They were driven 60 in the 50's on roads that were straight enough to drive 60. If your rods are shimmed right and you have enough oil in them, it doesn't hurt them. My father used GMCs because of the pressure oil and precision bearings, but other than that there's not that much difference. The noise scares many people these days. Steel fans with no fan clutch and solid lifters and no insulation under the hood makes noise, but that doesn't mean anything is about to fly apart.
