Two years ago I bought s 34 Ford with a 1949 bored and stroked 276 cu in engine with a eagle rotating assembly with Arias pistons, Navarro Heads, Navarro 3x2 intake , Mallory ignition. I’ve been driving the car on a weekly basis, and it runs great. What can I expect for long turn reliability, mileage wise? Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
FYI there have been at least 40 items improved or upgraded to a later Rev. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I have a shoebox Ford with the old 8BA. Not as modified as yours, by a long shot. But hey, reliable so far. It gets hot sometimes, though.
An engine with all new well maintained parts driven only on the weekends will last your lifetime. Mileage is solely dependent on your gearing. As a comparison. My pickup with 3-2’s and lower gearing gets 10-12 mpg. My 37 with 2-2’s on the 8BA and highway gears gets 16-18mpg.
75000 to 80000 sounds about par for the course if you have a good engine, maintain it right and don't beat on it too hard. In those days if you made 100,000 without an overhaul it was a miracle. Life of a hopped up motor was 25000 to 50000 but they didn't have the oil and filters we have today.
I only have about 4,000 miles on the basically stock 8ba in my '39 p/u but I drive it almost everyday and all is well. With 4.11 gears and mainly around town driving the mileage isn't going to win any awards but such is life. That said, I really like your '34. IMO is about as nice as it gets.
When I grew up in the Texas panhandle in the early 60s, we shunned all flatheads of any type. Now I love the sound and the history. What nice little engine with a bit of a cooling situation. My engine purrs and with an “ electric fan” it stays cool. I know that kind of fan is not trad. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app