What gear are you in?

[Bob Bidonde]

TerryH,
Last year, a stud attaching the #4 connecting rod cap in my Model B engine failed and the rod punched a hole in the side of the block. I was doing 63 MPH at the time with 3.78:1 gears.

[Big hammer]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

TerryH,
Last year, a stud attaching the #4 connecting rod cap in my Model B engine failed and the rod punched a hole in the side of the block. I was doing 63 MPH at the time with 3.78:1 gears.

And if you where lugging around at 30-35 mph that stud would have failed earlier IMO

[Russ B]

My first speeding ticket in my 29 cabriolet (1963) was for “winding out” uphill in second gear at 35 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone. Smart assed 16 yo kid as I was, I fought the ticket saying to the judge the Ford publications said it could not be that fast. I lost my license for two weeks. It was a stock motor back then with only an overbore after way more than 100k miles put on it by my grandmother.

[ETAModel]

My dad grew up driving AA's for a living. Hauling incredible loads of oil field pipe that would make most Barner's cringe. He said the secret to long life with model AA motors is changing the oil regularly and not get to far past 2000 RPMs. His boss, my Great-grandfather, would fire you if he found you going over 45 mph, up hill, down hill, loaded or empty, according to Dad.

Me? I shift out of 2nd around 15-20 mph, unless I'm in traffic, when I push it to 25 to go to 3rd. But driving around town yesterday I found ole Edgar will run under 20 in high gear just fine.

[1928Mik]

I get mine into 3rd gear as soon as possible without lugging it. There is enough torque there to cruise up to 40-45 mph quickly. But, my Dad had an 80's GMC 1 ton dump truck with a 4 spd. He grew up with a Model A and thought he could shift that truck at low rpm's also. Basically ruined that motor at 30K miles.

[Patrick L.]

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Lugging has a different meaning for everyone, doesn't it.

[JoeCB]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

Fear of the Model A's engine is a correlation between the noise it makes and its RPM at various road speeds. In fact, The Model A's engine is of the low speed high torque variety, and all out for a stock one is a tad below 3000 RPM.

Thankd Bob, handy chart.... What would be the "standard" rear axle ratio for a 31 coupe?

Joe B