Fuel milage

[69GMCLonghorn]

Originally Posted by dave69

I have a 69 chevy pick up 1/2 ton with good running 350 was overhauled before I bought it a year ago and it is stock. I have headers with flow master exhaust, HEI ign.,600 vacuum sec. Holley on Edlelbrock manifold, and a large K&N filter. It runs great every day cold or hot, just if I could get better fuel milage with out spending a lot on Fuel injection that be great. I was thinking of going with stock TBI swap but dont know if I will improve the milage a lot. In Canada we are paying over $4. a gallon we get hosed up here. If I have to spend thousands whats the point. Any thoughts? Thanks

You'll have to spend thousands... no point!

Seriously, though, let's think about it. Brand new trucks today aren't even getting 20 MPG. They advertise 20 or 21, but real world is more like 16 - 18 in most cases. With our trucks, the main thing to work on is dialing in the gearing. Most are taching too high on the highway and use too much gas. If you add gears or change the rear end gears, you can make some decent changes in mileage. But unless you get hooked up with a lucky junk yard find, you'll be spending quite a bit to do anything that will net you a noticeable difference.

You've got it running as well as you can with the parts you've listed. The TBI won't do squat. I'll take a 600 Holley any day. It's a 40 year old truck. Just drive it easy and enjoy it. I mean heck, you don't have payments, right?

[dave69]

Well said no it's paid for and it runs better than some new trucks. I do have 3:08 gears with t350 so maybe what I have ant so bad. I have heard of the TPI getting up to 25 to 28 mpgs. Thought TBI to keep it looking old school.
One thing with the holley carb, it is only 9months old and if I drive it too long with out getting into the 4 barrels the gas must get old because it will flood like crazy from the secondaries until I drive it hard than it runs like a champ again. I drive in heavy traffic every day so some time hard to get on it. Plus milage goes in the tank. Thanks from your commets.

[cdowns]

what are you getting for fuel milage and what are you looking to get as far as increase?

[dave69]

Originally Posted by cdowns

what are you getting for fuel milage and what are you looking to get as far as increase?

well being old school and we use the damm metric system I have to convert everything over and I think if I did the convertion right around town 10 to 12 mpg. Not sure what I want just would like it to be better.

[dave69]

Originally Posted by 69GMCLonghorn

You'll have to spend thousands... no point!

Seriously, though, let's think about it. Brand new trucks today aren't even getting 20 MPG. They advertise 20 or 21, but real world is more like 16 - 18 in most cases. With our trucks, the main thing to work on is dialing in the gearing. Most are taching too high on the highway and use too much gas. If you add gears or change the rear end gears, you can make some decent changes in mileage. But unless you get hooked up with a lucky junk yard find, you'll be spending quite a bit to do anything that will net you a noticeable difference.

You've got it running as well as you can with the parts you've listed. The TBI won't do squat. I'll take a 600 Holley any day. It's a 40 year old truck. Just drive it easy and enjoy it. I mean heck, you don't have payments, right?

What gears should I look for 3:73?