The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop speed and fuel

Well thanks to a couple of fellows in the big bolt section that have answered 2 of my questions and one I did not ask they now have given me the need to ask a couple more here in this site the help here is great anyway to the questions. It seems I am the proud owner of a 1953 3 ton truck with a 248 engine. The odometer reads 18000 miles truck has not been used since the mid 70s. Now my questions 1 can it be run on unleaded fuel without the use of lead substitute or will it need to be rebuilt with the hardened valve rods. 2 will it maintain 50-55 miles per hour speed limit as if I dont have to change the drive train I would like to keep it as close to original as possible and I plan on driveing it daily. I believe that trucks of this period have class and deserve to keep working heck its only a year older than I am and I still work. Thanks for your help.

Interesting question about the fuel. I have a 1972 Toyota Landcruiser, with the original 6 cylinder. It was designed to run on regular gas. I do not remember when unleaded fuel started being made, but it must have been about this time. The reason I say this, is because in my owner's manual, Toyota includes a note that says that if unleaded fuel is used, it must be 91+ octane. I don't know if that statement is true or not. I have owned the Landcruiser for 12 years. I have always put 91+ octane in it and have had no problems with the engine. It uses no oil and runs like a top. From time to time, I will run it at 65-70 mph. At 70 mph, the engine is really screaming, since the transmission is a 3 speed. I think the rear end is a 3.7. But, I'm not sure.

Congratulations on your new aquisition.

As for the fuel question, doing a search will yield mixed opinions. My advive is to drive it the way it is and if it needs a teardown at some point, talk it over with your machinist.

Your truck will probably cruise at less than 50 mph. I would think that 45 mph would be cranking it pretty good. There are many on this site that can tell you from experience.

Well, once again, I have shown my ignorance on the mechanics of the vehicles I own. I stated earlier that I thought my Landcruiser had 3.7 gears. WRONG! They are 4.11. Wanted to correct myself, before someone else corrected me. Not that there are a lot of 'Bolters out there that have '72 Landcruisers. But, you never know.

However, this thread was about fuel, and my statement still stands.

Thanks guys that answers a lot of ?s for me it was suggested over on the big bolt forum that the engine is a 248 GMC but I will add the engine serial # here as I should have done in the first place engine serial # is g42224. I have a axle that is currently in a 1991 school bus its an International with disk brakes but as the I already own the bus and have the elictic brake system and the rims and matching front axle I can update the brakes and rims and rear end all at the same time. The bus was a deisel with a automatic transmission will the engine and tranny in the 53 work with enough power to get her up to speed.