How fast do you drive your T?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: How fast do you drive your T?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kenneth W DeLong on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 11:21 am:

With all the talk about brakes i wonder at what speed most travel at? I see by the distance thread many must go right along to make the millage posted in a day.I have only toured 3 times so i really do not know what speed's others travel at? Bud.PS,i travel 25-30 or about the way i spell and type s l o w! Bud.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Henry Petrino in Modesto, CA on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 11:32 am:

My TT will do about 35 MPH (clocked it once with a modern car) but I usually don't go over about 25 MPH. Of course, it's guesswork since there's no speedometer. It does have a Muncie transmission and Bennett brakes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 11:42 am:

I like 25-35, depending on the road condition.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 11:45 am:

Most of the roads I travel are in the 20 to 35 MPH range with traffic so I try to keep my speed at traffic speed with a good stopping distance. If the allowed speed is higher (45-55), I like to take 4 lane roads so I don't hold other people up and try to go a little faster then 35. :-) (That does not mean Freeways!)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Bowker on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 11:46 am:

I agree with Steve, 25-35 mph is comfortable. The 14 touring and the speedster will run up to 45 but it is hard work and not as relaxing or as comfortable.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Robison on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 11:51 am:

I try to go the speed limit. Most of the time I can handle any road, the freeway can be tricky as 55 on the flat is about my average max speed, the fastest I've traveled in my T is 75 mph. My feeling is the more easily you move with traffic the safer you are.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 12:01 pm:

I drive slower than my Angel flies!
(usually 30-35 but have hit 45 just to see if that stock T would go that fast)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Wells on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 12:03 pm:

I'm with the 25-35 crowd.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donald Conklin on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 12:03 pm:

On the open road I drive low to mid 40's. My T's have either 3 to 1 gears or a Laycock overdrive. The engines are lightly modified and cars have Rocky Mt. brakes.
On tours if you can cruise at 35 you will do just fine, at 25 your going to have a lot of cars backed up behind you. That's ok if they can get passed you. If not your likely to have some less than happy who are trying to get to work, appt., etc. at there normal time. I have been on tours where there were T's traveling on long busy 2 lane roads under 30 mph. In my opinion this is poor PR.
I know not everyone will agree with my last 3 sentences.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Seth from NC on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 12:13 pm:

Generally I go the speed limit up to 45, then depending on the road I cruise a little under 50 and just try to not be a hazard for everyone to pass constantly. I can belt along over 50 no problem but Eliza starts getting really thirsty with the gas and I can be running on fumes pretty quick. I'm happiest and most comfortable 25-35, T is isn't working hard and I can stop reasonably quickly. My big cutout muffler sounds great at those speeds.

I don't know how fast she will really go but Eliza will get up over 60 no problem with tons of throttle left. For some reason my front left wheel likes to bounce a little from 40 to 43 mph, above and below that it smooths out nicely. I've tried to balance it with some stick on weights, plus I'm running balancing beads in the tubes, she still just doesn't like to be right around those few mph.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Walt Berdan, Bellevue, WA on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 12:24 pm:

With my relatively stock Coupe, I try to do the speed limit up to 45 but prefer routes with 35 MPH limits. When I do need to use a higher speed road for a while I do my best to let faster traffic pass. Even on slower roads I watch my mirror and let others pass if I'm starting to get a backup. WA law says you are not to hold up more than 5 cars and I prefer waves that include all 5 fingers instead of just one.

In my speedster with better power, gearing. brakes and steering, I try to do the speed limit up to 55 or 60 depending on the road. I avoid freeways and 4 lane roads when I can and stay mirror conscious in it too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les VonNordheim on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 12:36 pm:

I'm also with the 25-35 crowd. Do not feel safe going 40 or more with our 13 touring. I consider Rocky Mt. brakes as a bare minimum for stopping.

Going to wire wheels made a big difference on how smooth our T runs at faster speeds. I did not try and balance the wire wheels. Don't think the original wood wheels were that round. Suggest checking how round your wheels are before spending much time trying to do any wheel balancing.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scott Conger on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 12:39 pm:

WOW

Kenneth, any time you get to FL and want to tour, you have a tour buddy.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 01:11 pm:

I usually do about 35. Sometimes, when I bother to take a GPS along or turn on my cell phone GPS feature, I find I'm doing closer to 40 out on the open road when things are running good and maybe someone behind is itching to go faster.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 01:16 pm:

I'm in the 25-32 range...I like to enjoy the ride and listen to her purr.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike conrad on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 01:26 pm:

I drive 15-25 mph and sometimes a little faster.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 02:02 pm:

Depends on whether uphill, downhill, or level. I go a bit faster on level where there is not much traffic, but going downhill I don't like to out perform the brakes. I have rockys on all three cars, but still only rear wheels and narrow tires. Going uphill I can't go over 20 MPH or so. Some hills even slower than that.

I usually go between 25 and 35 and sometimes get up to about 40 on flat areas without much traffic.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 02:10 pm:

If you're driving 55 there will still be people that are mad at you for going so slow.
Last month at night I followed a pickup pulling a trailer that went 35 to 50 for 80 miles on a windy good road I had never been on before. The speed limit was pretty much 55. There was almost no other traffic, but a lot of blind curves.
If he would have slowed down to model T speeds I could have passed him early on.
There was a vehicle between us and my wife was following me.
Legally he was supposed to pull over and let vehicles pass if there are 3 or more following him.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Magee on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 02:17 pm:

I like driving the speedster at 25-35 mainly so I can relax and enjoy the ride. I mainly try to drive on hilly, winding roads where you really can't drive much faster than 25-35 anyway

The speedster cruises really nicely at 45-50, but I only do that when the road is straight and smooth and there is not much traffic. Three rather rare conditions in the SF Bay Area.

I installed a GPS based speedometer application on my iPhone. I have verified that it is really accurate. I got the speedster up to 65 with more throttle left. Too much work and no longer relaxing.



speedster


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By samuel pine on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 02:45 pm:

depends where you are, around here its about 25 to 30, what ever, even a ford tractor will do. We use
to be farm country - no more cant get out of the
driveway no more without a million women released at
5 am with car phones -all day all nite: what are
they all doing? curriers or somthing. I have a
wonderful idia; why dont they wash dishes clothes
and diapers or wash windows all day like my mother
did. 8 out of ten drivers are young girls with a
phone stuck in their ears. where they are going
all day all night.???? Model T now too slow..


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Walt Berdan, Bellevue, WA on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 06:11 pm:

Mike - you meant 15 to 25 before you let the low pedal up didn't you?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kenneth W DeLong on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 06:25 pm:

Scott,Thank's for the offer!! Bud.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allen Godard on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 06:50 pm:

Whenever someone asks me how fast the T will go, it's always the same answer. "Fast enough to scare you" and that's about how fast I drive it. Now how fast that actually is depends on the condition of the road and who's riding shotgun. I've gps'd it up past 50 a couple times with some left in the tank, but I backed out at that point.



Speedster


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 07:09 pm:

Around 35 a bit faster sometimes, have had all up to 55, but only in short stints.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James J. Lyons III - West Virginia on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 07:22 pm:

No faster than 25mph ... Any faster is not wise. The model T Transforms into a pile of serrated metal and wood shards upon impact .


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Coiro on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 07:46 pm:

I've had my '15 Touring up to 40 mph, which felt a little hard on the engine. I don't usually go that fast because at such speed, braking distance, even with Rocky Mountain brakes, is more than double that which I can expect at 30. I also think 40 mph is a little beyond the design limitation of wooden spokes (but I know some guys will dispute that). I use 30 mph when anticipating a yellow traffic light, but when the coast is clear up ahead, 35 mph feels good and I consider that the top end of my car's comfort zone.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve McClelland on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 07:46 pm:

Have done 53 mph once! But 30 mph is a more manageable speed in case you have to stop!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 08:03 pm:

"Pete"-my '12 Roadster Pickup--was feeling his oats today, so after dropping off my friend and shooting the breeze a bit before leaving, I was late for supper, so he cranked out 36 mph for me!! With no doors to make you feel "tucked in" that road and the white lines move by pretty fast if you ask me!

It was a great day for the ride for sure. My friend can't drive due to health reasons, so he loved every minute of it, so did the hundreds of passers-by honking and thumbs up.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Schedler, Sacramento on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 08:04 pm:

I like 30-40 but I've had it up to 60. A little like rolling down the runway in a heavy KC-135 at 160 K. Imagine a front bearing locking at that speed....(or at any speed for that matter.)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike conrad on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 08:07 pm:

Yes Walt low pedal! There is some truth to that, I once got a friendly reminder on the speed laws when I was pulled over in the speedster 38 in a 25 opps! My rucksall was stuck in low. I will not tell you how fast I have been in that car. Way to many opinions I care not hear. So I will stick to my story 15 to 25 mph is all I ever drive, LOL!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike conrad on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 08:18 pm:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike_black on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 08:28 pm:

Years ago I spent 2 days traveling 17 mph going from Blytheville to Petit Jean Mtn, AR (over 200 miles). The next year I made the same trip with my 1st speedster, using the interstate route. One was about as nerve racking as the other. I was clocked by an AR state trooper at 82 in my speedster, so, I could keep up with the interstate flow, but, I felt very vulnerable --more so than riding a motorcycle. Glad I did both, but, that's enough--no more extended trips in a TT, or, no more than short jaunts on the interstate in any T. Best is with a bunch of other T's (or the HCCA) where there's no pressure and little traffic where you can let your T tell you how fast she wants to go. I like tours where everyone has directions and not traveling in a mile long snake. It's more about the travel than the destination!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By JohnH on Friday, May 30, 2014 - 08:52 pm:

In suburban traffic about 60-65km/h. On the freeway, up to about 75km/h. I've had it up to 80, but worried about ruining the babbit. It runs very smooth though. Stock standard except for aluminium pistons. Coils run on 6V or 9V DC, and there's paddles instead of magnets.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gene Carrothers Huntington Beach on Saturday, May 31, 2014 - 12:30 am:

Like Ralph says, "A fast car can always go slow"

My car likes 45 to 50 range depending on the road and weather conditions. It'll run that all day long and day after day. Its also fun to go 35 and just enjoy the sights.

Top speed ever recorded on my GPS was 70 but only for a second. I feel safe on the freeways with no cross traffic and lights to worry about changing. But especially here in SoCal when the speed limit for trucks and trailers is 55 and much of the time the traffic flow is less than T speed.

My wood spokes are in perfect shape and car is in great mechanical shape. I have 4 wheel period brake, Seat Belts and a Warford OD and lots of work done to keep my engine/drive train happy.

It's also fun to tag along with another T like we did in Sierra Vista, Az on a recent tour. I like following and happy to drive at 35. But if you were driving a 300 mile day I'd be pretty tired holding back on the throttle till we reached our destination.

No bashing here, you drive how you like for the condition your car is in.

YMMV


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