know I'm the 4th owner and the 3 owner to actually drive the old truck (I bought it from a small museum which put basically no miles on it). The original owner/farmer in Indiana died in 1988 and the copy of his title and the 2nd owners support the current mileage.
All that said, based on what I found with the paint under the crud, the lack of marks on the fasteners and such when I pulled the oil pan and replaced the rear main seal made me think I'm the first to pull said pan. I did plastic gauge the mains and they were within spec so I did not remove any shims and that was at about the 45,000 mile mark.
It's now over 50k, but I don't see it going 200k at all.
Now if one of the "well seasoned" members would step in an shed some first hand stories that'd be pretty interesting/informative.
RonR
