[lukecp]

A friend of mine used to have a '71 GMC 1/2 ton with a 250, 3spd on the column, and 3.73 gears, and the best they ever got out of it was 11mpg. The engine had like 260,000 miles on it though. You could proably get you 350 to get a little better mileage. Since you have a 3/4 ton, you proably have 4.10 or lower gears. If you could find a way to put some 3.54-3.07 gears in it, that would give you better mileage on the highway. Also, you said you have a comp cam, how big is it? Anything over a Comp 268 will proably kill your mileage. Jet your carb a bit leaner too, and give the truck a nice tuneup, and you will proably get better mileage than an I6.

BTW, i am in the same boat as you. I am going to college this fall, and i need something that gets better gas mileage than my '72. I was looking on the internet.....and early ninties geo metros are about 1000 bucks, and get 45mpg. I dunno if i could drive one though, they are too small and underpowered, but if push comes to shove i may get one. Then if i don't have to drive my truck every day, i could go wild on the motor (bigger cam, lower gears), but i know i would miss driving it everywhere.