Whats your max comfortable driving speed

[Bill Stipe]

What is your comfortable driving speed on the divided highway and the open single lane road. handling, braking, steering?
45, 50 ,55, 60, 65, 70?
How is your car setup?

tire size,
shock absorbers,
steering box,
Brakes, cast drums, steel drums, Mech or Hydraulic,

Bill

[roccaas]

Whatever "She who must be Appeased" offers as friendly advice.

Anything above 45 and I wonder how my 81 year old Grandfather would like running down the hallway at top speed.

19's
Stock Houdaille's
Stock Box
Mechanical, steel drums

[Bob C]

If your grandfather was rebuilt to as new condition he would probably do just fine.

Bob

[mrtexas]

I have hydraulic brakes, mitchell overdrive, shocks, 35 wires with radial tires, and an F1 steering box. I go 60 with the overdrive on. I could go faster but don't see the need for it as I keep up with most on the Interstate.

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by 29 Red Rocket

What is your comfortable driving speed on the divided highway and the open single lane road. handling, braking, steering?
45, 50 ,55, 60, 65, 70?
How is your car setup?

tire size,
shock absorbers,
steering box,
Brakes, cast drums, steel drums, Mech or Hydraulic,

Bill

I remember going 75 once in 30 pickup truck. I'm comfortable at any speed but my sports coupe likes 50-55.
Good original brakes, good original shocks, good original steering. 5.5 head, Stipe 3/4 winfield cam, counter weighted crank.

[Purdy Swoft]

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Fifty mph feels Comfortable cruisring, It will run a lot faster. I run 19 inch wheels , 3.78 gear ratio, friction shocks , two tooth steering, new sector and worm gear, needle bearings , shortened 1 & 1/2 inch pitman arm, teflon buttons in tie rod and drag link ends, mechanical brakes with steel drums. The car handles about the same as a modern car.

[newshirt]

Comfortable? 40.

The poor old gal shakes terrible above 50. Can hit 60, with some awful abuse.

Stocker.

[columbiA]

30 cpe cruises nice at 45 or 60 in OD.I use 19" Firestones as they are about 1" taller than most.No front shocks yet.2-tooth steering box with needle & needle thrust brgs,short pitman arm ,teflon seats.Brakes have Teds Floaters & steel drums.OD is Columbia 2-speed with 4.11 & 2.94 ratios.31 S/W sedan has same mods except for stock A engine & I cruise at 55 in that one.No shimmys or shakes in either car.

[steve s]

45 - 55 mph. 1929 Town Sedan, 21" Firestones, stock steering with shortened Pitman arm, 3.78 rear end, original shocks, 5.9 Brumfield head, insert bearings and counterbalanced crank, F150 OD, various Zenith carbs, front and rear Panhard bars, Cling serpentine fan system, V8 hydraulic brakes, electronic ignition, centrifugal advance thingy in the valve compartment.

[dave in australia]

45 mph or there abouts, I'm more worried about farmer Joe who thinks he has the right to pull out in front of me because it's an old car than anything else, but it doesn't deter me from driving. I just have to be highly vigilant and continue to plan escape routes for the bad decisions of others.

[Kurt in NJ]

I have driven all day comfortably in the 60-65 range on the PA turnpike, the car will always creep up over 50 when I am trying to drive slower, most times I just drive the speed of traffic.

Blue ribbon stock, "B" cam, diode in the cutout, halogen headlight bulbs, 3:78 rear

Properly working shock absorbers make a huge difference in the comfort of driving at highway speeds, I know that on my car having good shocks made a scary ride at 45 into a comfortable ride at 65.

[Jordan]

Sedan- Inserted stock motor from Skokie. Zenith carb, FS ignition, & high comp head: about 55 mph. Getting an overdrive next week so will probably be more like 65 after that. Stock shocks, but will soon get modern tube shocks from Ken Davis. Has 19 rims, but has BF Goodrich Silvertown edition tires size 550- they are taller & wider than normal model a tires (and cheaper). Mechanical brakes. Pressurized radiator.

Coupe- Stock babbit motor, Weber downdraft, FS ignition & 4 speed overdrive: 70+ mph all day long. Stock tires & shocks. Does have hydraulic brakes.

[Mike V. Florida]

Stock, except HC head, Local conditions is what stops my car. Highways and turnpikes have lawful limits of 70 MPH so traffic moves at 80. Some local long streaches have seen the car near 60 but shot shocks makes me worry. The car and myself seem happy at about 45.

[jackball]

50 mph

[CountrySquire55]

About 55 mph. 31S/W Town Sedan with inserted engine and HC head; stock wheels/tires and trans; tube shocks; Mitchell overdrive; currently in progress converting to cast iron drums and rebuilding service/parking brakes.

[Chuck Kuntz]

1931 pickup with stock B motor, stock A otherwise. 45 mph is enjoyable.

[Patrick L.]

40-45 is comfortable,, 50 if needed.. I don't worry so much about the car as I do other people.. I don't think an accident in one of these monsters would be enjoyable..

[Loyd Nix]

Rebuilt trans, rebuilt (babitted) engine. Snyder head, Zipper ignition, touring cam, short Pitman arm, juice brakes, C.I. drums, stock steering and wheels (19"), new radiator. She will do 60 but is much happier at 45.
As Daddy used to say "Don't work a race horse and don't race a work horse."

[Richard Redmond]

35 mph feels scary in my 29 Roadster.

It is a restored car other than the engine short block was not reconditioned. Uruguayan home-made hydraulic brakes work well but don't inspire confidence.

The Roadster is quieter with the top down - actually pleasant at 30 mph on an open road with no need to gun the engine.

[CarlG]

50-55 is what I strive for. 5.5 Snyder head, Weber carb, 19" Firestones, friction shocks. Will be putting an F150 OD in shortly, not to increase speed, but to decrease RPMs

[brum1]

35 mph all day long

[Kevin in NJ]

The Model A was designed to safely and comfortably run 60 MPH. If you do not believe me then read the service letters.

It has been my experience and many others experience that a properly restored to Ford specs runs comfortably at 60 MPH. It takes some research and money to make this happen.

BTW, a car that runs comfortably at 60 is a complete dream to drive at 45 MPH. One hand driving and brakes that stop one a dime make for a nice drive with no worries, well maybe a little worries that the kid in the rumble seat is not eating the ice cream fast enough.

It has also been my experience that most cars that can only be run 45 MPH are uncomfortable for me at that speed. So much less braking power than a good car, hard to keep on the road and the engine just feels like it wants to die.

You are probably much safer in a car that is restored to factory specs at 60 mph than in the car that has troubles at 45 MPH running 35 MPH.

[Dick Deegan]

I'm happy at 45 - 50 mph although Charlie will do 60 and be stable in my 30 Coupe. All is stock except 5.5 head and electronic ignition.

19" wheels with Lester tires
Stock shocks in good working condition
Stock 2 tooth steering box
Cast Iron drums with Ted's floaters

Dick

[V4F]

Stock 2 tooth steering box
Cast Iron drums with Ted's floaters
tube shocks
750x16 - 600x16 coker rag tires
s-10 5 speed

i like around 60 mph .......................... steve

[Georgew48]

My 29 Sport Coupe runs great at 50-55 but I like crusing the back roads at 45. All stock except for 6 volt alt and 16 inch tires and wheels.

[Aerocraft]

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50 unless leading a tour which I run at 40 - 45. Cast iron brakes, 3.54 rear end, 5.5 head, touring cam, insert bearings, '30 Coupe with 75 year old driver. Gar Williams

[2manycars]

I have been up to 75, but the tudor is happiest at about 50. I stay off the interstate roads because the traffic is doing 70-75, and the state roads are mostly posted at 45 or 50, so that is fine with me. I am in no hurry, and with stock 21 inch tires, stopping is not as good as modern cars. Car has a Stipe cam, snyder head, 3;54 gears, stipe shocks, and otherwise stock original, with 7 tooth steering which has some wear after all these years.

[Brobrian]

Hmm, seems I'm not in your class, gents. Bone stock '28 coupe likes 40, but will speed up to 50 if given a gentle slope and a few tenths of a mile. The bone stock '31 PU races the motor and rattles the driver to deaf at 40, really likes 35.

[Frank Nemo]

Ole Betsy likes 45 to 50 as does her driver. She will handle 55 with out complaint if called upon. Betsy is a '30 Sport Coupe with Goodyear 19" tires, Skokie babbit stock engine, Ted's floater brakes.

[2935ford]

Wow guys, I'm seeing you run cars at 45 - 55mph!

My '29 Roadster and '28 Tudor grunt at trying to reach those speeds. 35 - 38mph is what they are comfortable at. Mind you they have not been rebuilt and I don't know the actual miles on the engines.

[Steam Engine Pete]

31 SW Town Sedan, stock drivetrain, brakes, suspension, etc. Will do 60 but usually end up driving 45-50.


Pete

[Benson]

Originally Posted by 29 Red Rocket

What is your comfortable driving speed on the divided highway and the open single lane road. handling, braking, steering?
45, 50 ,55, 60, 65, 70?
How is your car setup?

tire size,
shock absorbers,
steering box,
Brakes, cast drums, steel drums, Mech or Hydraulic,

Bill

Sport Coupe
3500 miles on fresh rebuilt babbit B engine with unknown regrind B cam
Large B head
Working shocks
B carb
3.54 Diff
4.50 19 balanced wheel assemblies
castiron rear drums
Steel front drums (onlist to replace too)
No over drive

Mechanical brakes, recently removed the front "floaters" (REPRO ones with the pin) because the brakes were grabbing on application. Like stock wedges much better.

rebuilt 2 tooth

Is happy at 60-65 on open road, goes 70 easily but I worry about the idiots out on the road.

NOTE: Recently installed 6.00 16 wheels which changes gear ratio from 3.54 to about 3.78.
Handles mountain roads and switch back turns at 8000 feet MUCH better than 3.54s ... 3.54s are just too tall at this altitude with the camshaft in the engine.

[Logan]

What speed do i drive and feel comfortable at? It just depends on where I'm at. My coupe has a stock babbit engine, electronic ignition, 4 speed overdrive, weber carb, hydraulic brakes, f100 steering, and stock 19 inch wheels. Ive had the speedometer past 80 before, but i dont want to keep it there, you can feel the air lifting up on the front fenders. I prefer to keep it around 70 while on the interstate and 60-65 on back road highways. Some people say its dangerous to drive that fast, which it is, but i believe its more dangerous to jump out on the interstate or back road highways and only drive 40-45. That will get you run over.

[jerry shook]

I dont really look at the speedo when i am driving. I just know i am all the time saying i wish they meaning the car in front of me would pull over or speed up. On the two lane roads and on the interstate. My buddy drives his a 35 to 40 even on the interstate. Another friend was rearended on the interstate because he was running to slow. I dont wont an a, and wont drive an a that wont keep up with the traffic, to dangerous.

[Bob Johnson]

One of my surveys had a question about highway speeds. Perhaps it may help answer your questions.

http://www.modelahouse.com/cgi-bin/s...ey?mpg%results

Bob

[Bill Stipe]

I see there is a lot of different speeds out there and I understand everyone has there comfort level.
The reason I ask is I was talking to some one about my Model T and Model A's with reguards to driving speed and when I told him I dove my Model T 40 to 45 MPH he said I was nuts driving that fast that he would not go over 45 with his Model A. I pretty much drive my A like Mr Logan does and feel very comfortable because it is in excellent restored condition and I need to get up on the interstate from time to time and have to run 65 to 70 with traffic so they don't run me over. I live on a 55 MPH county Hwy also and I feel my Model A handles as well as a 1959 ford we had when I was first driving and they traveled 60 MPH all day and didn't stop any better ether.
So seeing all your posts makes me feel a little better.

Thanks------Bill

[rogerkb1936]

55 if conditions warrant it

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by 29 Red Rocket

I see there is a lot of different speeds out there and I understand everyone has there comfort level.
The reason I ask is I was talking to some one about my Model T and Model A's with reguards to driving speed and when I told him I dove my Model T 40 to 45 MPH he said I was nuts driving that fast that he would not go over 45 with his Model A. I pretty much drive my A like Mr Logan does and feel very comfortable because it is in excellent restored condition and I need to get up on the interstate from time to time and have to run 65 to 70 with traffic so they don't run me over. I live on a 55 MPH county Hwy also and I feel my Model A handles as well as a 1959 ford we had when I was first driving and they traveled 60 MPH all day and didn't stop any better ether.
So seeing all your posts makes me feel a little better.

Thanks------Bill

Ummm, ...the best advice I could give you is save your money up for one of those Stipe IB335 camshafts and while your at it, get a set of those new Stipe shocks. A lotta money on the front end but well worth the investment!!

.

[John LaVoy]

Our sedan is set up for long distance drives. 21" wheels (balanced), engine that is balanced, Mitchell overdrive, Weber downdraft, Snyder 5.5 head, electronic ignition, led tail lights, halogen headlights with all that we will drive 55-60 on the open road if not running with stock Model As. The stock Model A will run comfortably in the 45-50 range so we slow down when traveling with our local club.

[Randy in Illinois]

45-50 where ever it sounds nice. I like to enjoy the ride and listen to the engine do it's thing.

[bobpo]

45-50 all day seems to work with Miss Tillie. All stock, with Tilliston Carb, 160 Thermostat and rebuilt shocks.

Have to be careful of the back-firing when slowing down tho......

[C26Pinelake]

Stock vehicle with no enhancements and I drive 38 to 42 mph ! The engine purrs and we are both happy. I know it will go faster but when I am in my A I am not in a hurry to get anywhere ! That is what my A is for, to slow life down !
I have a new Cadillac that will go well over 120 MPH and I only drive it 50 to 55 most of the time ! Enjoy, Wayne

[desotoguy]

When I see an original A on the road I am sure to give him lots of room, i know the driver is probably fiddling with the Gamin, listening to Punk Rock on his iPod and maybe even sending a text message with his left hand.
LOL. I really enjoy seeing the A's being driven on the road and not up on a trailer.

[msmaron]

50-53 actually

[30ccpickup]

45 to 50 and which is just as fast as the guy behind me.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

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What speed???? What's a speedometer????
I just drive by what's happening around me and by listening to know my engine sounds "happy."
I'll not sign this, as Cob may see it. (Hi, Cob)

[Maclab58]

My 28 sport coupe with insert bearings and a balanced crank is good to 50-55 mph. My 31 slant window with the original kinda tired engine is good to 40-45.

[Greg Jones]

40-45 is comfortable,, 50 if needed.. I don't worry so much about the car as I do other people.. I don't think an accident in one of these monsters would be enjoyable..

Trust me, it aint enjoyable. Here is a pic of my ex-31 Roadster after a guy suddenly pulled out in front of me. I was doing about 48-50, and it nearly killed me. I still hurt to this day. No thanks, I dont need to be doing 65 in one of these old cars. I agree with Patrick, 45 is nice and easy and take it up to 50 to move it along. I could go faster but it makes me nervous to say the least.

[Bill Stipe]

I do agree with you Greg there is not alot of protection in a Model A and don't get me wrong I don't purposely go on the interstate and run 65 all day long I only do it to get where I need to if theres no other easy way. but in front of my house I have to run 50 to 55 to to keep from gettting run over on the single lane road and its only 2 miles to town.
And your right on watching the other guy I have been in 2 accidents with my High school Model A one head on in town some girl with a car load of friends made a left hand right in front of me and some guy in town 4 lanes he run up along side me made a hard right hand turn cutting right in front of me spun out side ways and I creased the whole passenger side of his car with my bumper again bending my bumper brackets and messing up the front fenders a little. both times I did not get hurt but at age 21 you seem to bounce better!! Although I did have lap belts and was wearing them in both cases as was my passenger!
And I have lap belts in my Tudor now and feel they are good for roll over and slow speed accidents.

[Richard Wilson]

Every mostly original Model A that I have driven has a "sweet spot" somewhere between 45 and 52 MPH.

[Jim Brierley]

65 on freeways, byways depends on the road. 4-port Riley, Ryan OD, 16" radials, hyd. brakes, F-100 steering box, reversed eye front spring and 3 leaves taken out of the rear to lower the car, a '30 tudor. My widebed is lower still with 15" wheels, dropped front axle and T rear spring. It handles even better than the tudor but 65 is still fast enough.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Comfortably around 45 in the roadster with a 3:54 rear end. In the 29 coupe I run comfortably at 50-55 and that has a Mitchell OD and high compression head. Above 55 she gets twitchy in the steering with the narrow 21" tires.

[Patrick L.]

Humm, I responded to Gregs accident.. Something ate it..

[30modelA]

19 in rims everything is stock i never push it over 45, there really not made to run that fast stock.

[Marco Tahtaras]

My original Deluxe Fordor is the First Model A I've driven so slow. If I start out "cruising" at 55, I soon find I've dropped to 53. Likewise, if I'm in a 50 MPH zone and go in at 50 I soon find I've drifted up to 53. For some strange reason I always end up at 53 MPH!