Re: Compression - is it important ?

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2011/2/21 16:06:09

If you're asking if loosing 5 mph from 45 while climbing a hill is normal, it's pretty much an unanswerable question with the information we have. Depends on the weight of the car and passengers, tire size and inflation, the rear axle ratio, the state of tune of the engine, and of course the grade of the hill.

These old cars tended to have very high rear axle ratios so generally their hill-climbing ability is quite good; but they are heavy cars and to encounter a hill where you'd slow down a bit or even have to downshift is certainly in the realm of possibility. My 34 Eight has 120 hp, weighs about 4640 lbs dry weight, and climbs most hills without loosing speed in high gear. Yet I do on occasion encounter a hill where it will loose speed. Beyond that, pretty much impossible to even speculate without driving the same hill in another identical car.

If I'm understanding your question.