Anyone ran an I6, 3 on the tree on the highway?

[TwoFiftyShifter]

My truck is gonna be mostly original, so I'm sticking with the original 230, 3 speed column shift. I will occasionally use this truck for about 2HR highway trips. I know it will be loud, but has anyone used this setup on the highway? Does anyone think they can guess the speed it will top out at?

For reference I have my '57 3100. Tired 235, 3 on the tree and 3:92 rear. My '64 has a 230 that is noticeably stronger, same tranny and 3:73 rear. The '57 tops out at exactly 70mph. It isn't screaming until 60. Do you think the '64 will be the same?

[bubba327]

Well-- My tie rods and steering were so loose I was scared to go very fast. Could not stay in my lane and pulled terrible when the right front drum would stick. I just put disc's and a 71 front steering assembly and am waiting on new tie rods (UPS). Should be running soon.

[monolith]

My 66 with a 250, 4 spd and 4.56's maxxes at about 70 on the highway, I usually take it easy though and just enjoy the ride at about 60.

[Heater63]

It will do fine on the highway. My '63 230 was going through 3:73 rear end, and 65 to 70 mph was no problem, but you wouldn't want any faster, and don't expect good mpg.
You might run a taller tire to help, or get shorter gears.
In my rebuild I am going with a T5 5 speed to get overdrive.

[ol Curt]

I would have to agree with the others. I had a 230 in my 66 while I was rebuilding the original 250. It was really singing when I reached 60. I believe you could run that thing all day long at 60 but would not get much mileage and would probably be worrying about the motor all the way!

I'm getting ready to put a TH350 in mine which won't do much good with this issue but will make it a lot more drivable in town. I have to be able to hold my egg Mcmuffin and coke!! I am buying the rebuilt trans from a trusted source, so I figure it will last quite awhile and I guess I could either add a gear vendors unit to it down the road or change it out for a O.D. transmission. In my search I did find the 3 speed manual overdrives are not as rare as one would think. You could put one of those in and really cruise!

[65panelrat]

My 65' "Daily Driver" has a 3 on the tree, and a 230 cu. in. Six Banger! I put about 10,000 +/- miles on it a yr. Driven on the highway, runs awsome at 70 mph with 3:73:1 gears.

[ol Curt]

Originally Posted by ol Curt

I would have to agree with the others. I had a 230 in my 66 while I was rebuilding the original 250. It was really singing when I reached 60. I believe you could run that thing all day long at 60 but would not get much mileage and would probably be worrying about the motor all the way!

I'm getting ready to put a TH350 in mine which won't do much good with this issue but will make it a lot more drivable in town. I have to be able to hold my egg Mcmuffin and coke!! I am buying the rebuilt trans from a trusted source, so I figure it will last quite awhile and I guess I could either add a gear vendors unit to it down the road or change it out for a O.D. transmission. In my search I did find the 3 speed manual overdrives are not as rare as one would think. You could put one of those in and really cruise!

Sorry, didn't mean to infer it would hurt the motor. But if you are used to driving a o.d. vehicle the sound can be a bit unerving!

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Yeah I would hope the motor wouldn't go pop just from 60mph highway driving.....

[ChevySixty6]

Just this past weekend, i drove my '66 C20, 292 4 spd, 4:56 gears, 2 pc split rimmed wheels, for about 3 hours at 65-70 mph, down to her new owner. It did fine. I hadn't had it above 50mph since i owned it ( 6 months ). Everyone i knew said it wouldn't go above that with the low gearing, so i never pushed it. So we took the back roads through scenic flint hills of kansas heading from Topeka to Wichita. Well i had my wife following me, and when we got gas, she said "i don't know why we didn't take the turnpike, you're going 65 mph in it." The speedo never got above 60, so i'm guessing the tires were a little taller than stock. I got 10-12 mpg on the trip, and used about 1/2 qt. of oil. She ran great.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

I saw one of our trucks at a show with a barefoot dimmer switch. Pretty neat.