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What is the fastest YET safest highway speed a stock 49 1/2 can travel? Truck has a 216, 3 spd with a torque tube drive train.

Thank you for the info. I live in Orlando and it's mostly flat as a table down here. I just don't want to get run over by the tourists. We're a 70 mph state and two lane roads are gettin rare in central Florida. Maybe a budget tachometer would be a good investment!

These trucks were designed for about 50 mph. Above that speed and you don't have enough brakes or steering stability to operate with a reasonable level of comfort.

One thing to remember, safety is relative. If you want to be absolutely safe you live in a bubble. You can do things to improve your margin of safety, such as being sure your brakes are up to snuff, the steering is tight, shocks are in good working order, tires are in good shape and properly inflated. Even with all that, I still would have concerns driving a stock truck over 60 mph.

Another reason for my 60 top speed is the engine. The stock 216 was not designed to operate at high speeds. The rod bearings are poured babbit, which is soft and flexible. And it is thick enough to deform. High operating speeds cause this deformation, which results in rod stretch and premature wear. After a while, you end up with an engine locked up due to rod binding. It is concensus here that 2,700 rpm is a good upper limit for the 216, which is between 55 and 60 mph.

Let me be clear, I'm no hot-rodder. In fact, I doubt I'll ever take her out on the interstate; I'd get run over...Unless, of course we're all together in a convoy headin to the Rod-Run in Daytona. But I will need her to do 55 mph occasionally. Brakes are done, front end's next! Tires will last until I find em on sale

I have driven these trucks at 90+ mph, and it can be one scary ride. In high school the lumber yard I worked for had a 52 1/2 ton, it was 18 years old, and I pegged the speedo (90 for a 52). Could barely hold it between the ditches, literally. And my 52 3/4 ton has recently gone that fast, but I certainly didn't stay at that speed. Held the road straight and true, but I wanted to see just how fast she would go. I do drive to work daily on the interstate at 60, about 2600 rpm with gears and tall tires. But I have to leave lots of room for manuvering.

When I spoke of being designed to drive at 50, I meant realistic driving conditions. Big thing at the time was roads, which really limited you. I do engineering work daily, and know there is a huge difference between actual design conditions and the real world.

As an 18 year veteran of law enforcement in a real CSI unit, I've seen it all on the road. The most aggravating thing is people going slow in the left lane. Like I said before, I don't want to get run over. Think I'll stay in the right lane and on side streets.

Fred, you gotta get rid of those tires,lol.My wife's 51 has radials,stock supension lowered just an inch and tight steering.In overdrive,75-80 mph cruising is straight as an arrow, in fact it's down right dangerous cause ya forget you're in a 50 year old truck with a high center of gravity.Common sense says to slow down while in traffic.

I drive my 37 on the interstate a lot. It has a 3.08 gear and a late model 250 so 65 to 70 is very easy for it. I have rebuilt the whole front steering including the gear box and it still drives like a 65 year old truck! Its not the trucks fault or the rebuilder (me), its just the nature of the beast. Most if not all of the problem is aerodynamics. Flat windshield, tall cab, lite weight... Windy days are really bad. I would much rather drive 45 to 55. To bad you can get run over doing that now!! Joe

Have to agree with Buddha's comment about slow folks in the left lane .You can see folks tempers rise and IQ fall in a short few minutes. I never had the speedo in my 38 1 1/2 ton working but I could keep up with traffic on the Hyway 7.00 x 20 tires

And that was on flat ground