Henry J -- 4 cyl versus 6 cyl Driving Experiences

[StillOutThere]

In the past I owned a '54 Henry J 4 cyl with OD.  Great once it was going but slow accelerating.  Always wanted a 6 cyl with OD.    Am considering one now.

Has anyone reading here had both cars over time?   
Was the 6 cylinder heavy to steer?
Which one gets better mileage?

Other comments welcome

[Quadromaniac]

We have a 4 without overdrive in the family and am rebuilding a 6 with overdrive right now. I can let you know when we have the other one done.

[Quadromaniac]

The grey one is a 53 Allstate 6 with overdrive. the blue one is a 52 corsair with 4 cylinder, no overdrive.

[Fid]

The six cylinder cars steer just fine. They maneuver better, can cruise better but I have to say, they are not great accelerators.., but neither are the fours. The four is rated better for gas mileage but to me it's an old car so I really don't care too much about that. I want mine to be drivable and the six, in my opinion, is much better for driving.

[StillOutThere]

Thanks for replies so far and others still coming.

[Fid]

I should tack on that I have talked to two credible KF aficionados who claim that four cylinder with OD is the best configuration. I have never owned a four with OD so I can't comment but one of these people was the late John Parker  who had a '53 HJ, four cylinder with OD, which he drove across the country a couple of times.

[StillOutThere]

Interesting on Parker in particular.  I had owned my J 4 cyl just prior to moving to Fullerton, CA where he lived and had the shop so had been in there during ownership and afterwards as he supplied other related hobby car parts as well.  A good man.  I saw John's J several times.  Thanks.

[Fid]

John's J is alive and well in Tucson, AZ. John lived almost within walking distance of my parents so I used to see his cars every time I went there. He sold the Henry J to Ken and Vicki Payton who still have it. I repaired the radio in it a few years ago. Last saw it Christmas of 2010

[BigDave LM6174]

Johns Henry J is the white one that I first saw when I met John.  I wanted one after restoring my 51. I always hoped to buy that particular car.  I didn't know it was a 4 cyl.  I am happy with the one I found.

[HJ-ETEX]

If you are going to drive a STOCK HJ I would have to say go with a 4 cyl because of the engine parts it shares with CJ Jeeps. Tom McCahill thought a 6 cyl HJ was "a real wildcat." I haven't experienced that great of a performance advantage of the 6 over the 4. Regardless, a HJ NEEDS OD!

[StillOutThere]

Thanks for all input.

[BobsJ]

Well since i'm old and and lived when these cars were new, I was 16 and my buddy was 17 and he lived with his grandad, his grand dad wad a mechanic and fixed him up a blue  6cyl51 Henry J 6, this would have been 1956-7 era. Flat head fords were still popular and respected on the streets. We went driving around and got hooked up with a 49 or 50 Ford and waxed him good. I can remember this like it was yesterday.

[StillOutThere]

Not "old".   EXPERIENCED.

Thanks!

[BobsJ]

Another funny story, my buddy put the shift handle on the left side of his Henry J, so when i got my first car (a 1951 Pontiac straight i decided to do that to mine, well the weight of the handle would pull it out of high gear since it was up instead of down, I was in the army at Ft Campbell Ky. (!01st airborne engineers), I was off base and going down the highway and it jumped out of gear , it reved up and there was an unmarked cop next to me, He pulled me over,he ask what the heck i was doing, I told him it jumped out of gear. He looked at the gearshift and said if it was on right it would happen, he just chewed me out and let me go.