Posted by Oscar on Thursday, July 25, 2002 at 10:33PM :
In Reply to: Clint Dixon, how do you do it? posted by Matt Wilson on Thursday, July 25, 2002 at 8:10PM :
Matt,
The flathead six is a great engine and can be counted on to run many many miles with just routine maintainance. Change the oil and filter every 2500/3000 miles, grease the joints, adjust the brakes and park brake, clean the air cleaner.adjust the points @ timing, adjust the valves, check the toe-in, change the anti-freeze yearly and brake fluid yearly.
The flat-head 6 DOES NOT like to be run hot. You also have to learn where the shift points are - just shift down when the engine start to strain and shift up once the revs pass where the engine seems to not be gaining power as the revs increase. If you are pulling a long hill run around 1700 -2400 rpms and watch the temp gage. If the temp gage starts to climb - slow down/use a lower gear/whatever but take it easier. It's not who gets to the top of the hill first - those folks seem to blow hoses just before the top so just go at the speed the truck "wants" to climb at.
My Dad's truck with a flathead 6 went 65000 miles before it was overheated by one of us dumb kids. 2 weeks later a rod started knocking. With normal driving (for a 6) and routine oil changes you'll get tired of the truck before it wears out.
Highway speeds - it depends the gears and tires the truck has. You want to run the truck around 75% full thottle. IF you are running at 90% - 100% steady then you need to adjust the settings between the ears. Lower the setting until the truck runs steady and still is able to pick up some speed or has a bit of reserve to pull an upgrade.
Break in? The owner's manual had a chart (page 6)
transmission tcase hi tcase low
high 33 17
3rd 20 10
2nd 12 6
1st 6 3
break in period was 500 miles - top speed 35 mph
2400 rpm max for the first 75 hours & no sustained high speeds for the first 2500 miles.The book does not list differences for the various gearing so just drive the truck in a relaxed manner and get used to running slower than everything else. If you are really concerned buy a tach and a vacuum guage. Keep the rpms between 1500 and 2200 for normal driving. After the first 500 miles you should be able to rev the engine up a bit higher to shift bit not for sustained running. Try to keep the vacuum gage above 7 lbs unless you are ready to shift.
Drive like the owner of a gem of a truck. Change the oil & filter at 100, 500, and 1000 miles.Then change the oil & filters at the normal interval. If you can keep the rust away the truck should last for a very very long time - 60,000 to 80,000 miles was not unheard of. If you don't do the oil changes and drive like just an employee ... then expect 10,000 to 25,000 miles. Abuse and lack of care was very hard on the trucks. They would take lots of abuse but it did show after a while - just like the new trucks. New trucks well cared for will last 250,000 miles (or 60,000 if just used). The old dodges will last and last if you use good oil and do what needs to be done.
If you are doing offroad - just tread lightly and don't spin the tires.
have a great day
oscar
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