Ok, so I have a question that I have been thinking about all day and is getting on my nerves. For those of you that own and drive Brockways with Continental gas engines in them, what grade of gas do you normally run it on and what kind of fuel mileage do you get? Also, what model of truck is it and which engine is in it.
Shelby

Hi Shelby...

My truck is a '55 155W with the original 427 (42BD) flathead Continental. The truck has a 5 speed Fuller with OD along with a 2 speed rear with 6.71 gears on the high side and 9.13 on the low.

The truck also has an Zenith down draft carb with one step larger jets than factory and a Prestolite distributor with a Petronix Ignitor module and their matching Ignitor coil. I am also running a Carter street/strip electric fuel pump in lieu of the AC manual pump. The pump puts out 7 psi and I regulate it down to 3.5 psi with a Holley regulator.

I finished my truck in 2008 and as of today I have put little over 3,800 miles on. The truck runs along between 55 and 60 mph on level grade and will dip down to 40 mph on a grade. I am running 24.5" tires so the diameter is around 45" or so.

I run super in truck to help reduce pinging. I could retard the timing a bit but I am thinking about a distributor with vacuum advance.

On my way to Macungie last year I got an honest 10 mpg. Keep in mind it was mostly downhill and it was cool in the morning.

This summer I drove the truck to West Springfiled Mass, a total of 210 miles one way. On this trip I got 8 mpg. Not bad for a 5 hour trip with vintage iron.

Hope this helps!

It does. Thanks!

Shelby;

I have a 22R 501 in my 1942 ward LaFrance. It has a Stromberg updraft carb. I run 87 octane (e10) and i run the truck out of fuel when I am done, lest the ethanol will cause problems. I can run 100 LL from the airport and fill up my 5 gallon cans but that can get expensive. Fuel consumption? well I cannot give you an mpg, however, I pulled a 10 ton steam tractor 400 yards round trip at a show, in low gear, at 900 rpms, bout 2 mph and used almost 2 gallons of fuel. I believe this truck is rated at 3 mpg, which was the going rate back then (11 cents a gallon),

John G

One thing I forgot to mention that I just remembered reading the responses... I also use Stabil's marine stabilizer for ethanol now. I add it to every tank before I fill them.

Ok, running the good gas works best, which didn't surprise me any. We have a International 2706 (industrial version of a 706 wheatland) tractor here with a 282 cid gas engine in it and we have to run the highest grade gas in it or it doesn't not run right at all. Anywhere between 8 to 10 mpg sounds very good for an old truck. I actually wasn't expecting to hear numbers that high, I was expecting more like 4 to 6 mpg even on the good gas.

According to my Brother, who was lucky enough to ride with my Father in all his Brockways, told me that back then, Dad was getting 2-3 MPG's with his 427 Continentals, he was always loaded HEAVY both ways between CT and Detroit, and there were only two lane roads, also he had the largest jets in the carb for power.

Shelby, I run a 148W with a 427 around to mostly local shows. It does get out on the interstate at times. I estimate that I get about 6mpg. I use plain old regular gas, with no additives, and I have no trouble at all. The truck has pretty low gearing, and a dump body with a big wind sail of a cab guard. Steve

Interesting thread!How is the parts availability for the gas engines?

Most Continental parts are available with a little digging. The are a couple of shops that specialize. Utica truck parts, Montes Equipment, both can get parts or already stock them.

Glen - given your ingenuity and mechanic's skills, I have every bit of confidence you will get it running. Your success on the 527 project is proof.

There's a place in Memphis Tn that has parts for 572 engines. I think mostly because they deal with the military (603) version in deuce and a half's. I know I got a carburetor kit for my updraft Zenith from them and a couple of oil filters as well. It's been a couple years now and I'll try to find the name of the company. I've been out of the office for the last week and am slammed.

Emery

Wouldn't happen to be Memphis Equipment Company, would it? http://memphisequipment.com/ They used to have a branch not too far from me over in Chambersburg, PA, but it shut down a few years ago.

Haven't had a chance to check, but that sounds right!!

As Stan said parts availability is not a problem. I use Universal Auto Parts in Albany. They have rebuilt three Continentals and except for a 'clock spring' that keeps tension on the timing chain in the 1931 Brockway Hearse engine #16B they have had no problem rebuilding.

Yeah Peter, Universial in Albany rebuilt the engine in my 152WD just before I bought it.
Still have the reciept.
The engine runs like a watch, of course I have to put the truck back together again that's only a minor issue.

Stretch