Mt Type IV is stronger and smoother than the day I picked it up at Jake Raby's 35,000 miles ago. For me the ultimate test is the 13 trips home from Carlisle using I-40 and that 8 mile super steep section of I-40 East of Asheville where with my original 1915 Type I had to use second gear and sometimes even third to ascend that stretch. Big trucks can go only 30-35 mph there. Now on that road I do 75 in 4th gear with ease and a big reserve in power. Never had to stop mid-trip for anything but gas, and never a backfire or failure of any sort to date.
Interesting side note---that stretch of I-40 going East (down the mountain), it is so steep that at every 1/2 mile or so there is a runaway truck emergency exit with a deep sand surface and these exits are positioned so that they turn up a hill for trucks with brake failure to use to stop quickly. That part of I-40 is steeper than anything I have ever seen in the country anywhere. For some reason the highway engineers went straight up the mountain side rather than going around it like they do even in the Rockies. Did I say it was steep??
Anyone know that stretch I'm talking about? Imagine how this type IV pulls on a flat road. I love the idea of Suby power but I'm very satisfied with this engine. I don't have ac but there is an Espar heater making it a true year-round driver here in Dogpatch.
Wolfgang---best of success with whatever way you choose to go for power.