50mph 1926 Touring

Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2015: 50mph 1926 Touring
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Constantine in Australia on Thursday, September 17, 2015 - 09:35 pm:

http://fargo.craigslist.org/cto/5226503880.html


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Thursday, September 17, 2015 - 09:56 pm:

Cruises at 50mph....believe that is true....
A crank, A rods, Stipe cam, balanced 3:1 Ruckstell, seems a real nice hopped up T for that $$.

Note no outside rear view mirrors, must not have to look back to see if the traffic is backing up :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Thursday, September 17, 2015 - 10:25 pm:

Great looking car. If it were mine I would not exceed 40 mph .


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Thursday, September 17, 2015 - 10:34 pm:

From "The Great Race";
"The firsta rule in-a Italian race car driving: What'sa behind you is-a no important!" (and then you tear off the rearview mirror and toss it)
:-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Coiro on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 02:31 am:

Well, wire wheels are safer than wooden spokes, especially at 50 mph, and the balloon tires are more likely to survive an encounter with a deep pothole at that kind of speed than high-pressure clinchers, but the car still has brakes like the Titanic. _I agree with Royce that the Model T should be red-lined at 40 mph.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George n Los Angeles CA on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 03:09 am:

I've had my T up to 50. And it wanted to keep climbing but my rear end pucker factor kicked in.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Killecut on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 08:02 am:

I agree with Royce. I try to keep mine between 35-40,plenty fast enough for a T. Go Model A or V8 Ford if you want more speed.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn-Monroeville OH on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 08:37 am:

Too fast for me! Speed kills, remember. 30-35 is good enough for me, I want to enjoy the ride, not speed through it and put the car away.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange - Hillsboro, MO on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 08:37 am:

David, I love that line, but I think it comes from the movie "The Gumball Rally". :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjGXn249Fc0


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By TT on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 09:13 am:

Did 50mph, scared at 50, happy at a comfortable max 40!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jem Bowkett, Bracknell United Kingdom on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 09:15 am:

Hydraulic disc brakes, but you're still relying on skinny tyres to grip the road. 40 is fine for me too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Carnegie Spokane, WA on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 12:31 pm:

The guys I hang with will go 50+ all day long in their T's. Like one of the guys said: "I wouldn't drive my T over 40 either if I was worried about my purse blowing out." :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 02:16 pm:

Mark,
I'll have to take your word for it, I'm on dial-up and can't download U-tube, or any videos (nor large pictures!). My memory of the scene is of a newer car than would be in "the Great Race" so you are probably 100% correct!
Drive a model T at 50+ all day?? why not go in a modern car, you're missing all the scenery anyways! :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Eastern Nebraska on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 02:33 pm:

You won't catch me going 50 mph in a Model T.

:-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Bender Tulsa Oklahoma on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 02:43 pm:

Speed isn't what killed a guy here in Tulsa, he was stop at an intersection. Don't think any of the wrecks with a T model that have been discussed on the forum have been due to speed.

I run with a group that is much like Tom's, we run 45 to 50 and faster when it is needed.

Drive a speed that is at your comfort level, don't throw rocks at us that run a bit harder. LOL


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Eastern Nebraska on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 04:38 pm:

Mike,
I meant literally, you won't catch me at 50.......

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CCTKNzH3AXQ


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Friday, September 18, 2015 - 05:39 pm:

I've always kept in mind something that Royce's dad said,.....that if you drove a Model T 28 mph it would outlast it's owner and probably his kids. Or words to that effect.

Many guys in our club drive their "T's as fast as they'll go, and I guess that's okay if you don't mind frequent engine rebuilds and broken crankshafts. But I really don't believe that Henry and his engineers expected most Model T's to be driven much over 25 or 30 mph on those gravel roads back in those days. My Dad said that his dad wouldn't drive the Model T over 25 mph because he said "it wasn't safe". After I got my first Model T, I thought that over and decided that I'll bet that my grandfather's 25 mph "rule" was probably because that's really about the speed a Model T "likes" to run,....kinda' like Royce's dad said!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kevin Whelihan Danbury, WI on Saturday, September 19, 2015 - 09:23 am:

Looks kinda like my '26 Touring. I got it up to 45 mph and damn near wet wet my pants. No more of that for me!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Saturday, September 19, 2015 - 09:28 am:

Harold,

That is an accurate quote. Dad typically drove between 28 - 35 MPH in any of his T's. We never have had any major trouble that was serious enough to keep us from reaching the lunch stop or the hotel at the end of a day of touring.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gene Carrothers Huntington Beach on Saturday, September 19, 2015 - 12:27 pm:

Each car has a happy speed where you can feel that the car is comfortable.

Today we have roads and driving conditions that are quite different than our grandfathers had.

I tend to agree with Mike that I can't recall any accident caused by driving too fast. Many have been rear end crashes where the speed differential was great.

I feel safest driving my car here on the freeways and drive mostly between 45 to 60 in the right lanes. My scariest time is when that light is turning red right when you approach it. We know that's where many accidents happen and close to home.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Saturday, September 19, 2015 - 01:12 pm:

I'd say speed affects two things. One is safety, and the other is power train longevity. In the safety department, take some less-than-perfect steering gears and add some wheels with a little bit too much run-out, and you're in for a ride that's far too exciting. And if you're running stock brakes... well, you know that story. As for longevity, it makes sense to me that the faster you go the faster things will wear. I drive the limit in a car that's built for it, but over 40 in one of my T's is just too scary for me. As usual, YMMV.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Saturday, September 19, 2015 - 03:53 pm:

I remember a one car collision where a speedster flipped end over end and killed the occupants a few years ago. Never heard the cause - in any case slow down and live. What ever goes wrong will be easier to handle when you have more time to react.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike conrad on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 02:02 am:

Looks like a great buy for a guy who wants to drive a model T. Sure would be a shame to just go to parades in this one. Hopefully the new owner will take a lot of this parade talk with a grain of salt and go out see the world.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Derek Kiefer - Mantorville, MN on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 10:30 am:

I have been 56mph in a "stock" T, and it's quite a rush. Feels about the same as 120mph in my wife's Pontiac. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 01:45 pm:

in line with Royce's comments "Barnyard Drivers only come in two classes, line crowding hogs and speeding jackasses so remember to slow down today" Nervous Norvus


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange - Hillsboro, MO on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 02:15 pm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZAZ_xu0DCg

:-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Walt Berdan, Bellevue, WA on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 02:20 pm:

That's a speedster drive train in a touring car body. While I would never encourage anyone to drive faster than they are comfortable, that car may run and handle just fine at 50 on a good road.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Bowker, Ramona, CA on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 02:38 pm:

I wonder if the drive at 50 crowd tell their insurance company the car is modified?
Of course some will respond that any well tuned T will run at 50mph. They ignore the horse power/speed chart that Ford put out which shows max power at 1200rpm which is about 32 mph. The speed of 50mph requires engine revolutions in excess of 2000rpm, that is not even on the Ford chart... Explain that...
When you really get into these speed cars they usually have Model A intake and exhaust systems and crankshafts, high compression heads and special domed pistons. Hardly as Henry made them..
The Montana 500 crowd manage to go over 50 but I note in their regulations that ANY camshaft is allowed, again hardly as Henry made them..
Again who insures these speedy cars or do the owners not mention the changes??


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Eyssen - Abilene TX on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 04:43 pm:

I'm like you Royce: Just tool along, and enjoy the ride----I haven't missed too many coffee or food breaks. See you in Uvalde next week. TDE


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Carnegie Spokane, WA on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 05:22 pm:

Tony, like all of the "slower is always safer" crowd you seem to overlook the facts. Most serious T accidents happen because the cars are driven too slowly and get rear-ended.

I'm not advocating that faster is always safer, but often it is.

pie


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Bowker, Ramona, CA on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 07:21 pm:

There is little emotion in trying to stop a Model T from 50 mph in an emergency, other than poor panic. Logic tells me that given modern traffic conditions, certainly in Califunny, when most cars have four wheel disc brakes, I should not drive at 50mph with my rear skinny wheeled vehicle. That is logic...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Carnegie Spokane, WA on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 09:46 pm:

Tony, of course what you are describing above is logical. As I said there is a time to go fast and a time to go slow.

But to advise to "just tool along" is not logical.

I have been driving T's for better than 40 years - often as a daily driver. I have driven my T in Philadelphia, Chicago and Atlanta in rush hour traffic. I have driven to every one of the contiguous states. I have driven my T at 75 mph. I have won the Montana 500 five times and I have NEVER run into anyone or anything from lack of brakes. There are only four times (that I can remember) having to take evasive action - and this was at speeds less than 30 mph due to stupid drivers. In my experience excess speed is not the problem - at least it hasn't been for me.

I have had my friend Dean Hersey get rear ended in his T which resulted in the death of his passenger. I have had my friend Jack Everett get rear ended in his T which resulted in a broken back.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 - 07:25 am:

"Stopping in a model "T" is not an emergency. It is a well planned and expertly executed event" If the above is not true what were you doing when you should have all of your attention focused on operating your "T"? :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John C Codman on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 - 10:10 am:

I'm in the 35 mph camp, but I was driving a '24 touring that belongs to a friend. The road was wide, smooth, and empty except for another friend behind me driving my Dodge. I was driving at what felt like a very comfortable speed. Later, the friend following me told me that I was cruising at 44 mph. Under those conditions, it felt fine.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Coiro on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 - 11:26 am:

I like to watch shows like "What's My Car Worth?" and a few of the other non-bickering restoration shows on The Velocity Channel. Quite often, when an older, modern car is road-tested, the car expert behind the wheel will bemoan how braking action in this drum brake-equipped '68 Buick Skylark is "theoretical." That's a cute way of saying lousy. What usually follows is a brief comment on how such limitation is just typical of an old car which, instead of being updated with safer, more up-to-date equipment, is kept original for historical reasons—and we just need to remain aware of that and be extra careful when driving these wonderful cars.

Well, I owned a '68 Skylark with drums and didn't particularly notice any problem with braking, but then again, back in those days, there was nothing better to which it might be compared, and I suppose that would have been the same deal with those who drove Tin Lizzies back in the days of William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson.

But no matter how you look at the situation, no matter what kind of brakes you put on a Model T Ford, the car's 3-inch-wide tires have serious traction limitations* and the driver, at speeds like 50 mph, is dealing with the same braking capability as the Titanic.

*I've read the posts of physics experts on this forum which claim that the width of a wheel has no influence on stopping performance and in theory, when you're dealing with a hard, smooth wheel on a hard, smooth surface (like the steel wheels of a steam locomotive on steel track), that may very well be the case, but when we're talking about the adhesion of soft rubber tires on textured pavement, wider tires stop better.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Derek Kiefer - Mantorville, MN on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 - 11:31 am:

Bob, I like your disclaimer. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Coiro on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 - 03:19 pm:

Yeah, I was in advertising for thirty years. _ It's a habit.


Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.
Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration