70~75 mph Towing a Trailer ? 55 is Max Here in California, But i do see alot of people goin way Faster. I also see them Jack Knifed down the road often !
I stopped and checked out a 56 chevy wagon a few miles across the PA line the other day. It has a 283 and was running good. Body was not bad and they were asking 5g's. I would think that would make a better starting point for a cruiser/tow vehicle for you.
I've done a lot of towing over the years, and I'd second a lot of the advice here - stay to the newer (post 55) side of your range, especially if you don't want to do a lot of work to the car. And cooling will be your bigger problem, both engine and transmission. Automatic transmission will be the better choice, since a torque converter will help your launch. Disc brakes will help, but make sure there are working, and well balanced trailer brakes. Other than that - piece of cake !! Remember - in the 50s and 60s, cars pulled trailers, not trucks !!
I'm going to look at a 1960 Plymouth Belvedere 2dr w/ slant six and auto. Am I wasting my time? Other than braking, how do you think it would tow?
it should tow fine, just need to take into account it wont be quick,but if it's to tow a trailer for a holiday whats the rush? sit back relax and enjoy the drive!
The 70 although not being hamb friendly has a great driveline in it,375hp, 525lbft torque,has the pulling power of a big diesel. I have a 70's caddy 500 and TH400 in my 56 coupe de ville and it pulls like a train. Tim
Slow but steady. Slant sixes went into a lot of heavier trucks that exceeded the total weight of a belvedere with a trailer. You might have a top speed of 60 loaded down, but it'll get there, it's a durable piece. I don't know how mechanical you are but with a mopar you're going to have to become more of an expert than you would with other brands. Don't be suprised if you have to chase down conversion/upgrade information and tell the shop what parts to use. Even if they've done a similar conversion a hundred times on chevys. good luck
A local friend has a '64 GMC Suburban with the stock V-6 305 and four-speed, with 3.73 rear gears. He pulls a 22' Airstream with that comfortably at 65 mph. He plans on adding a Gear Vendors OD unit, which will give him eight speeds forward and two reverse, with an OD final drive (4th gear and high range on the GV unit) of .70. I really wish I'd kept the '67 Burb I restored in '97 and sold in '99. That was a great rig!
I've been tire kicking hardcore the last few weeks. I've come to the conclusion that i need to get into the early sixty's for something safe and cost effective. I looked at a 62 Merc Monterey 4 door with a 390 and solid as a rock. 5500 obo. This may be the one. All it needs is some seat covers and bellflowers. Does anyone have any pics of these customized?
Punkabilly1306 has one on here that I used to own. $1500 I think, near Detroit. There was a beeeeautiful black 4 door a few years ago, gloss black, saw it on a few sites. Super low.
For what its worth, I towed a similar sized rig back and forth across US & Canada about 42000 times with a 1959 6 Cylinder Chebbie Pickup. Didn't get there fast, but it was a torquey old fart. Brike a rocker arm in the midwest, bought a whole assembly off a junker for $10, bolted it in, ripped off another 25K before I retired it. There is a 1954 Class A motorhome (Its Junk) advertised in KIJIJI in Van BC that was built with a 292. Be Not afraid!!
Get yourself a Hudson. My 308 twin h powered Hudson 6 will out torque most v8s. With its dual range hydromatic transmission there would be no problem pulling a trailer at highway speeds. BUT... in the interest of safety I would make sure you've got trailer brakes and would not consider going 75 unless I was pulling with a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. You've got to be able to stop that rig in the same distance that everyone else can stop. If you want to take it real easy and not go too fast be prepared for people honking and giving you that 1 finger wave.
Get the trailer weighed... those little canned ham campers were only skinned in aluminum amd had wood and steel framework, most of them were pretty heavy for their size.
Well guys, after tire kicking and driving all over hell I settled on a 59 Bel-Air two door. Pretty much unmolested. 283/power glide. It also has power steering. I want to bag it over the winter after we finish the camper. Any suggestions before I tow? Does anyone have any pics of a 59 laid out?
You might think about a 700R4 in that with the 283. I drove my sons '62 Impala out to him in Vegas (from Michigan) in Sept. and really missed all those other gears!
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