NY State Thruway is a smooooooth glide. I have driven from Albany to NYC
doing around 80 in an Oldsmobile Omega (Nova with diff. trim) which had a
Rocket 350. This was back when there was the 55 limit. What a cruise!
Not a single cop in sight.
One thing I must say is: As long as you have good oil pressure and a tight
motor, 3K RPM should be no problem specifically in a straight six. If one
should have any problems with his motor at that RPM, he should reevaluate
the motor's mechanical integrity (or check his oil more often). :>)
Suspension is the cruise factor that concerns me the most. A good stable
ride is very important. Of course, I wouldn't throw out safety factors
involving such as brakes and steering.
My goal this summer is to climb under the beast and go through the
suspension to try and improve the ride. In my other e-mail threads, I
complained about rough rides and poor handling (despite redoing the tie
rods and king pins). I fel that stock suspension systems are a challenge
to tame.
Besides that, I might consider buying a kidney belt for that rough ride!
Tom B. '57 Stepside 3200
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeremy Eastman [SMTP:jeastman@appliedtheory.com]
Sent: Friday, May 07, 1999 9:08 AM
To: oletrucks-digest@autox.team.net
Subject: [oletrucks] Highway Speeds, Max RPM
We just went through a thread about top speed and stock trucks, and I meant
to put in my $.02 on it- better late than never.
I drive my bone-stock 55-2 Sub forty miles to work and then forty back
every day, most of it NYS Thruway miles. I've got the stock 235 1-barrel
and three-spd tranny, and usually take it right up to a comfortable 3K RPM
or slightly less, which keeps it at about 60-63 MPH with the aftermarket
rims and tires I have on. Picking up a overdrive tranny and some rear sway
bars, dual master cylinders and front steering stabilizers will no doubt
increase my mileage, speed and comfort/stability, and they're all on my
wish list for the coming year. When I first bought the truck, I'd take it
right up to about 67-70 (which it seemed to really like), but after
investing some time & energy in the truck, and mounting a tach under the
dash, I now find myself not pushing it that much.
My question is this, and I've looked all through the '55 shop manual for
it, with no luck. Should I be all that comfortable cruising at 3K RPM?
What is the red-line on a stock 235? I've figured my red line is around
3500-4000 RPM. Any other 235ci owners have any thoughts or tragic
experiences with red-lining we could learn from?
The NYS speed limit is 65 MPH, which puts my truck's speed below the
average car's speed of 70 to 75 MPH. Way I look at, at least I'm giving
alot of folks the opportunity to look at my truck as they pass me. ;)
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