The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Sharing the road with semi trailer trucks.

With my '49 Chevy 3800 and 16' trailer I set off on Wednesday for a roadtrip to Nebraska to pick up the '46 Ford pickup I bought off of Ebay.

I stopped for fuel twice, stopped to check wheel bearings, etc. twice and still averaged almost 50 mph. The mpg was just under 12.5 average. That was about the best I've every gotten, with it normally being from 10 to 12 mpg.

With the nearly 50 mph average I remain convinced that the differential gears have been swapped out for lower ratio higher speed ones. Thanks to those that did that. Someday I'll jack the truck up and do some counting to determine just which gears I might have.

Once loaded I spent the night in Nebraska before heading home. I wish that I had contacted Fumblin'46 before I left to see if he lived anywhere near the area of NE I was in. Too late now. Would have been fun to see those '46s of his.

The roadtrip home was a little more antsy because of the extra weight and those darned Nebraska and northern Kansas hills. Lots of semis hauling grain from Nebraska to the feedlots of western Kansas to share the road with.

I developed the habit a long time ago to glance out my back window from time to time using my peripheral vision. Mirrors are okay, but that quick glance sometimes let you see something you miss in the mirrors.

With one glance I got a real scare---a BIG TRUCK was mere inches from the back of my truck, and I do mean inches. It gave me quite a start.

WHEW! That big truck I saw was just the pickup on the trailer I was towing. No wonder it was so close. It only looked big because it was setting up high on the trailer. Needless to say I won't need to get a physical this year as my heart has already been checked.

The return trip was flawless just like the trip going. The added weight did cause me to downshift on the hills a few times however, with a semi behind me only once. Thankfully the driver was patient.

It is a good couple of days when you can drive 620 miles in a 1949 Chevy with confidence that you will arrive at your destination.

Mazda may have gone Hmmmmmmmm with their engines, but my old Chevy 216 purrs like a kitten.

Yup, roadtrips are good!

I love road trips!

I think one of the reasons I like buying trucks that are far away is the pure joy of the road trip to collect it!

My wife thinks I'm nuts...

How do you get a 216 to tow another truck? My 235, 3/4 ton had a difficult time with a Harley in the bed.

My old '49 has had more load than the trailer and '46 when I have hauled 100+ bushels of wheat to town from my farm, or when hauling a load of sand.

Tab, these old Stovebolts are workhorses. You shouldn't have any problems with a 235 and a load so I hope you are jesting. Something isn't right if you aren't.

I too kept getting startled when I was towing The Ox down from Oregon behind "Big Red" (77 C20, now demised)... I'd glance in the rear view mirror and see a huge grill bearing down on me... then realize... what it was..

My 454 got 10mpg empty, and 7.5 mpg towing.

That sounds like it was quite an adventure. Wish I would have been there.

While I've never gotten stranded in any of my trucks, I lack the "nards" to attempt anything like that.

Perhaps some day, I too shall grow a spine.

Thanks for sharing your story.

Windy:

My truck seems to run fine around town but if I'm on the highway even without a load, I sometimes find my foot to the floor going up light grades. I since have adjusted the timing points and valves but it's not what I would call a "work horse" . Maybe I need a two barrel carb.

You must have something wrong with your 235. It has more power than the 216. I'd start by checking point gap, plugs, wires, valve lash, timing. All the major tune-up items.

It also helps not to get in a hurry. I have a friend who used his 39 1/2 ton with a 216 to haul firewood in the mountains in southern Colorado. It was a 2.5 hour, 90 mile trip with about a ton of wood.

Tab, naw you don't need a two barreled carb even if it would be nice. I'm running a single barrel Carter on mine. I'm not sure what model number it is.

I'm pretty sure from the sound of it your engine isn't up to par. Seems that you have checked some things already. Perhaps time to check further.

Why don't you post over on the Engine and Driveline forum and see what all is suggested.

Driving habits can vary greatly, but this sounds more like an engine problem than all driving habit problem.

Best wishes at getting to the root of the problem. Keep us posted as to what you find out.

losing the harley might help...

Tab, I've been having a problem with my 235... on the highway she 'chugs'... and a bit of backfiring when I let up on the gas. We just tightened up the manifold bolts yesterday as apparently they have a tendency to work themselves loose...it's a common problem and it seemed to help. May have been affecting the vacuum.

Thanks for the replies.

I recently had the engine rebuilt so I'm pretty sure that it's not a lose manifold. I will re-adjust my valves AGAIN, and see if that helps.

Vacuum gauge makes a good, low dollar diagnostic tool. Cost is about $15. http://www.centuryperformance.com/vacuum.asp

I've got a vacuum gauge. Should I attach it to the vacuum advance port?

I adjusted the valves to 6 and 16 hot. It does seem to run slightly better and it pulls from about 8mph in 3rd gear without over taxing the motor. It surges a bit when I floor it though, like it wants to run strong then lags back. It's not a strong surge but it's there.

I will check the timing and points again tomorrow.

Hook the vacuum gauge to the manifold port. I usually just unplug the wipers to connect. The advance port doesn't get full vacuum all the time.