Gear ratios & highway speed

[Ken Hughes]

Hi again guys,a while ago i used to drive my mates spare C8AX on club outings,it was fitted with a "Blue Flame" Chev engine.
Well it would pull away from my mates other C8AX no trouble at all,could sit on 50-55 MPH
and not be flogging it,it just made all the difference and was a pleasure to drive.
My mates Chev that he drives has the 216 original engine still in it,BUT he sold the Chev with the Blue Flame!!,now he has been scouring arond for another blue flame to replace the 216 in his C8AX.
I must say that the C8AX is faster on the open road than my F30 (as the Ford will do 38 MPH on the flat,)but different weight ratios between the two though.

[Phil Waterman]

Originally Posted by Ken Hughes

...
I must say that the C8AX is faster on the open road than my F30 (as the Ford will do 38 MPH on the flat,)but different weight ratios between the two though.

Good point Ken, just out of curiosity what size wheels does the F30 have?

I ask because the C30 had 16in wheels running 7.16 to 1 gears which should give them some real low end grunt but would cut into the actual road speed. My `41 C60L had the 16" wheels and the 7.16 to 1 and it was impossible to drive on the road, was over revving engine just trying to drive on secondary roads. Changed over to 20" with 11:00x20 tires and it is a lot happier.

As to the Blue Flame engine which version pressure crank or splasher?

Cheers Phil

[Lang]

Peter,

How long do you expect to be on the road?

If you are looking at something like 6 weeks there really is no reason to do anything to the vehicle. Your current preference to take out the front axles and transfer case is more than adequate to give you the increased noise comfort and fuel consumption improvement. All the more complex changes are not only unnecessary but will cut in to the funds raised.

There is absolutely no reason why a standard CMP can not easily do that distance in 6 weeks with an average of 350km per day. At an average speed of say 65km/30mph you are on the road for less than 6 hours. Getting away at 0700 each morning gives heaps of time to stop in towns for your charity promotion along the way.

I have driven a C60 straight off the farm from Mareeba to Melbourne (4,000km) and a C15A also unrestored from Townsville to Brisbane (!,800km). It's just a matter of relaxing and watching the scenery go slowly by!

We averaged 300km per day a few years back in 100 year old cars Peking to Paris for 14,000km cruising at 40-50kmh and found it quite practical. On the Istanbul to Normandy trip a couple of years ago the guys in the CMP's had no problem keeping up and were no more fatigued than those driving Dodges, light Fords and Chevs etc.

Keep it simple.

Lang

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Peter and Lang

Lang the simplicity of your approach is really to be commended. All of us were concentrating on the technical end and you hit the key elements of the question how long and whats a reasonable distance a day.

The comments on the other long distance antique vehicle tours are also on point.

Cheers Phil

[Ken Hughes]

Hi Phil, The F30 originaly had 10x50x16s fitted and the speed was the early 30s,bearing in mind the v8 is not fully run in.
I have now fitted 8x25x20s on military rims made by GM !! as the 16s were all cracking in the tire walls and treadand cant source local tires of 10x50x16.
The original 20s were 10x50x20,and the speedo drives were different in the number of teeth fitted(in parts manual).
With the 20s fitted it looks like the truck has grown up!.
The difference between an F30 and a F60S is the 60 has an extra leaf spring in the front springs, bigger stearing ends,although not allways.and air assisted breaking system and wheel size, oh and somtimes a bigger stearing box.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Pete - I have been following this thread with interest but I think it is a matter of not seeing the wood for the trees. You would incur a lot of time and expense modifying a perfectly adequate vehicle. It might be a slower and rougher drive but military trucks were made for that purpose. Lang is the adventurer and I concur with what he says.

As you get closer to the departure time you must let us know the route and approximate timings. There will be numerous MLUers on the route so accommodation would not be a problem and we can promote this fund raiser in our areas. Many of us are in the RSL so they would be greatly interested. You may even be able to get a grant from Veteran Affairs.

Bob

[Howard]

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi Pete...As you get closer to the departure time you must let us know the route and approximate timings. There will be numerous MLUers on the route so accommodation would not be a problem and we can promote this fund raiser in our areas....Bob

Absolutley! Let us know the details when you have them and/or feel free to make a visit to us a part of your itinerary!
H