Forest,Originally Posted by Freebird
Just a theory. We saw lots of grill covers in the 70's and 80's. When I moved to GA I-85 and I-75 had a speed lilmit of 60MPH
By the late 80's it was 65MPH. Now, as you well know, it's 70. These old cab-over iron sleds could actually run 90+ if let loose. They were "harnessed" by old speed limit stds. and for years ambled effortlessly down America's highways at slow speeds without striain.
Today the "conventional" cab rigs have smaller front ends and have the benefit of today's 70+ MPH speed limits. No more need for grill covers of the past.
Also, a few years back the average rig made runs to FL, NY, MI, and TX. But today it's not uncommoon at all (hell it's very common) for rigs to make regular trips to LA and Cisco. Drivers I've talked with love to run TX and AZ at night because the "Smokeys" (an old, OLD term) to some extent turn a blind eye. 90+ MPH is not uncommon ("let them dawgs eat").
At least we have fewer "torked-off" truckers these days!
Welcome to the Hatteras Owners Forum & Gallery. Sign Up or Login
+ Reply to Thread
Results 11 to 13 of 13
Thread: Hot or not hot
-
03-14-2007 11:08 PM #11
Re: Hot or not hot
Last edited by (Nobody You Know); 03-14-2007 at 11:09 PM. Reason: grammer
Capt'n Bill
"People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, But people will never forget how you made them feel."
-
03-14-2007 11:30 PM #12Bird
- Join Date
- Jun 2006
- Posts
- 1,927
Re: Hot or not hot
Thanks for the input and clarification. I reckon it makes a little more sense now as the horses in those big rigs just keep growing and growing.
I'm really gonna get "torced" if one of those 90mph home wreckers runs up on me and makes me drop down to 4th!
Smokeys, an old term, just don't call me good buddy, okay?1974 58TC "Freebird", 1965 41DC "Nancy Cay", For Sale - Click HERE for info - sosectn@aol.com
Randy Register - Kingston, Tennessee - aka Freeebird aka Sparky1
www.forumlychallengedboaters.com
-
03-14-2007 11:32 PM #13Senior Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2005
- Posts
- 1,830
Re: Hot or not hot
The main reason you don't see them very often anymore is there aren't as many two stroke diesels on the road anymore. I happened to see a nice Peterbilt back in January that had the grill cover on it half open. The new diesels are lighter in weight (not as much cast iron mass) and use different combustion techniques (multistage injection), run much higher horse power output, Hence the 90 mph speeds on an 80,000 lbs truck.
ChrisChris
1973 48' Yachtfish
"Boss Lady" my other expensive girlfriend.
Follow the refurb at www.starcarpentry.com