The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 55mph in a 70mph zone

Baring any problems I'll be making my first road trip in the 50 since I put her back together.
It's. 400 mile trip one way
I've put 7400 miles since 2010 just around town and back and fourth to work.

Plan on going this weekend, Up a couple of mountain passes and mostly freeway.
To minimize my impact to fellow motorist I'm going to drive overnight.

I can get her up to 60, but never had her at that speed for more than an hour.

Just a little concerned about the semi's and Honda civics

Anyone ever cited for going to slow or holding up traffic?

I plan to take it easy and make some stops at rest areas.

235. 4:11.

Thanks for any tips, advise, stories

Take your time and don't rush it. Most people will get a kick out of seeing you driving down the road. If I get what seems like a big line of cars that can't get around I just pull over and let them go by. Take a tool box, extra oil, coolant and any other odds and ends you may want to take along. Have a plan you can follow if something were to happen. Bottom line, hit the road and enjoy your trip. Good Luck Don

Add a couple of hours to your trip and take the back roads when
ever possible.
We drove down to KC from Chicago a few years back and instead of
the interstate we took the scenic route. It really didn't add
that much time to our trip and we got to see some real nice country.

Denny G

Good luck and be safe, let us know how it went!!

Hey dads50, Your recent picture showing your boy, truck, and the stovebolt topper looks great! Have fun on your road trip and carry a cellphone and sign up for a towing service before you go just in case. V/R , Nick, Bel Air, MD

See if there are any bolters on the way.Long shot

To be safe, I'd drive it in the daylight. That way people coming up from behind know it's an older vehicle. They can't tell in the dark. Leave at daybreak. That way you can enjoy the people enjoying your ride.

Ditto Denny, stay off the interstate when possible. At 55 you likely won't lose any time since most two lane primary roads have at least that speed limit. The only way I'd take my '38 on the interstate would be to pick up a winning powerball ticket.

thanks

My wife and boy will be going also but in the new chevy.
I'm leaving maybe 3 or 4 hours ahead of them alone.

there are only a few back/frontage roads. mojave desert, tehachapi pass/58. up 5 or 99 then to Paso Robles. Going to visit a small military historical museum. Also have family near that area.


My main concern is the long stretch where the posted limit is 70 mph, cannot avoid that, the the mountain passes. The passes have 3rd truck lanes I plan to use.

have tools, carb kit, oil, coolant, coil, even picked up a spare Alternator just in case.

Wife in the chase car wont be to far behind so I have that back up.

Like I said earlier, I've never ran the truck for more than an hour at a time. Do not know if other issues may come up.

I do plan and making more stops at least 4 15 minute extra rest brakes.

That topper is very famous.

Most highways/interstates have a 40mph minimum limit for slower moving vehicles. I'd look up your route just to be sure.

Hey Dads, I know that route only too well. That tehatchapie grade is a beoch at times. I hope you don't overheat. Have a fun drive, enjoy the scenery and the waves from admiring drivers

Sounds like a fun trip. I love adventure. Be sure to take notes so you can write and submit a Stovebolt Story. Good luck.

you will be just fine, I drove mine from sandiego to montana, and from there to seattle, I take it out on the freeway all the time. You are always in the slow lane, but then there will always be some yahoo who feels 45 MPH is the appropriate speed for the freeway, so they will never suspect a thing........

This is what I've observed also. If you're going 50 or 55, no cop should write you up. And if anyone else doesn't like it--well, that's what the left lane is for!

Enjoy yourself and take some pics along the way. You should do fine. I also think its a good idea to drive in the daytime for better visibility by others...

Enjoy!

Yes
Good point about driving during daylight.

Due to work schedule, hours of museum we plan to visit I'm going to have to start the journey overnight, at least the start of it.

Thanks for the tips and encouragement.
I'll post a few pics

Hopefully it won't end up like the first time I drove it to work 3 years ago. On my way in to work I heard a clanging sound from underneath. Pulled into a lot looked around couldn't find anything. Called a tow truck and towed home with wounded pride. Only to find out it was a loose lug nut.

Have the cell phone, iPad, the wife can ping me and see where I am. We hope to arrive around the same time.

I should be able to maintain 55, except going up the grade.
So far no issues with overheating.


Right now the plan is to leave Saturday 2am.

Have LEDs on the rear, 3rd brake light. Might help.

slip in behind a VW Bus... everyone will blame the backup on it, not you!

maybe put on one of those orange "slow moving vehicle" signs?

i went to the aths show in south bend two years ago. it was a 1300 mile round trip at 50 mph in my 40 with 4.56 gears. i took I-80 all the way and only got off for fuel. no need for headlights, i spent the night in a service plaza. what was nice in ohio is the three lane road higway. ride the right lane and sight see the whole time. saw lots of cops and they saw me. they probably wished everyone else would drive the speed i was driving. no isses on that trip. i am able to meet the minumum speed so the heck with what anybody else thinks. ever since then i always take the big roads and get there as quick as possible.

Drive at the speeds that you feel comfortable with. Enjoy the sites along the way, especially all of the people looking at you. It sure gives you a good feeling when people are taking pictures of your truck and giveing thumbs ups to you. I stopped for gas one time at a truck stop on the side of interstate, three 18wheeler drivers came over and wanted to take pictures with my truck, they were all over my truck checking things out. Two of them were driving petes and one a kw, and they thought my truck was nice.

Put one of these or one of these on the back bumper for added visibility at night. They are magnetic. I have a similar light for my '38 when traveling at night in heavier traffic.

Taking my 52 to Kansas City was one of the best trips I ever took.Enjoy


Pete

Thanks

I like the Idea of a marker light, I just dont know if they are legal in california on a pick up? I see them on towed vehicles and the large trucks.

the little triangle deals are for going less than 25.

As we all know, if its posted 70, they are going 80 to 85.

Ill see what I can find at the parts store today.

In California, flashing or rotating beacons are only for work. Keep to the right, you should be fine. You'll be in Central Coast country. Most folk are peaceful but you get us city idiots driving someplace important, going through the area, and nobody is fast enough for them. Just ignore those folk.

Last year when I drove my truck to Kansas City for the Stovebolt Reunion and the truck show, I drove mostly interstate and averaged about 55 mph with no problem. It was about an 1100 mile trip and not once did I have anyone give me flack for not doing 70; quite the contrary half the cars and trucks that passed hit the rumble strips as they were busy waving, yelling, taking pics and giving me thumbs up. I even had several people (strangers) give me thier phone numbers telling me to call if I had trouble along the way. Relax and enjoy the life in the slow lane.

Dads50, I've enjoyed your help on the stoevbolt for a long time and your pictures are great. Enjoy your trip and post some pictures of your adventure. As a guy that has been behind the wheel of over the road trucks coming up behind you at night should not be an issue with the LED lights. If it looks like one is closing fast flip your 4 way flashers on for a few just to let him know your moving slow. Early mouning as the sun is coming up is a tuff time for truckers to not stay awake. Easy for one to run up on a slower vehicle. Good time for you to stop and get breadfast. Looking forward to your report about your trip. Enjoy.

Gus -

Sounds like a great adventure! When I go out of town (nothing as long as your trip) I set the GPS in my phone to avoid highways and tolls. I hardly ever reach 55, although the old truck pulls at the reins wanting to go faster. My '54 has a stock 235 with a 1951 4:11 rear end. Runs cool. Cars are occationally backed up behind me but they always find a way around. You will be much safer by driving at your own pace, keeping your eyes on the road ahead, and not worrying about the cars behind you.

Funny:
"Wayne67vert" in his '38 1-ton farm truck, "Jeannie" in her '53 3600, and I drove to the Florida GABFEST in Daytona last month on a beautiful two-lane road at about 45-50mph. WE WERE PASSED BY A SMART CAR. How embarrassing!!!

Have a safe and a wonderful trip.

- Lonnie

way back I traveled thru Cali with friends in a 55 International panel - once I got us thru the lower insanity and over the Grapevine, I let a less freeway experienced bud drive and crawled in the back to snooze, telling him to wake me when we got closer to the Bay area - he got pulled over by the CHP for going too slow in the left lane, just got a lecture, but I drove from there on as said above, just keep right and you won't have a problem, everybody will notice the old truck and cut you some slack

Bill

My brother-in-law from Castile, NY was following me in his 1939 Chevrolet Woody Station Wagon pulling a Mullins trailer. I was driving my 1939 3/4 Ton Chevy Stake truck. We were doing 55 mph on US 23 heading to Flint, Michigan. A police car pulled up along side the woody, then next to me. Then back to the woody then up to me. He did this for the next 5 minutes. He was the one holding up the traffic. He finally gave us the thumbs up and went his way, letting the backup finally pass.

I took a 1000-mile round trip from Virginia to Massachusetts last fall in my 56 3200. It has the stock 235, 3 speed, and the original rear end. I went 55-60 on the interstate the whole way and had no problems whatsoever. One leg of that trip was almost entirely rain, some of it very intense, for 12 hours and 500 miles. The only thing I found a little hard to get used to was cars whizzing past me. Once I got accustomed to that, I was fine. No one tailgated me or acted like a jerk. Like the other guys say, bring your cell phone, AAA card, tools, and spare parts. Chances are you won't need any of it.

I remember your trip thread Joe

Hope mine is as successful

Well the palms are getting a little sweaty,
Starting to pack a little
...pic...

My truck looks dark at night, to give the truckers some help I added reflectorized tape to the back of the cab. Put it on some quick release tape. Not directly on the paint.

Put a piece on the bumper too.
...pic...

I'll take it off after the trip.

Going to finish packing, rest a little

Post updates as you go. Pics, too, if you can.

I would say with 7400 miles on your build,you have the bugs all worked out. Good luck !!!!!

The only time I use a road with a limit of more than 45 MPH is when I take I-90 (limit 75 MPH) to a favortie fishing spot. I have to take the freeway since there is no frontage road for about 5 miles or the trip. Luckily, it's not clogged with traffic. I hang a blaze orange farmer's triangle on the back, turn on my flashers and go about 50-52 MPH. I spend more time looking in the rear view mirror than on the road ahead.

I access the following fishing spot w/o the freeway but I still use the triangle when I go out of town.

Orange Triangle.
-
-

Some rope and a piece of 2x4 never hurt.

As mentioned earlier, I believe legally those triangles are only supposed to be used if you're going 25 mph or less. But it's true that they do make you more visible.

Plan b went into effect

Mrs DADS50 suggested we cut the trip in half. So I left a 4pm Friday. We've stopped for the night and I'll finish the first leg in the morning

The truck has done great so far. Going up the first mountain pass it struggled a bit at 4700 feet. I was in the truck lane. The sewing machine sounded like it was going to loose a needle. Max speed 45 but the trucks were going slower.

Made my first stop in Barstow for fuel and rest. That was about a 3 1/2 stretch.

The only hicupp so far was when I stopped for gas, then restarted and pulled out the truck shut down and coasted, then fired back up. I drove another 2 hours after that .

No problems with my speed. Didn't hold anyone up and the trucks have no problems passing me up. A few thumbs up and o middle fingers.

Here's one pic at Barstow old 58
...pic...

3 junkyards dog banged the fence there. Saw something cool in Barstow. Bunch of cars lineup to see a drive in movie.

Only other problem so far was my gummy worms melted together on the front seat.

Second leg starts in 5 hours after a little rest

I did pack some blocks of wood, wife's cars also has some spare parts.

The reflector tape seems to work well


That's to all.

Just saw this thread, I hope you are having a blast!!

Keep us posted on your progress!

Hopefully lots of pics, too!!

Gus!

What a great adventure and thread!

I bet you're prouder than a peacock and puffed up like a stomped-on toad frog when you get those thumbs up, eh?!

Good tidings to you!

Are we there yet, are we there yet????

Bet it was an uneventful trip wasn't it Gus.
DG