Gas is high, any fuel saving tips?

[LuckyScott]

Just wondering if anybody has some tips they can share?
My '72 Suburban gets between 13 - 14 miles per gallon.
It has the factory original 350 with 220 thousand miles on in and a turbo 350 trans. What I have done is .......
Swapped in a HEi distributer. Installed a K & N air filter. Installed dual exhaust.
I keep my tires inflated and try to use just the primaries on the quadrajet carb.

I had a chance on buying a 700r trans. with the overdrive, but just didn't have the dough to purchase it.

I don't tow anything with it, so I am wondering about doing a rear gear change (anybody done this?)
Any other tips for increasing the miles per gallon on a vehicle with the aerodynamics of a barn, and that weighs the same as a barn?

[Riveted1]

Originally Posted by LuckyScott

Just wondering if anybody has some tips they can share?
My '72 Suburban gets between 13 - 14 miles per gallon.
It has the factory original 350 with 220 thousand miles on in and a turbo 350 trans. What I have done is .......
Swapped in a HEi distributer. Installed a K & N air filter. Installed dual exhaust.
I keep my tires inflated and try to use just the primaries on the quadrajet carb.

I had a chance on buying a 700r trans. with the overdrive, but just didn't have the dough to purchase it.

I don't tow anything with it, so I am wondering about doing a rear gear change (anybody done this?)
Any other tips for increasing the miles per gallon on a vehicle with the aerodynamics of a barn, and that weighs the same as a barn?

Drive something else? Sorry, couldn't resist. I don't think you're gonna squeeze much more out of her, unfortunately. I'm lucky to get 11mpg out of mine.

[gcburdic]

I see the 5.3/5.7 getting a little better mileage (but it's not a cheap alternative), but like you said...it's hard to push a barn down the road

[Street Smart]

Did you see the comercial where the guy says he lets his kids hitch hike to school to save money on gas. ;-)

[Street Smart]

I did an `89 camaro 5.0 TPI motor w/700R4 in my `70 panel years ago. On a road trip if i baby it it can get about 16-17 mpg.
I just did a 6.2L/6speed auto in my `67 sub, cant say for sure the actual mileage but it definately alot better then the carbed 350 w/700R4 that came out.

[zac]

My '70 and '72 K10s totally stock would get about 17 highway. 3.08's and 465 4spd. I rebuilt the 350 in the '70 but put in a cheapo Summit cam and now it gets 13, so that will change. I wanted to put in a Crower Mileage Beast-had good luck with them in the past-but didn't for some reason. I will say that 3.08's, an sm465, 31" tires and a basically stock 350 are not a great combination.

My latest plan is to find a factory roller block, put in a mild cam-maybe a factory grind-and possibly de-stroke down to 327 cid. I want to keep it factory-appearing for now, so I'll skip the Vortec heads. Maybe some of those 3" ramshorns.

Of course if you don't care about stock, the sky's the limit. I'll bet a motivated and resourceful person could get 20 highway out of one of these things. Late-model drivetrain, fuel injection, etc. And the aerodynamics are certainly better than than the 73-87.

[chris mc bride]

Didn't see what your running for exhaust but normaly a free flowing exhaust will help. You can try Lucas fuel treatment I have 3 vehicles it helps some and some it makes very little differance. You can play with tuning sometimes it don't take a lot to pickup some milage. A air fuel ration gauge helps tune it to perfection give big returns.I weld a d bung into al my exhaust so one can be used.Oh a crossove in exhaust is hit or miss deal(helps in some cases). But the od trans would be your best gais especaily if you get a lockup converter also.

Im building a stroker motor for panl hoping to increase milage when its done. I know loats disagree but you can build more power and pickup milage depends on how you build it and use it. I have had high performance engines that get great milage if I can keep foot out of it.

You might try restore since motor has lots of miles.Ive had it help out before too. A vacume guge that tells you when your to much into throttle will help.My 05 dodge has a economy reading and playing with it to see how much I can get has helped educate me on better driving. Also anything thats free power helps.Smaller pulleys on accesories.
Make sure to kepp K&N clean it helps alot. BAd part is something add a little and its hard to realize.

[AzDon]

Lots of ways to save.... As mentioned,vacuum gauge can help you monitor behavior and assess your tuneup. Vortec replacement heads add compression. Choosing to not use your A/C can save a bit. Even too much electrical load can cause a drag at the alternator. A lot of these burbs have 308 gears (good) and a 700r4 with lockup can save substantially on the highway as well as providing lower gears that are slightly easier on the engine. Weight and rolling resistence are also big factors. Is your brake adjustment loose? Do you really need that back seat?
After you've tuned up and eliminated all extra weight, the only strategy really left is "Hypermile-ing". You can save a ton of gas by rolling stopsigns and traffic lights and coasting downhill with the engine shut off, but more important is learning how to flow in traffic with the least amount of speed changes from signal to signal!
If you watch bigrig truckers approaching a red signal light with stopped cars, you will notice that he'll start slowing way back and try to still be rolling a reasonable speed when he catches the cars as they roll out. He does this because if he has to start from stopped, it can take as many as six gear changes to get rolling 15-20 MPH again AND it is a huge fuel waster.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't bet on any huge decreases in fuel consumption for a 67-72 burb unlesss you install an LS engine and 4l60e with full electronic management and lower the rear ratio into the twos.

[bntmotorcycles]

35 yrs.ago I owned a 69 burb with a 307 4spd. with 3:08. It had factory 750 16" tires. It had 2 bbl. with small jets. I would get 18 in town and 22-24 on the hwy. It burned white in the exhaust in town. I never burnt any valves etc. Now it was no power monster but it sure got good mileage. I've owned several burbs over the years and NONE of them ever came even close to getting that kind of mileage. Remember though the speed limit was 55 back then I'm sure that helped a lot too. Anyway just me 2 cents. Gas is $4.49 here today, Sucks HuH!!!

[chris mc bride]

On another web site a guy sells wheel bearings that have alot less drag. You can literaly spin fron wheel on racecar and it will be spinning 10 miutes later. Down side they run 600 bucks for full chage over.These are ceramic bearings and should last a life time. He is testing them on his car to see how milage differance there is. Has to be some advantage now can it save enough to justify $600 on wheel bearings? But at $4 plus a gallon theres good chance .

[billsc30]

To answer y'alls question, You have a 15-25% mileage increase coming outta the tap in your kitchen. Wanna know what i am talking about? I am talking about using water for fuel. I know there are sceptics out there, i was my self. I know this works. in 58 and 59 caddillac put water injection systems on their cars as an option. this takes it a step further. extracting the hydrogen from the water and sending it direct to the engine. Check out water for fuel on the net. that was where i found the basic idea four years ago and am now building my own generator to bring the mileage down in my sonoma. I already ran a lawn mower on this stuff straight out of a 2 liter soda bottle.can't lose nothing tryin it out. Give it a shot. you may be surprised!

[LuckyScott]

I see crate motors for sale, but they seem to always talk about more power. I never see a crate motor where the intent is to increase your MPG.
Someday, maybe a fuel injection motor that is de stroked, and cammed to sip gas, not drink it.

[bntmotorcycles]

I just checked the new burb's gas mileage today. It has 350 crate engine, edlbrock alum. intake and 600 carb, 700r4 with 3:07 gears, 29" dia, tires. I got 14 mpg. just normal driving around town etc. I thought that wasn't to bad. I went on a trip with it last month and got 16-18 on the interstate. It turns about 1700 rpm @ 70 mph. So pretty high geared. Question is, are there smaller jets available for these carb's? It still is burning very black in the tail pipe even on the interstate. Which means it a little rich still. Just wondering if anybody had played with the fuel mixture on these carbs. yet.

[1BadAction]

Keep it under 55 and drive like you have an egg under your foot... Simplest and most effective.

[dubds10]

Just wait till you pay what we pay up here in BC then you can complain hahaha It's hard to get "good" gas mileage from these old beasts. As the say goes, you pay to play Our gas is a good $1 more than what you guys pay. Deff hurts the pocket books driving around, but unless you go buy a hybrid or commuter car, try not to think too much about it lol

Nate

[PanelDeland]

Originally Posted by 1BadAction

Keep it under 55 and drive like you have an egg under your foot... Simplest and most effective.

I agree.Put an egg under the accelerator.
There's not much chance of coming up with a fuel efficient engine that is cost effective,and getting better milage with an EFI or such is about the same.That said if the truck is a keeper and driven a lot:every time you do something major to it(engine swap,tranny rebuild or such) take the oppourtunity to up grade.An OD tranny,LS or EFI engine, or better rear gears are probably going to cost a bit more but payback will be better on something if the part has to be replaced anyway.

[mud.man.rj]

Sounds like you have most bases covered, I use roller rockers on all my engines, not too expensive and a lot less drag on engine and will help fuel mileage for sure, main thing is keep on saving for the 4spd auto will make the biggest difference and as mentioned a better exaust and air filter always help.

[chris mc bride]

well I guess Im stuck trying to build better mouse or in case of my 454(488 with stroker crank) rat trap. Me driving 55 in any thing over a 35 would just kill the cops around here. I can see it now wait you wrote McBide and its under 20 over the limit where you drunk? Would be the judges comment.

I don't think you have to have a ls or EFI engine for good milage. A proper tuned engine will do great.

Bnt motorcycles yes they make smaller jets and needles for edelbrocks,they normaly come rich from factory. Should have came with tuning sheet if new.Probaly star with two jet or jet and needle change in leaner dircetion. More than likely will be able to go more but error in rich is better than to lean. Might try cpl degrees more timing also.

[chris mc bride]

Look for a S A design books book on Power and Economy.Lots good info in it. Some good driving tips on increasing milage w/o driving around like grandma on way to church. Stuff like back in when parking so you don't have to back up and pull of when engines cold and chokes on. A K&N filter is good investment,a little milage increase and filters good for life. Realy good valve job is just free power and normaly increase in milage. Desing of exhaust can help with crossover tubes that help scavage each other.Careful cam selection is big factor. I love a good performance sounding lope in exhaust tone,but hey milages friend its not and normaly lot less lowend power.

If you do little study and planning Panle dans right you can build a decent econo combination. Hey if I can get 22 to 25 mpg from performance sbc that loved eating mustangs for breakfast dinner and lunch,using old school performance parts getting 20 on highway from early model truck is very concivable.

[motorhead79]

This is a hard issue to swallow, considering most of us buy and driving suvs don't think of fuel consumption as a priority. Buying a second vehicle is always an option. But buy a cheap car that you pay cash for. Making sure that the cost of the car doesn't exceed what it would take to recoop a savings in fuel over 5 years. The hho fuel substitution is a great idea especially for a Carb engine. Fuel injection systems are a pain to get a hho system to be benificial since an efi system is only going to compensate for the change in fuel pressure and so on. A quick fix is and this may sound funny but buy less fuel. I know duh right lol, but if you drive short distances, you should put only 1/2 tank of gas in, it saves weight and improves fuel economy since the engine donesnt have to work less to haul less weight.

[chris mc bride]

Second vehicle is what I did. Found 15 year old S-10 with excelant body that needed a motor. Im waiting for the v-8 swap kit to arrive. I have just finished a 283 .040 with 10:1,aluminum dual plane and vac. scondary 600 carb,268 cam headers and HEI . Figure engine same size as V-6,cheaper to build(had it sitting in corner didn't hurt either) besides with power I expect it shouldn't have to do much more than idle to run around town and with 700r-4 with lockup highway milage should be great.

Hey its hard to shut the hot rodder in me down! Checking into James Watt clinic (hp addiction)and John Browning clinic for my gun problem next week. Hope I can handle double addiction treatment.