improving fuel milege???
 

anyways to help with fuel economy in my truck??? :lol:

any little bit help, it averages about 11mpg right now.

here are the specs on it



355ci
10:1 Compression Ratio
Holley systemaxII alum. heads
Comp cams 270H magnum
Holley street dominator intake
MSD Pro-Billet distributor #8361
MSD Blaster2 Coil
MSD 6AL Ignition box
Edelbrock Thunder Series 650cfm AVS carb
Aeromotive Billet Fuel Pressure Regulator
shortie headers
K&N 4" Open Element air filter

3.73 gears
Eaton Limited-Slip Diff.

Th350c transmission
2800 stall torque conveter
B&M Stacked plate trans cooler
trans-go transpack



i'm thinking a new carb, but the one i want is SO expensive :( (650cfm mighty demon)

and i plan on getting a built up 700r4, but those are expensive too and the torque converters are expensive for them too!

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

It sounds like a built up 700R4 is the next step. That will be expensive, of course, which is why I don't have one. :)

I doubt you'll do much better than that with a TH350 and 3.73 gears. I'm surprised that your mileage is that high.

Slonaker

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

i was telling angie i was gonna spend our tax return on a new tranny and a blower for my truck. she just laughed at me :(

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

Man you should just sell me that truck and get you a Nissan Hardbody for increased fuel economy;) .

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

Putting a Demon on there would be going backwards in gas mileage in my experience. For mileage a spreadbore would be a better choice.

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

ah i know, but it'll have MORE POWER!!!

its not like i drive the truck everyday :)

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

MORE POWER usually equals MORE GAS...
If you don't drive it everyday... then don't worry about the gas mileage :)

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

I think fuel injection would be a good step for a bit of increased MPG and performance as well. Then a built 700r4....

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

if i was gonna spend that much money for fuel injection, i would much rather it go towards a blower :)

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

Actually the Blower would increase your fuel economy as long as you drive like a granny. Only problem is that 10:1 compression ratio needs to drop a few points before the blower goes on.

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

700r4's suck, listen, if you are wanting to do that get a gearvendor's overdrive

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

It's a tradeoff, with all those go fast goodies on the engine,10.1 compr. don't think it's gonna happen, since it's not your DD I wouldn't worry about it, cake is good but sometimes you can't eat it.:cool:

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

Consider putting a lower # gear ratio in ,like a 3.42 or 3.23. With your engine you would still have a good low end & be able to cruise without engine souding like its going to blow up. Ihad a 3.73 in my truck with the 3 speed turbo trans. but took it out . 350 / 3.73 is agood combo if you run mostly on the strip.

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

What is a gearvender overdrive. Im interested.

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

For wgat one will cost, you could buy another truck. I'd love to have one, but not for that kind of money.

http://www.gearvendors.com/

Slonaker

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

Dude, you've been around long enough to know the answer to this question. :crazy:

If you are getting a true 11mpg with current setup do a happy dance :lol: .

These bricks are not gonna get 18mpg despite the constant claims we all see here. :but:

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

You could always do the "Poor Man's" Gear Vendor..... This is an old "DoodleBug" for sale up here locally. It has a 4 speed attached to a 3 speed.

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

i know :( i just wanted to post some more in here :c2:

yeah its about 11mpg a little less on the highway. not like it matters, the mustang gets 20mpg so i'm fine with that. the trucks had maybe 300 miles put on her in the past year :whine:

so i'm gonna end up buying the speed demon 650 carb, which means i'll have that 650 edelbrock and accessories for sale soon ;) if anyone wanted to know:)

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

do the 700 tranny, I have one behind my big block witha 2500 stall(lock up) and it does 16-17 on highway at 65mph, of course thats no wind and good baro pressure yadda yadda....

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

Screw mpg, just focus an ET and forget the rest...:)

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

it's slow

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

i agee,if you want mpg....get a datsun.:cool:

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

haha its faster than my mustang.

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

what does the truck run, if i remember the stang is 13.80x

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

the mustang ran a best of 14.2 @ 100mph

the truck ran a best of 15.09 @ 90mph with 2 flat cam lobes, open rear end with 2.73 gears and an untuned carb(which it still is)

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

we can change that, tv is open on sundays

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

A TH700R4 would get more fuel economy, but probably only into the mid-teens with a 3.73 rear end.

If it's any consolation, the 350 / TH700R4 / 3.73 / P235/75R15XL driveline combination in my 5,400-lb. 1986 C10 Suburban only gets about 12.5 m.p.g. on average. I got into the upper mid-14 m.p.g. range once about 12 years ago... ;)

BTW, knock on wood, I've still got the original 142,000-mile TH700R4 in her. I've put over 7,000 towing miles on it myself. The boat/trailer combo weighs in around 3,400 lbs.

Good luck! :)

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

If you did put one of those gearvendors over/under behind a 350 how would you go about changing the gears? I know when you are in first gear you have a low first then a high first and so on with the rest of the gears. Does the truck go through all six gears on its own? I am like you. Would love to have one but the $$$$$ :( They say if you have a 3:73 the over/under would put the 3:73 back down to a 2:90 on the road. Take off would be like a 4:10.

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

just be happy with what you have....my 355 is running on 9.5:1 compression and the rest is setup basically how yours is only on a 4:11 gear.....i've got 33x12.5X15's and a 700r4 with a shift kit and still only pull AT BEST about 9mpg.....

if you want milage i have an '03 focus you can buy.....*LOL*

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

i have a 327 out of an old massey combine that i wanna go through...how much you want for that little "doodlebug".....it'd make one heck of a wheel stander...:devil:

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

he has an 01 mustang gt for his daily
mustang>focus

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

Three words for getting great mileage... Sequential Fuel Injection.

There are guys getting 18 mpg out of 383s in third gens running off an 01 Express Van OBDII ECM :D

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

Swap in a 6.2 Diesel.

Re: improving fuel milege???
 

It's not mine, I have been looking for one to play with out in the fields with the kids. I found it on Craig's list in CT. I asked a couple of times how much hte guy wanted for it, only reply was "best offer". I think he'll have it in the yard for a while.

Here is a cool Craigslist tool, if you want to search for it. http://www.craigshelper.com/