The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Quick Question about my 6400

Good evening fellow gear heads. Today was the maiden voyage of my '53 6400. I only drove it about 15 miles into town to get the floor fixed, but nonetheless it was exciting and I got a lot of looks. Most of them nonverbally said 'what the hell is a 21 year old doing driving a flatbed Chevy...'. Anyhow, I digress. My speedometer moves around alot but its not giving the correct reading. Consequently, I was planning on putting a tach on the steering column and having someone running behind me so I could mark the speeds at various RPM's. My question was with my 6.17 gears, a four speed, and my 235 linked to all of it, how fast could I safely take it without shaking the teeth out of my head and the rods trying to jump out of the motor. I'd hate to mess up the drive train now that it's drivable. Also, any theories about why my speedo is misbehaving or should I just bite the bullet and get it re-built? Thanks for the help! You've all been lifesavers.

Oh, and by the way, I'm going to replace the tires before I attempt any highway driving. Just thought I'd add that. Thanks again.

If your 53 has the original engine, its a low pressure version with babbit bearings. I wouldn't want to wind it up much past 45 mph very long for the sake of the rod bearings. My 51 4400 has a later high pressure 235 and the same gears as yours and its really wound up at 50.

About your bouncy speedo, you might try lubing the cable. I like to use graphite, the kind they sell for lubing door locks at the auto parts place. Pull the speedo cable off and chuck one end in a cordless drill and lube from one end until you see some on the cable at the other. If it looks really gummy, it might help to soak the cable solvent first (blow the solvent out before lubing).

They just put it up in the gallery today :-)
http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/schaeffer_jacob_1953.html