Headers - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Already Gone** · 08-21-2011, 02:03 AM

I am getting a little tired of 12mpg with my bb truck. Has anyone that has installed headers on their truck noticed any difference in mpg?
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Longhorn Man · 08-21-2011, 08:31 AM

headers only measurably help at higher RPMs. I've only known one guy to measure every drop of fuel into his truck, and document every mile driven... and his observations (small block truck) was that a stock intake and stock exhaust manifolds proved best for MPG.

12 MPG isn't too bad for a big block truck in all reality. You could try tuning it, and driving it a bit easier (that's the hard part) and you may get one or two more per mile.

fastwillie 696969 · 08-21-2011, 08:32 AM

what rear ratio and size tires ?

Average Joe · 08-21-2011, 06:05 PM

12 mpg aint bad. Curious too as to what gears, tranny, and carb you are running. My 69 c10 with a stock 74 454, TH400, and 3.73's gets 9.5 on the highway and less in town.

VWBeamer · 08-21-2011, 06:21 PM

A over drive transmission would be a big investment, but is also about the best thing you can do for MPG.

**Already Gone** · 08-21-2011, 06:22 PM

Thanks for the help. I am running a 396/350 horse with an Edelbrock 1406 carb and a TH400 with 3:73 gears and the tires are 255/70R15. The mpg figure was in Canadian gallons and with the US gallon being 20% smaller and a little recalculating I am getting 10.1 mpg from a US gallon as opposed to the 12mpg from a Canadian gallon. I guess the best solution would be to go to a 700R4 with 3:42 gears which would get the rpms down to 2100 at 70 mph instead of the 2800/3000 rpms at 70 mph I get now. If I did all that at lets say a cost of 3500/4000 with install and got 25% increase in gas mileage to 16 mpg, its not very cost effective on a truck I drive 1000/1500 miles per year. Why cant gas be a 1.00 a gallon ??????

Longhorn Man · 08-21-2011, 09:57 PM

I assumed you had 3.07 gears with the big block.
something you can do fairly cheap, is swap the rearend with a 3.07 rear. Find one in a junk yard for a couple hundred, or someone parting one out.
Another one, is drop the edelbrock and get a quadrajet. With the tiny primarys on them, they are great for MPG and throttle responce.

big mike71 · 08-21-2011, 10:10 PM

If you only drive it 1500 miles a year, why do you even care about gas mileage.

**Already Gone** · 08-22-2011, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big mike71

If you only drive it 1500 miles a year, why do you even care about gas mileage.

You do have a valid point but I guess the whole thing of gas prices and the fact we are getting ripped of by gas prices just chews at me. I also drive a 94 4x4 Burb for the bulk of my yearly driving and it doesn't do any better and it seems all I'm doing is paying for gas.
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bobs409 · 08-22-2011, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Already Gone

it seems all I'm doing is paying for gas.

Join the club! I feel the same way.

MagmaJct · 08-22-2011, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big mike71

If you only drive it 1500 miles a year, why do you even care about gas mileage.

If he's like me, he probably only drives a few miles a year because of the low mileage. He'd probably like to drive it more!

Jay W · 08-22-2011, 10:47 AM

I have a 3.07 rear for ya if you want to switch, hell I'll even drive the 2000km to swap

. I travel that way for work often.

sporty1200xlc · 08-22-2011, 10:58 AM

Just wondering what gas prices are running up there in Canada.

Jay W · 08-22-2011, 11:01 AM

1.20 to 1.30 per litre. so about 4.52 to 4.92 a USG

Lemield · 08-22-2011, 01:07 PM

Wow....I'd LOVE to get 12mpg....my big block gets 9MPG.....Best I ever got out of it was 11mpg...must have had a tail wind!

**truckster** · 08-22-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay W

1.20 to 1.30 per litre. so about 4.52 to 4.92 a USG

My Blazer running a 350/350 with 3.73:1 rear and 32 inch tires only gets 10-11 MPG. Of course, if I convert it to kilometers, that's 17.6 KPG. Hey, who knew the metric system could be such a psychological boost?

As for the headers, I've had engines with stock manifolds and with headers, and I don't think there's as much difference in performance or fuel mileage as people think, unless you're running a high-performance engine. I think having an overall free-flowing exhaust is more important than whether you have headers or manifolds.

fastwillie 696969 · 08-22-2011, 02:29 PM

my truck gets gas station to gas station mileage

VWBeamer · 08-22-2011, 06:26 PM

My buddy swears he gets 21 with his LS2/480le 3.55 combo...IDK

Longhorn Man · 08-22-2011, 11:12 PM

and I used to get consitant 44 MPG delivering pizzas in a civic... still has nothing to do with a cost effective way to get a few more MPG on a truck that has a big block in it.

PHAT TONY · 08-22-2011, 11:30 PM

I'm ASSuming you have dual buzzuast on your truck??

08-21-2011, 02:03 AM	#1
Already Gone 70+ ( Old Skool Club ) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ,Canada Posts: 9,143	Headers I am getting a little tired of 12mpg with my bb truck. Has anyone that has installed headers on their truck noticed any difference in mpg? Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1972 C10 Custom/Deluxe 613 Highlander 406/700R4 1999 White Tahoe LS 4x2 with Z56 Police Package 1992 K1500 GMC Suburban Members I have personally met: MusicMan70 - HeavyD - ChewyChevy67 - StingRay -71SWB4x4 - 67 Burb - DeadheadNM - too much stuff - bc65 - das601 " Circumsatances Do Not Change Responsibility " " The Sky is not the Limit, Your Mind is." Marilyn Monroe .. RIP Charlie Watts 1941 - 2021

08-21-2011, 08:31 AM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Headers headers only measurably help at higher RPMs. I've only known one guy to measure every drop of fuel into his truck, and document every mile driven... and his observations (small block truck) was that a stock intake and stock exhaust manifolds proved best for MPG. 12 MPG isn't too bad for a big block truck in all reality. You could try tuning it, and driving it a bit easier (that's the hard part) and you may get one or two more per mile.

08-21-2011, 08:32 AM	#3
fastwillie 696969 ~Rest In Peace~ Join Date: May 2005 Location: CALIFORNIA NOR CAL Posts: 9,707	Re: Headers what rear ratio and size tires ? __________________ is it fast ? it has a lighting bolt donut? B___H please, I can remove 90% of your so called "beauty" with a kleenex

08-21-2011, 06:05 PM	#4
Average Joe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 1,352	Re: Headers 12 mpg aint bad. Curious too as to what gears, tranny, and carb you are running. My 69 c10 with a stock 74 454, TH400, and 3.73's gets 9.5 on the highway and less in town.

08-21-2011, 06:21 PM	#5
VWBeamer Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: GA Posts: 281	Re: Headers A over drive transmission would be a big investment, but is also about the best thing you can do for MPG.

08-21-2011, 06:22 PM	#6
Already Gone 70+ ( Old Skool Club ) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ,Canada Posts: 9,143	Re: Headers Thanks for the help. I am running a 396/350 horse with an Edelbrock 1406 carb and a TH400 with 3:73 gears and the tires are 255/70R15. The mpg figure was in Canadian gallons and with the US gallon being 20% smaller and a little recalculating I am getting 10.1 mpg from a US gallon as opposed to the 12mpg from a Canadian gallon. I guess the best solution would be to go to a 700R4 with 3:42 gears which would get the rpms down to 2100 at 70 mph instead of the 2800/3000 rpms at 70 mph I get now. If I did all that at lets say a cost of 3500/4000 with install and got 25% increase in gas mileage to 16 mpg, its not very cost effective on a truck I drive 1000/1500 miles per year. Why cant gas be a 1.00 a gallon ?????? __________________ 1972 C10 Custom/Deluxe 613 Highlander 406/700R4 1999 White Tahoe LS 4x2 with Z56 Police Package 1992 K1500 GMC Suburban Members I have personally met: MusicMan70 - HeavyD - ChewyChevy67 - StingRay -71SWB4x4 - 67 Burb - DeadheadNM - too much stuff - bc65 - das601 " Circumsatances Do Not Change Responsibility " " The Sky is not the Limit, Your Mind is." Marilyn Monroe .. RIP Charlie Watts 1941 - 2021

08-21-2011, 09:57 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Headers I assumed you had 3.07 gears with the big block. something you can do fairly cheap, is swap the rearend with a 3.07 rear. Find one in a junk yard for a couple hundred, or someone parting one out. Another one, is drop the edelbrock and get a quadrajet. With the tiny primarys on them, they are great for MPG and throttle responce.

08-21-2011, 10:10 PM	#8
big mike71 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: independence mo Posts: 2,111	Re: Headers If you only drive it 1500 miles a year, why do you even care about gas mileage. __________________ I'm not as good as I once was, But I'm as good once as I ever was.

08-22-2011, 10:47 AM	#12
Jay W Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Fort St John, BC Posts: 85	Re: Headers I have a 3.07 rear for ya if you want to switch, hell I'll even drive the 2000km to swap . I travel that way for work often. __________________ 69 c10 lwb

08-22-2011, 10:58 AM	#13
sporty1200xlc Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Richmond IN Posts: 50	Re: Headers Just wondering what gas prices are running up there in Canada.

08-22-2011, 11:01 AM	#14
Jay W Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Fort St John, BC Posts: 85	Re: Headers 1.20 to 1.30 per litre. so about 4.52 to 4.92 a USG __________________ 69 c10 lwb

08-22-2011, 01:07 PM	#15
Lemield Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arvada Colorado Posts: 1,321	Re: Headers Wow....I'd LOVE to get 12mpg....my big block gets 9MPG.....Best I ever got out of it was 11mpg...must have had a tail wind! __________________ Larry 1949 Willys CJ2A, Kubota Turbo Diesel engine, Warn Overdrive, 11 inch brakes, 12volt, Warn M8000 Winch "Little Green" 1970 Rustoleum Roller Red C20 Custom Camper 454 TH400 "Big Red" 1971 K20 6.2 Turbo Diesel 4x4 4spd Ranger Overdrive "Pumpkin Wagon" 2005 VW Beetle Diesel 44+ MPG "Silver Bullet"

08-22-2011, 02:29 PM	#17
fastwillie 696969 ~Rest In Peace~ Join Date: May 2005 Location: CALIFORNIA NOR CAL Posts: 9,707	Re: Headers my truck gets gas station to gas station mileage __________________ is it fast ? it has a lighting bolt donut? B___H please, I can remove 90% of your so called "beauty" with a kleenex

08-22-2011, 06:26 PM	#18
VWBeamer Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: GA Posts: 281	Re: Headers My buddy swears he gets 21 with his LS2/480le 3.55 combo...IDK

08-22-2011, 11:12 PM	#19
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Headers and I used to get consitant 44 MPG delivering pizzas in a civic... still has nothing to do with a cost effective way to get a few more MPG on a truck that has a big block in it.



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08-22-2011, 11:30 PM	#20
PHAT TONY Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Red Deer ab canada Posts: 1,250	Re: Headers I'm ASSuming you have dual buzzuast on your truck?? __________________ 1972 factory 2 Wheel Drive Blazer-Sold 1972 K10 4X4-Sold 1971 Chevrolet Cheyenne/10-Sold 1970 Chevrolet C/10-Sold 1968 GMC 4X4-Project 1968 Chevrolet C/10 Pro Street 1970 GMC 3/4 Ton-Parts 1997 2WD 2DR Yukon-Sweet http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=335664

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