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Technical 8ba milage

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Born-2-Late, Feb 27, 2016.

  1. Born-2-Late
    Joined: Feb 21, 2016
    Posts: 69

    Born-2-Late
    Member

    I haven't seen a thread on this. If there is one I'm sorry. I have searched Google here etc never seen anyone talk about how many miles they have got out of a flattie. What's everyone's most mileage they have got or seen from a 8ba. Also was it stock if not what's a brief description of the mods.
     
  2. 29tudor
    Joined: Jul 16, 2007
    Posts: 303

    29tudor
    Member

    I rebuilt an 8ba .060 over with stock cam, 3 speed and stock rear end in a 52 ford customline and was quite surprised when i did the math. I was averaging about 50 smiles to the gallon.
     
    Jet96 and Petejoe like this.
  3. 42merc
    Joined: Dec 19, 2010
    Posts: 894

    42merc
    Member

    HA ! My rebuilt & modified 8CM in a '40 got 51 MPG on a trip to Colorado last year.
     
  4. Petejoe
    Joined: Nov 27, 2002
    Posts: 12,264

    Petejoe
    Member
    from Zoar, Ohio

    Average 15-18 mpg with dual 94s and original drivetrain. Hard to believe a 50 mpg on those engines.
     

  5. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,013

    belair
    Member

    Was there a tow truck directly in front of you?
     
    kidcampbell71, Truck64 and blowby like this.
  6. Baumi
    Joined: Jan 28, 2003
    Posts: 3,043

    Baumi
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I also suck at maths, hahahha
     
  7. J Twitero
    Joined: Apr 15, 2011
    Posts: 105

    J Twitero
    Member
    from Minnesota

    Basically stock 8ba in my 52 Mainline, have a Bubba distributer, and a reworked holly 94 carb. Backed by a 3speed OD out of a '53 and the stock rear, running around 18-20 on the highway. But as 29tudor says, the smiles per gallon are way up there!
     
  8. mine has never ran out of gas
    but it sits on the shop floor
     
  9. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,916

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I had a '51 Ford with a stock rebuild in high school in the '50's; overall, 14 MPG. I have had my current stocker since 1987; overall, 14 MPG.
     
  10. My dad use to tell me the story of when he borrowed his dad's 50 club coupe to drive down to California from Northern Oregon........said on one stretch he got 24 MPG in overdrive! He was astounded and said he never had a car that would come close to that.
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  11. Dan Timberlake
    Joined: Apr 28, 2010
    Posts: 1,530

    Dan Timberlake
    Member

    "how many miles they have got out of a flattie..."

    Is the question about gas mileage ( mpg), or miles before major service ( rings, valves ?) ?
     
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  12. RICK R 44
    Joined: Dec 13, 2009
    Posts: 474

    RICK R 44
    Member

    Mild 8BA in my 2250 lb roadster gets 19/20 mpg(US gallon) To 29tudor, At what institute of higher learning did you study math? If in fact, you are getting 50 mpg you have a very valuable formula. I would patent it immediately.
     
  13. gary terhaar
    Joined: Jul 23, 2007
    Posts: 656

    gary terhaar
    Member
    from oakdale ny

    On a 2400 mile round trip to fla, 21-22 mpg 276 ci,9:1cr ported relieved 1.6-1.5 valve 400 Jr. Cam.
    3sp with od,halibrand qc,308:1 final dr. 31in rear tire.
    As long as I stayed at 1800-1900 rpm at 65 mph I was good. 2000 and above it drank.
    1/2 quart of oil down 1/2 quart back.
    It was a happy motor for sure.
     
  14. Travis T
    Joined: May 26, 2014
    Posts: 84

    Travis T

    But but that was down hill, with a tailwind and the car in neutral!
     
  15. FrozenMerc
    Joined: Sep 4, 2009
    Posts: 3,093

    FrozenMerc
    Member

    FYI folks, 29tudor said Smiles per gallon, not miles. It is an important distinction, and arguably the much more important way to measure the performance of a flathead.

    I would like to make the age old argument that it doesn't matter one bit what kind of mileage you get. If it is 8 or 28 mpg, drive it, and enjoy it. If you are worried about mileage, drive a fricking Prius and see how many little kids and cute girls wave too you when your cruising down the road.
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2016
  16. Born-2-Late
    Joined: Feb 21, 2016
    Posts: 69

    Born-2-Late
    Member

    The mpg would have been my second question haha actually I was curious to lifespan as in miles after rebuild before ya needed to build again I'm making a daily driver and live in a rural area I will be packing on a lot of miles
     
  17. Glenn Thoreson
    Joined: Aug 13, 2010
    Posts: 928

    Glenn Thoreson
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    Keep the oil clean and the cooling system clean and drive it responsibly. You will enjoy many, many miles of service. I've driven 50 dollar smoking, knocking flatheads across the Mojave desert and litterally beat the hell out of them. Never had one quit. Boil over ? Of course. Use anti rust in the cooling system once it's thoroughly clean. Gas mileage? One '50 four door clunker w/overdrive from Denver to L.A -- 21 MPG in 1960.
     
    draggin49 likes this.
  18. RICK R 44
    Joined: Dec 13, 2009
    Posts: 474

    RICK R 44
    Member

    Guess I should have been more careful when I read 29tudor's post. It would be quite easy to get 50 plus SMILES per gallon when driving a flattie. We do it all the time.
     
  19. J Twitero
    Joined: Apr 15, 2011
    Posts: 105

    J Twitero
    Member
    from Minnesota

    On that note, mine has over 91k on the odometer and never been opened up so far as I can tell, runs great. Last fall I did a "fall color run", turned over 400 miles on a Saturday, never skipped a beat. Basic maintenance does wonders with anything.
     
  20. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Just as with any other engine the whole setup of the vehicle contributes a lot to gas mileage. Also the driving conditions. My daily gets 23/27 on the road and is lucky to get 13 in town. I found out on a road trip to Texas a couple of years ago that great 80 mph speed limit cost 5mpg over running 73/75 in that same daily. for 5 mpg I could let the left lane burners breeze by me and never get insulted.
    I'm hoping for 20 -25 with my 8BA in my 31 A Vicki with a T-5 behind it running dual 94s on the open highway. I'm not too worried if I do or don't get it though as I'll count smiles per mile when I get on the road with it. As long as I can do those long stretches of the western US that some times have 100+ between any sort of gas station without carrying extra gas strapped to the running board I'm good.
     
    56premiere likes this.
  21. Born-2-Late
    Joined: Feb 21, 2016
    Posts: 69

    Born-2-Late
    Member

    I have been seriously considering the Evans waterless coolant

    Sent from my SCH-I545 using H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  22. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,916

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I suggest you do a search on Evans Coolant on this board.
     
    Born-2-Late likes this.
  23. A friend of mine has over 200,000 miles on his daily driven flatty in a model A pickup
     
  24. dirty old man
    Joined: Feb 2, 2008
    Posts: 8,910

    dirty old man
    Member Emeritus

    When the cars in question were new 100K miles wasn't unheard of for owners who took good care of that flathead, and didn't have a teenage son (like I was), out street racing it at times, and treated it insanely.
    Today's oil is far better than then, as is oil and air filtration, and there are far better bearing materials and piston/ring technology now. Treated right and driven sanely, well over 100K should be a good probability with modern tech and oils available now
    But take it from one who drove the Ford V/8 , of the 30s,40s, and 50s, and the flat head 6, plus the 52 &later I-6 OHV.
    Stock against stock, the I6 OHV was a more efficient, more durable engine and stock for stock faster than the 8BA cars, but the Merc. engines with the 4" crank were stronger in torque influenced contests.
     
    steinauge likes this.

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