Experts!! Best economy package??

[JQ-72]

I am considering selling my 72 3/4 Cheyenne BB truck (more details later). I am tired of getting $25 worth of gas at least once and sometimes twice a week. I would like to fix up a swb truck and put a powerplant that would get good gas mileage. I'm not worried about towing, just driving. I thought about a 230 L6, TH350, and 3.08 rear or 307 V8 with 700R4. What are your ideas or experiences? Thanks for any help.

Joshua

[Fred T]

If you're going with a six, get the 250. It will do as good economy-wise as the 230, and have more power. Also, avoid the integral head, it is horribly inefficent. The last 250 I owned was in an 80 van, had a progressive 2 bbl carb, 3 speed and 3.73 gears. Got about 18 mpg. With a 700R4 tranny and 3.73 or 3.90 gears you should be able to do better.

[4x4Poet]

I always lose money with buy/sell transactions. Switching 67-72 trucks will cost you a year's fuel costs, at least, unless you upgrade to a meticulously maintained, 6-cyl truck which would cost even more. These 30+ year-old trucks rarely come to us in perfect shape. I have spent over $1000 on each of my two 4x4s, so far. Worn brakes, old radiator & hoses, carb rebuild, fuel tank issues, etc add up quick. Not to mention oft-neglected interior work. Maybe you could do a better buy/sell by buying a truck that isn't worth near what yours is. And auto transmissions lose major mileage behind little 6 cyl engines. Maybe a lockout tc gives ok mileage at cruise. A short-throw, Muncie 4-speed would do better.

For the money saved sticking with your truck, you could closed-loop fuel inject the BB. Next rebuild, add hyd roller lifters and a cam made for the lifters and the EFI computer's capability. You should gain some mileage, though maybe not with enough savings to justify the cost for a decade or so. Since towing is not an issue, you might look at higher gearing, too. And how much of your mileage is due to how long it has been since the carb's last rebuild? At least add a vacuum guage to gauge your own driving habits. Lots of savings often available there.

Now, if you're talking about a second truck.........?

[tom hand]

Getting gas mileage out of these trucks is like trying to get orange juice out of a cocoanut....keep the big block and buy a jap car beater for a daily driver

[johnje]

Originally Posted by tom hand

Getting gas mileage out of these trucks is like trying to get orange juice out of a cocoanut....keep the big block and buy a jap car beater for a daily driver

I agree. I have a 40mph Ford Escort for this very reason.


John

[mooneyes]

...when i first got my truck out i had a stock 305 with a small 282-292/ 465-488 cam 4 speed and 3:07's...and got awsome milage for what it was ..i would say 18 to 20 mpg range..changed over to a stock 350 same cam 700r4 and same gears..and lucky to get 10-12mpg..i've always had good mpg with 305's..i think i've only ever had 1 350 that got descent milage...

[bigvinnie]

a good running stock smallblock mated to a 5 speed manual trans and 3.07 gears, and a light foot would be about as good as you can do, and it ain't gonna be too great... the vac gauge suggested earlier will help you keep fuel consumption to a minimum... 2 or 4 bbl is a matter of opinion as to which is more fuel efficient, I'd go with a 2 bbl... fuel injection is another story, but you're into some coin there...this all depends on the kind of driving you'll doing most (hiway vs. city)

And as was stated earlier, it would take you a while to recover your investment with the money you save in fuel costs...

I ran a stock 250 with 3 speed manual for years, and it wasn't that great on gas, mainly because the motor was so underpowered that you had to use a lotta pedal and the gearing had to be numerically high... I'd rather have V8 power at my disposal when I needed it.

hopefully someone who's running a 5 speed manual can comment on gas mileage...???

[Longhorn Man]

Does one to two tanks of gas hurt that much?
Your complaint was my defence when i was driving my truck.
"I only go through one tank a week."
I look at it as the cost of a cool vehicle.
As far as buying a small ecinomical car...how much will THAT cost? Car note, full coverage insurance...other costs to drive...
How many miles would you have to drive to make up the difference of $20 more a week in gas?

[64fleetside]

305/700R4 & 3.42 gears in an 88 silverado got me over 20 always. My bro had same combo in a 88 full size work van also gave over 20. I know these were both injected but a well tuned Qjet would be close. I get 17-18 in my 64 w/350/700R4/3.42. Brian

[Super Duck]

Originally Posted by 64fleetside

305/700R4 & 3.42 gears in an 88 silverado got me over 20 always. My bro had same combo in a 88 full size work van also gave over 20. I know these were both injected but a well tuned Qjet would be close. I get 17-18 in my 64 w/350/700R4/3.42. Brian

I have one of these injection set ups with or without heads. every thing is rebuilt and ready to run. $1000 for with heads and $400 without

[Steven Sellers]

Jap Crap is exactly that but there is nothing wrong with using it as a beater IMO, heck mine even has more room in it than an S10. As far as family, they dont ride in it thats what the 2500 is for. I know what about me since I am part of the family.....well I live in the country and so the deer is about all I have to worry about and well they are the size of goats here

[N2TRUX]

Try a 350 with MPFI, 700r4 and 3.42 gears....

[gmc67swb]

I have a 5 spd in my truck. With my past combination (327 and TBI) I would get about 20-22mpg. That's with a 3.54 rear gear, "28 tall tires and a cruise RPM of 2100 at 70. That would be driving as conservative as humanly possible. The new combo 350 HO and 4 bbl is still out to jury. From what little I've driven it, it's not going to be nearly as good. I hope the motor needs to broken in a bit still.

[4x4Poet]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

Does one to two tanks of gas hurt that much?
Your complaint was my defence when i was driving my truck.
"I only go through one tank a week."
I look at it as the cost of a cool vehicle.
As far as buying a small ecinomical car...how much will THAT cost? Car note, full coverage insurance...other costs to drive...
How many miles would you have to drive to make up the difference of $20 more a week in gas?

Excellent points.

[gregsplace]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

Does one to two tanks of gas hurt that much?
Your complaint was my defence when i was driving my truck.
"I only go through one tank a week."
I look at it as the cost of a cool vehicle.
As far as buying a small ecinomical car...how much will THAT cost? Car note, full coverage insurance...other costs to drive...
How many miles would you have to drive to make up the difference of $20 more a week in gas?

This is my way of thinking also. That's why I'm selling my '98 and returning to driving 67-72 as a daily driver again. Insurance on 98 is $320-6 months, ins. on a '69 is $125-6months. No more $250 payments and high tax/tags at the end of the year either. Can buy alot of gas for a $250 month payment.

[cableguy0]

spending thousands to save a few bucks a week in gas doesnt really make sense. so figure u spend 25 bucks a week in your truck. well say you get another vehicle and pay 3500 for it and ya still spend 15 a week in gas your only saving 520 dollars a year. your talking about 7 years before you actually see any savings. its a waste

[Steven Sellers]

I say buy a beater one at least 10 yrs old and foreign. I have a 88 Toyota P/U that I picked up for 200.00, put a clutch in it and 2 years later still runs like a champ at 28 mpg. I got a screamin deal IMO on this truck but if you look around you can still get a deal. I have a 2500HD and shes thirsty all the time so it does pay for me to have the yota, another thing my insurance actually went down when I bought the toy because I listed it as my drive to and from work vehicle.

[68w/sbc406]

Originally Posted by cableguy0

spending thousands to save a few bucks a week in gas doesnt really make sense. so figure u spend 25 bucks a week in your truck. well say you get another vehicle and pay 3500 for it and ya still spend 15 a week in gas your only saving 520 dollars a year. your talking about 7 years before you actually see any savings. its a waste

thats fine if you only spend 25 bucks aweek (100 a month) my average monthly gas bill is 250 a month. i just bought a 91 accord for 1200 bucks, put a cv in and its a great driver. now if it drops my gas bill to 100 a month then thats a 150 amonth in my pocket. 150 x 8 = 1200. so in eight months the car pays for its self.

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by 68w/sbc406

thats fine if you only spend 25 bucks aweek (100 a month) my average monthly gas bill is 250 a month. i just bought a 91 accord for 1200 bucks, put a cv in and its a great driver. now if it drops my gas bill to 100 a month then thats a 150 amonth in my pocket. 150 x 8 = 1200. so in eight months the car pays for its self.

That is a different story...we were talking about one tank of gas a week.

[meathead95]

pm me when you are ready to sell that bb truck

[zooza]

ALSO with a beater spare ,you save lots of miles on your truck ! I would get a 300-500 dollar pos . shop right and the maintenance isnt too bad.

[70 Burb]

Hi
I'm looking for some suburban side trim .
Another member linked me to your 8/16/04
message about your trim. Do you still have
it? Is it the trim below the windows?

[weasel29gm]

Yep, if you want mileage get a 4 banger!!!!!!!! My '99 S-10 25mpg everyday,on a trip close to 30!!!!! And it looks goood and its a Chevy!!!

[Blue Beard]

I'd rather give up mileage than drive a rice grinder. More secure in the event of an accident. And I don't like being cramped in a small vehicle.

[GMC AMI]

Originally Posted by Blue Beard

I'd rather give up mileage than drive a rice grinder. More secure in the event of an accident. And I don't like being cramped in a small vehicle.

I am way for what Blue Beard says! I think a persons safety is worth way more than MPG. If one of our trucks hits or gets hit by a small ricer, which one do you wish to be in?? If you think gas costs a lot try losing your health.