Bugout4x4

I have always liked the low RPM bottom end torque of a straight 6. And you are right, most of the newer Ford 6's did very well, as did the Chevy 6's from the 235 and later. But I grew up driving old 40's and 50's model straight 6's and they had bad valve float issues because of how they were engineered. Take the 40's models Chevy 216 and the early GMC's for example.

The springs were quite soft I assume because of the softer cam and inferior cam bearings. The pushrods were so long and skinny on these engines that throwing the pushrods right out from under the rockers or bending them was very common. But then again these also still had a dipper/splash system to lubricate the rod bearings even though the mains and cam were pressure fed. lol

I guess I am still stuck in this mode because I grew up driving these older engines that just could not be pushed too hard.

Tbone289

That's interesting. I never gave it much thought but I can see how you would train yourself that way and get "stuck". lol I've been pampered more than you--I've never driven anything older than late-60's when things really weren't that much different than today engine-wise, at least internally.

Bugout4x4

Driving big trucks with a top RPM of around 2250 by "feel" for many years didn't help any with that mode either. lol

oldguy52

I grew up on much higher rev v8's of the 60/70s but even then I didn't need a tach. After a while you learn to feel if not hear where any engine is in its torque curve. My 5spd XJ came with idiot lights and drove it that way for a year before doing the cluster change and I can tell you it never saw 4k even trying to get on the highway. Now that I have the tach I've forgotten it's there. Back to hear, feel and smell.

Bugout4x4

Interesting isn't it? Funny how this actually works without need for dependency on technology.

Can you just imagine? Man actually lived and survived for a couple million years without electricity too.

s346k

meh these engines are fine at 4k rpm. they are loud for sure. if i had to wager a guess id imagine mine has seen 5k at least 750 times. it didn’t get named the “race jeep” around here for nothing. i floor it a lot and i won’t lie, i am a bit concerned about the trans. it does not like wot shifting 1-2 any more. so i wait until 2nd gear to floor it now because 2-3 is still strong haha. flooring engines is vital to survival. but like everything else - there’s a right way and a wrong way.

SatiricalHen

Before I got my 5 speed Comanche I had a 2016 ninja which redlines around 13k and a Jetta which was around 6k I think, but both are very very happy up near the redline. The Comanche has seen valve float a few times, but most of the time I drive it like an old man because it runs like crap.