VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Death Wobble

I resent your insinuations, 41SpecialDeluxe.

My speedometer was checked against a GPS and is accurate within a couple of miles an hour. I have owned (2) '37 Chevys during the last 39-years and driven them on many tours, both with groups and alone, over that time and have been able to keep up and exceed traffic on all of them. I also have converted my cars to the 3.73 rear axle and changed the speedometer drive gear to read correctly.

I've drag raced, and hot rodded many cars in my youth and know what speed I'm driving at. Perhaps things might fall off YOUR car at higher speeds, but I asure you they never have on my mine, but then I maintain them.

Charlie has an ongoing goal to poke fun at 37 and 38's. I suspect it is actually his dream car since he is "stuck" with several 41's. I have to admit that Charlie's boasting about the 41's has gotten me to look closer at them and I find I do actually like them lol...

Back on topic...I am just starting full disassembly of my 38 chassis so am interested in this thread as I will be refreshing everything so curious what Rusty finds wrong...

I thought that a 37 had a 4:11 differential as does a 41. A 3:73 is cheating. Unless you have a lowly standard with leaf springs for the front. To lose to such a machine would be too embarrassing to live with.

I don't think I can outrun you. So, no to your challenge.

Best,

Charlie

BTW: I bet you're not running a regular 37 unmodified engine either.

The lower gearing in the 37 would be 4:22.

The '37 came with 4.22:1 gearing in the Master Deluxe and 373:1 in the Master model, which gives a considerable highr speed at the same engine RPM's. Surprised that you "KNEW" a '37 couldn't run at 70 mph without knowing that there were different axle ratios available, but then this is the internet where everyone can be an expert.........

My 1939 Mastter Deluxe with original 4.22 gears would cruise at 65 MPH and drove it to many meets and tours at that speed.
In about 2001 I installed the 3.73 gears and 70 MPH became my speed.
Gas mileage rose from about 15 MPG to 17 MPG.

With the 4.22 about 75 to 80 MPH top, 3.73 80 to 85 MPH.

The 1941 I had back in 1951 would run between 60 and 65 MPH, 82 about tops and gave 18 MPG at 60-65 MPH on on 3600 miles trip to Colorado.

BB, (another one. How many BBs are there?)

I agree completely with your statement about everyone being an expert. I sure got this one wrong so I ani't no expert but I'm not alone. (I had the parts manual right beside me but was too lazy to look up the information before opening my big mouth. That's never happened before.

Thanks for the correction to my post.

I apologize to Uncle Ed. I'm now convinced that that 37 of his is the fastest thing in Iowa. Is too! I can imagine seeing the dust trail rising up behind his 37 as he wheels and deals out there through the corn fields.

Best,

Charlie

BTW: This was taken out of the back windshield of his 37 as he is leaving for the grocery after having been told by the upset missus that he had forgotten the milk and bread again. See below.

I would have thought running a 216 with 4.11 or 4.22 geared rear end over 60 mph would be a little risky as far as the health of the engine is concerned. My '50 doesn't seem to care for it, nor did the '58 Chevy pickup I used to own with a 235. In fact I couldn't get more than 50 mph out of it on a downhill run with a good tail wind!