Cruising speed

[Harry]

Hey guy's what speed do you cruise your car's at and what kind of engine do they have. Harry

[Kenn Evans II]

I took off the oil breather and put on a paper filter/housing and we run at 75 to 80 mph on the interstate and have exceeded the speed-o on occassion to blow it out and I have the 226 with the hydromatic and lately getting about 23-26 mpg using super unleaded mixed with 1/2 can of marvel mystery oil added to a full tank of fuel.

[Logan]

53 Dragon with 226 and hydramatic.  I don't hesitate to take it up to 75 mph.

[Harry]

I have a 48 Special cruise at 60 To 65, have had it up to75

[Cortes121]

I don't see how you guys take it up that high, my 226 screams at anything past 55...

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Questions:

1.  What is your transmission (standard, o/d or automatic)?

2.  If overdrive, is it functioning correctly?

3.  What year/make do you have?

K-F products, with the possible exception of a HJ with a 4 cylinder engine and no o/d should cruise at current highway posted speeds with little or no problem unless you've got a lot of high hills to climb in your area.  As for the combination I noted, remember that the government specified the Henry J must be able to cruise at a minimum speed of 50 mph (clause in the 1949 RFC loan agreement).

[Fid]

Also, has the engine been replaced?  If so was the transmission replaced? Does it have the correct rear axle ratio for the engine transmission combination?  If not, it can behave as you describe.  I often hear of people claiming they replaced a 4 cylinder Henry J engine with a six and afterwards it performs worse.  Very true if the car does not have overdrive.  The longer stroke in the four allows it to be wound out higher so KF used the 4.55 rearend but if you replace the four with a six and it does not have overdrive it will scream at 55 mph.  The Henry Js which had a six without overdrive used the 4.10 rearend and it works fine so having the incorrect rearend can really be a problem.

[Harry]

My car is a 48 Kaiser Special with the engine and trans that came with the car, it has a4.09 rear, 60 to65 no problem at all.

[boatingbill]

For better economy back in the day, I put a automatic rear end behind my '52 Kaiser Carolina 3-speed and the taller gearing gave great cruising speed and economy too.

[HJ-ETEX]

Ben Walker bought a 53 Kaiser in order to get a rebuild able engine. The car was originally a HydraMatic but it had the entire motor, trans, crossmember, and steering column from what I am guessing was a 52 Kaiser swapped in (I am partially basing this on the color of the steering column jacket - it could have been parts from more than one car involved.). The rearend remained a 53 Hydramatic (3:30 ratio). I am relatively sure they didn't bother to hook up the OD because I don't recall a relay & wiring. Well, with the 3:30 rearend, I don't think the car performed very well. 52 HydraMatics had a 3:50 ratio that worked well with  V8 stick conversions.

[HJ-ETEX]

My first HJ was a late production 4 cylinder without OD. I got it running and drove into town to get it inspected because it was an out of state car and you had to get it inspected plus a "green slip" or certificate of vehicle numbers filled out by the inspection station to start the process of transferring an out of state title.
Well, the little HJ screamed at speeds over 45 mph so I determined that it would get an OD unit before it went on the highway again.

[Cortes121]

I believe the engine to be the original 226. It has a 3 speed with OD. I'm not sure on the rear axle ratio.

It probably has to do with the OD not being engaged, or maybe a leak in the downpipe after the header, but the engine just sounds a bit racous in 3rd

[Fid]

The overdrive is very easy to check. If the control cable is pushed all the way in, then let your foot of the accellerator at approximately 35mph and it should feel like shifing into another gear. If it doesn't, the OD is not working. Check the fuse on the relay if it is not.

[84RabbitGTI]

Another thing to remember is the condition of your tires, shocks, steering and most important, brakes.  I cruise my '51 K at about an indicated 60 to 70 mph.  I still feel like I'm being left behind on the Interstate around here.  I have a vibration that takes over above that so we keep the speed down a bit.  I have the stock 6 with overdrive and stock rear end.  Radial tires make me feel better about the higher speeds also.

[kfsteve391]

On most 47-48 Kaisers 55 MPH is fine. At 60 you can start to hear it and by 65 they are screaming. I'm not saying they all that way but most of them are. I had a 51 Kaiser I drove daily for 20 years. I usually drove it at 55 MPH with overdrive. Was able to get 291,000 miles out of it with only two valve jobs after overhauling it at 62,000 miles. I have found if you want to get a lot of miles out of your engine try to run around 55 to 60 MPH.