The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk How fast? 1954 Car vs truck

Hi; I now have a 1954 3100 half ton. My first car was a 1954 Chevy. That car would go all day at 55 mph. It had a 4:11 rear end. My truck has a 3:90 I belive. I've seen notices to the effect that to go that fast in the truck for any length of time I should switch to a lower ratio differential. I'm confused - which is a normal state for me. How come the car would run at 55 with a 4:11 but I shouldn't go that fast for a long time in the truck with a 3:90?
Thanks.
Rich

who said ya shouldn't, Rich? you may be confused about folks saying you won't keep up w/ freeway traffic - 55 for long periods is no picnic in these ol trucks cuz they're harsher sprung than the cars, and a bit noiser, but they can take it - unless you're running an original driveline w/ mucho miles on it already, in which case you should be carrying some spare parts along!

a better rear ratio will give you the ability to keep up w/ 60-65mph traffic at slightly lower rpm than you'll be doin at 55 now, and the lower rpm will have a positive effect on the longevity of yer ol engine

Bill

A car or truck will drive all day at 55-60 miles per hour with a 1954 3.90 rear end. (Prior to 1954, the 3100 truck used a 4.11 rear end.)

Actually, you would have to stop every 3-4 hours for gas.

The 235 full pressure engine is bulletproof. I had a '54 Chev. 210 Delrey that I drove from L. A. to New York in 1957, and had only one car pass me on the entire trip. I cruised all day at 80 MPH with stock 3.73 gears. I sold the car with 180,000 miles on it and the head had never been off, still ran good and used one qt. of oil in 3000 miles. People that are afraid to cruise their 235's on the freeway don't know what these old engines are capable of. My '54 ran low 16 sec. e.t. at 1/4 mi drags at 77 to 78 MPH. Put on Fenton headers and dual carbs it ran 85 MPH at drags. There is no better engine in the world than a 235.

There is no better engine in the world than a 235.

EXCEPT For the venerable 283!!! does all that plus!!

Car engine. Bah. Get a GMC 270 or 302.

Hi Guys;

I feel better now knowing I can do short squirts on the x way at 55/60 without hurting my truck. I use it a lot around town and sometimes the expressway is the most direct route. While it's not going to be restored, I do want it to look nice and run for another fifty years (mechanicals done, bodywork in the Spring).
After posting my question, it occured to me that maybe there was a significant difference between the car and truck engines that would account for the warning not to run it at expressway speeds. Also, some expressways are 70 mph not the 55 I was thinking about. I can see where 70 for a long time could be hard on it.
When I get some extra money and the courage, maybe I'll try the lower ratio rear end but for now it'll haul everything I put in it.
Now, if you're still reading this.....Thanks for your advice.
Rich

Boy 85 mph at the end of a 1/4 mile drag. I should have used a stovebolt 6 years ago. My 57 olds j-2 stick only turned 75. I could beat 250 hp 57 chevs. but not the 270,s. They turned about 82. Boo is right. We don,t need those stinken v-8s.

i know a 350 is a bit differn't than a 235 but my 78 suburban has a 2 bolt 350 with 4 barrel and its got 4.11s it could run the interstate (70 mph) all day at 3 grand just use a bit more oil that way but i have to say i'm impressed with my old beast got bout 11.5 to the gallon but what do you expect? normally i only get 9
Nate

Well, our original 42,000 mile '53 Bel-Air with a Powerglide sure as heck won't run 16-second quarter miles. Probably more like about 25 seconds <g>... I'm not exaggerating though.

It has great pulling power to hold speeds on hills but it would be a lie to call it any kind of peppy. It will eventually get up to road speed.

It is a full-pressure engine. I don't like to run it above 60 mph for long but then again maybe it wouldn't mind if I asked it to. As a result, we usually take the two-lane roads or trailer it if extensive Interstate mileage is involved. I really don't want to take a chance given the age of the engine and the fact that I really am not sure what speed the engine is turning.

Rich, if'n you've gone thru your truck and feel that it's mechanically sound then I wouldn't hesitate crusin with it on the freeway. My 56 has a 235, 4 on the floor and I drive it every day, including on the highway. Sure, I stay mostly in the left lane but she'll hump right along at 50-55. I actually quite enjoy the little bit longer it takes me to get places nowadays!

Hi;
Thanks again for the good advice. Yep, the old truck is pretty sound mechanically - that was the first thing I did when I got it some months ago. It starts right up, pulls strong and goes where I point it. I just completed the interior sort of. Not original, but much better than when I got it. I still have to replace door and window gaskets, but the interior looks good from ten feet away. The body work is planned for the spring. I hope to achieve a 'twenty foot' repair and paint. The neighbor says the ladder rack I built looks like a bed frame. Well, it's in the bed..
Thanks again. I'll be zoomin along at 55 now.
Rich