Lookin for a new Daily Driver.

[69C20CUSTOM]

I know its been covered before but I need some tips from you guys who have these older trucks. I had a 69 c20 but I dont know alot about this trucks.

So i was thinkin of finding a c10 longbed. I was thinkin about putting a stock 350/700R4 with a shiftkit and maybe a 3.07 rear gear. I do about 300-400 miles a week all highway so im tryin to make it highway speeds with low rpms. I want to lower the truck maybe less drag on the truck and I want to run newer chevy 20s on it. So wanted to know if that drive train combo would get some ok mpg.
Any tips would be great cause im getting tired of driveing my car and never have a truck when I need one.

Thanks for reading.

[xb9rguy]

Thanks for asking this I was just thinking the same thing. I'm definitely subscribing to this one. I hope we get some get input on this.

[Ryan5O]

Im new to these trucks and also curious to see some responses. Ive learned early that there's nothing real efficient about these classic trucks, but they do have a cool factor that's worth the sacrifice.

[red69ss]

been looking for a daily driver myself, I've looked at four so far and all were too rough or over priced for condition. The 700r4 probaly won't be necessary if you have a 3.07 gear, and the two won't work well together. most guys with the overdrive trans are running 3.73 or higher gears.... I'm sure someone with more knowledge on trans/gear combos will give you some more solid advice.

good luck finding a nice dd , since you want a longbed the search may be a little easier . I've seen some nice longbeds cheap locally.

[69C20CUSTOM]

Ya i hope some guys have some good input. Dont get me wrong theres nothing bad about my little 4 banger car but when I had my 69 it was my daily and the people who stop and tell it cool or tell you an old story is just so cool to me and you meet cool people. So im wanting that again but I drive to much to get 10mpg so high high teens or low 20s would be out of this world I know 20s is asking alot but there has to be something.

[69C20CUSTOM]

If I had my total pick of trucks it would be something they didnt make.
I want a C20 shortbed, with a small window cab. LOL
I dont know why but its just what I want but I can make one later.
Small and Heavy Duty

[Meatman]

You should be able to pull close to 20 with that combo. Basically stock 350 with four barrel tuned right, headers and good flowing exhasut. Keep your foot out of it. Low rear gear and a 700r4 would be best choice. Friend of mine has a 383 with Vortec heads, headers, good exhaust, Muncie 4 speed, and 3.42s. He can pull 18 with the ac on. Its and 85 2wd shorty.

[69C20CUSTOM]

Wow I would be happy with that I would not mind having a stick. Do you think headers or stock manifolds. Ya tuning is a big thing i have a guy at work that does cool stuff with old 4 barrel quads.

[Dingfodgy]

If efficiency is the primary consideration- you might want to look into a take out 5.3 / 4L60E combo from a late model donor. The prices are getting quite reasonable and I doubt a carb'd genI motor could beat the mileage. Just my opinion, so I could be wrong.
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[ls1nova71]

If you have a 4 cylinder car now and drive 300-400 miles a week, you're not going to like the hit to the wallet one of these trucks are going to give you at the pump. I have an all stock '71 1/2 ton 2wd short bed with a 359/350 and 3.07 gears. I rebuilt the quadrajet and tuned the truck up, it runs great, but in all honesty it gets 13 mpg. I know there's going to be people tell me how they get 25 mpg with the same combo, but I'm just telling it like it is, I have nothing to hide. I would say keep the small car and get a truck, but use it when you need it or want to drive something you like. Just my honest opinion.
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[ls1nova71]

Also as was mentioned before a 5.3 swap would net you some decent mileage but it would take some time before it would pay for it's self, although that depends on how much you drive. The 5.3 pull outs have come down in price but installing one and getting everything done to make it reliable option still costs more than you would anticipate. I've done alot of LS swaps and still am amazed at how much I have in them when all is said and done. But if you really want a daily driver it's the way to go because not only do you get better gas mileage, you also get better driveability which is nice if you live somewhere that has all four seasons!

Just noticed you live in KC so yeah we definitely get all four seasons.

[teeitup]

I have this for sale, all original runs and drives great, AC needs charged. Radio comes on but no sound. I need to put on a new fuel pump, its leaking a little. Could use new tires as one of them is weather checked

[69C20CUSTOM]

Originally Posted by teeitup

I have this for sale, all original runs and drives great, AC needs charged. Radio comes on but no sound. I need to put on a new fuel pump, its leaking a little. Could use new tires as one of them is weather checked

Hey "teeitup" I looked at that truck when I came up for the show this year how much are you asking for it.

[Ackattack]

I put a TPI 350/700r4 combo in my 72 GMC. It had 3.08 gears and 275/50/17 tires (don't know the diameter off the top of my head) and it was a DOG on the highway. I swapped to 3.73 gears and it made it much more pleasant to drive and I picked up 2 mpg (IIRC I went from 16mpg to 18mpg)

I just bought a 91 chevy parts truck for the engine. Originally it was set up with a 700R4 and 3.42 gears. I think this would probably be the most ideal combo for fuel mileage with an auto. A 5 speed would probably do even a little better.

For my 69 that I"m swapping the TBI 350 into, I'm hoping to get close to 20mpg with that engine, sm465 4 speed and 2.73 gears. I have 255/45/20s, but I may have to swap to the 15" wheels to hit 20mpg.

[oldblue1968chevy]

I get around 10. 355 vortec heads thump cam 373 gear 3spd manual.

I dont see how everyone rants about 20 mpg

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

I get around 10. 355 vortec heads thump cam 373 gear 3spd manual.

I dont see how everyone rants about 20 mpg

With that combo... I'm suprised you get 10mpg.

Key thing for the cats gettin' more than 15mpg is the overdrive transmissions.

Gary

[PAWS 72]

Trust me 12 or 13 mpg is all you will get.350/ 350 with 3.08 gears is what I've got.That is on a good day. down hill, strong wind behind you pushing it

[69C20CUSTOM]

Ya I have thought about doin an LS swap when if i get one of these trucks Ive seen so many it cant be super hard. I hate wiring but Ive seen harness for sale.

[WIDESIDE72]

Mine 71 GMC swb w/ a stock 250 6 cyl and 3.07 gears pulls down 15 mpg (!) Granted, I am pretty heavy footed with it. I plan to check it again next week or so after I have gone though another tank of gas while driving a little more sedately. After driving this truck a while, I have come to the conclusion that for a daily driver, the little 250 would be hard to beat. It really does have plenty of power. Back in my younger days I would have yanked it for a V8, but it is so smooth that I have grown to appreciate it.

I have pondered swapping a 700r4 and putting the stock 3.73 rear back in. It has good pickup from a dead stop now, it would be great with the 700r4 and 3.73's. I have all of the parts to swap it to auto, even a 700r4 core that the seller said he did not have the TV cable adjusted right after it was rebuilt. There was clutch material in the pan. Hopefully it won't need any hard parts.

We bought a house and are closing on it in December, so it is for sale. It would help us have a bigger down payment if I sold it. All of this could go with it if I got my asking price.

Don't worry... I have plenty of other projects to take the place of this one !
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/c...m-truck&cat=12

[Ryan5O]

How are the 307's on mileage? I know their the stepchildren of the V8s, but Ive read some pretty good builds that get "good" mileage. Anyone have any personal experience with these?

[Daves70]

For a daily driver I was thinking about using a stock early 80's 305 with a 700/R4 and 3.73 gears.It would be cheap to do,get decent mileage and not be too much of a dog.The LS swaps are great and run nice but like said earlier they are not cheap to do.

[Longhorn Man]

I have never done a 307 myself, but it seems to be written on thisboard that they get awesome MPG.
Personally, i would go with a fresh 307 with 305 heads, a good quadrajet, ramhorn manifolds, small pipes and good mufflers, a 3.73 hear with overdrive... Or a 3.07 with a th/350, skip the wide tires and keep it tuned.
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[69C20CUSTOM]

Ya I dont know alot about the 307s but I do hear they haven been known to get better mileage.

Now would it toatlly kill it running 3.08 gears with a 700R4

"WIDESIDE72" the 250 in your truck is a inline 6 right

[69C20CUSTOM]

I dont know if it would help at all but My 69 C20 was factory no a/c, no ps, no pn. And I thought about doing electric fans. Less belts less wieght.

[69C20CUSTOM]

Heres my old truck itwas rusted out really bad stop sign floors and all. But
still wish I had it.