Uphill Power - Trouble climbing

[Deleted User]

A few of you know what the hills are like in Pennsylvania.



I was out in the Pacemaker yesterday (finally got the brakes finished - shop owner closed for a month due to health) and driving around town. I was climbing out of the valley on a road that has a speed limit of 55 MPH.



I have the 3-spd with OD and OD was OFF. I could barely get to 55.



I have no RPM guage installed so I can not tell what I was spinning but it sounded like it was at the hgiher end of where an engine should be.



What should I check? It did not feel as if the clutch plate was slipping - more like not enough in the 232 to get it up the hill.



Maybe I am just not understanding how well the car should climb.

faustmb

Glad to hear your car is on the road!



My Pacemaker (232) does not have the OD, and we have some serious hills in TN also. On the highway, I can maintain 55-65 on most hills. On winding roads I will usually be able to maintain speed but not accelerate. I have found that I need to have the RPMs up in preparation for any kind of substantial grade just to maintain speed.



Matt

[Deleted User]

Matt (my son's name by the way):



Thank you. That is how I would describe the climb. I could maintain 50 MPH but nothing more in 3rd gear (no OD). I will try OD next time.



This trip exercised her pretty well. She got hot climbing but when I hit level ground she cooled back down. After returning home and cooling down, I checked the coolant levels. They were good but the fresh green turned nasty brown.



So I will warm her up again, drain, flush and fill a few cycles with just water and "water wetter".

Hudsy Wudsy

Overly retarded timing is one possibility. However, if an engine's timing is retarded enough to cause lack of power, it's also likely to run hot as well. Have you ever determined the ratio of the rear end? Perhaps it was ordered new with a highway set (salesmen, flats roads...that sort of thing).

[Deleted User]

I'll check it all this winter.



But the main reason is the clutch plate. See new post.

[Deleted User]

I have a '50 Pacemaker "Deluxe!" (50A) with overdrive AND Supermatic (non functioning). If I run it near 55 MPH without OD, it really winds up the engine. Consequently, I always run with OD on and the car will top out at 85 MPH on a straight, flat, level road.



Dan

Uncle Josh

You probably have a 4.56 rear end with the OD. Your engine will be revving near 3000 rpm at 60 mph in standard 3rd, or about 2200 rpm in OD. Easy way to check it is to jack one rear wheel so it just clears the road, mark it and rotate 2 turns while counting the driveshaft revs



Might want to think about repowering with a 262 which will get you over most of the hills without kicking out of OD.