Crazy gas mileage rambling

[JointTech]

So the main question is realistically what is the farthest distance you can travel on one tank of gas?

End goal being to travel as far as possible in a 4x4 67-72 truck/blazer.
Must use a points distributor and carb. no electronics.

So what engine would we start with? 6 cyl? Diesel? SBC?

How much gas can you realistically carry? At 7 pounds per gallon a custom 350gallon tank is 2450 pounds of fuel. So we start with a 3/4 ton truck just to carry it.
Plus the weight of everything else you will be carrying in the truck. Which then affects gas mileage...

6cyl might be nice for mileage but going up a hill with 3000 pounds of gas and gear might not be optimum and give the opposite effect.

OD auto trans? 4speed? 5 speed manual? 2.7x gears? will it leave the line with weight with those gears?

throw ideas and thoughts at me.

yes zombies are coming and i dont want to be anywhere near LA when they do.

[odog]

Well first thing, engine. 327 or 350 get reasonable milage. 2nd would be trans, I go four speed, 5 speed would be ideal, but not sure if we are doing swaps and conversions, or just stock. 3rd is gearing, I think 4:10s are good. Milage is ok, coupled with 4 speed, we can gear down going up hill, and with my 327 and sm420 trans, I can do 75 if needed. 4th, I am partial to 4x4, you never know when we have to leave the pavement to evade zombie infested wrecks. I get close to 10 mpg with my4x4 69 3/4 ton 327 with points and a carb, sm420 with 4:10 gearing
so about 200 miles on a stock tank.
Now I have to ask this, if we go with a custom fuel tank, anything over 110 gallons has to be plackered as hazerdous and we have to have a hazmat license. But if we are running from Zombies it aint gonna matter anyway.

[JointTech]

didnt know about the 110 gallon rule. good to know. but yea, ill be running over zombie cops too.

I did mention 4x4 thats a must.

The "farm" is 2500 miles away.
10mpg, well lets say 7 since ill be carrying a full load.

i need a 350 gallon tank minimum.

Next issue then is the size of the tank. A 350 takes up most of the bed and almost definately wouldnt fit inside a blazer.

I need to dig up my algebra. If I had a custom tank that snug fit in the bed covering the whole floor, how many inches high would it have to be to get me 350 gallons?

Then my bed is still completely useable just "shorter".

I suppose Ill want to have a couple cases of oil, a couple rad hoses, a ****load of duct tape. gear oil and grease. a set of plugs and points and wires.
I figure I can rip whatever else I need off something along the way.

[odog]

ok by my quick math a 100 gallon tank is 4x2x2 roughly. That comes to 6.25 gallons per sqft. so if you made a tank 18inches tall by 5 foot wide by 8ft long you would get 375 gallons. thats a big tank, but that will get you were you need to go. Add side racks to the bed and weld some rails to the tank when you are building it and you can haul your oils, and the rest of your gear securly. on one of my L shaped tanks in my work truck i welded some 1 inch tube steel to the lower section making a frame to hold 2 five gallon buckets of oil. I am partial to a heavy bumper and grill gaurd, a smashed radiator puts a crimp in the journey.

Also may think about supplies for when you reach your destination, water etc.

[jocko]

Has SOMEbody has been watching Doomsday Preppers!? I love that show! So, I'm readin ya!

Well, if you'd like to be slightly less than obvious (i.e. hauling a 5th wheel with your own tanker trailer), you might do the following with some reasonable results:

Factory cab tank - 20 gal
Add factory Aux tanks - 14 gal each = 28 gal
Add a rear tank under bed - 16 gal (est, depends on mfgr)

So, 64 gal...

@ 10 mpg - 640 miles (i.e. L.A. to Provo, UT)
@ 7 mpg - 448 miles (i.e. L.A. to almost Flagstaff, AZ)
@ 5 mpg - 320 miles (i.e. L.A. to Mammoth Lakes, CA)

Attached is a pic of the factory saddle tanks hangin down, somewhat stealthily...
I'd want an o/d trans of course - and it will have better low end usually as most have higher (numerically) 1st geat ratios along with the o/d. Be forewarned, an o/d swap into a 4x4 isn't a cakewalk, requires engine move forward in some cases. Doable though. And probably need a v8 minimum to be able to haul all your extra weight before burndown. Big block too much a guzzler. Fuel inj would help mileage, but realize you don't want electronics.

Also, could consider adding a "tool box" that is actually an additional gas tank. Where ya gonna hide all the filler necks!!??

Well, hopefully that will get you far enough away from the zombie apocalypse. And good on ya, because if there is one, I'm quite certain it will start in L.A.

[72chevyk10]

get a moonshine still and learn how to make the good high octane hooch keep the still in the bed with a pump to the tank

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by jocko

Well, hopefully that will get you far enough away from the zombie apocalypse. And good on ya, because if there is one, I'm quite certain it will start in L.A.

I thought that started a little over a week ago in Florida????

[67c10rustbuket]

Like odog, I am concerned that your radiator may be compromised in the running over of zombies, although the structual integrity of their skeletons is already weakened in my understanding of zombies I would suggest some sort of bull bar, cattle guard, or grill guard and that will also add to the weight.
Then there are tires, maybe some armored vehicle tires would be up to the task. Assuming you would also be equipped with an arsenal of ammunition, what do you suggest for zombie slaying? .308 or larger? I like the 50 cal muzzle loader for dismembering but that is a little slow to reload when you are under attack by a herd of zombies.

[MrSchaeferPants]

Originally Posted by 67c10rustbuket

I like the 50 cal muzzle loader for dismembering but that is a little slow to reload when you are under attack by a herd of zombies.

If you build your bumper right your need for ammo would be greatly limited. Though I'd upgrade your wiper system and make sure you have plenty of extra washer fluid. Or just use a nice plow, so the red mist gets diverted away.

[dracula4999]

i would suggest swapping in an old 12 vavle cummins and a 5 or 6 speed...probably get 20 mpg with say a 3.55 gear, might do better than that

[67c10rustbuket]

Originally Posted by dracula4999

i would suggest swapping in an old 12 vavle cummins and a 5 or 6 speed...probably get 20 mpg with say a 3.55 gear, might do better than that

This would be great, but I would add a small trailer to collect the body parts so you could recycle the zombies into biodiesel. and maybe carry a .454 casull incase one isnt quite dismembered yet from the impact.

[VWBeamer]

I just went from Macon GA to Houston TX on one tank in my TDi wagon...16 gallons, 828 miles.

Which has nothing to do with your subject, except that it does.

Diesel is the only way to go...I would do a Isuzu or 4BT swap.

They are much more fuel efficient ( 20% more, which means 20% less fuel to carry), and are more flexible in the fuel they will burn. No diesel? how about kerosine, used motor oil, gas mixed with motor oil, vegetable oil, jet fuel?

plus the fuel is easier to find in large quantities. The typical broken down car has 20 gallons at most, where as the broken down 18 wheeler can have 400-500 gallons. Not mention all the military stuff is running diesel.

Then we get into the much longer storage life of diesel, especially with the ethenol crap they are putting in gas now days.

I will not even mention that diesel is safer to store and carry..

[manimal]

Originally Posted by VWBeamer

I just went from Macon GA to Houston TX on one tank in my TDi wagon...16 gallons, 828 miles.

Which has nothing to do with your subject, except that it does.

Diesel is the only way to go...I would do a Isuzu or 4BT swap.

They are much more fuel efficient ( 20% more, which means 20% less fuel to carry), and are more flexible in the fuel they will burn. No diesel? how about kerosine, used motor oil, gas mixed with motor oil, vegetable oil, jet fuel?

plus the fuel is easier to find in large quantities. The typical broken down car has 20 gallons at most, where as the broken down 18 wheeler can have 400-500 gallons. Not mention all the military stuff is running diesel.

Then we get into the much longer storage life of diesel, especially with the ethenol crap they are putting in gas now days.

I will not even mention that diesel is safer to store and carry..

Everything about this statement is true...but if a Cummins is NOT in your budget, look at the GM 6.2. whatever diesel you go with,make sure it's ALL mechanical...no electronic NOTHING....and FORGET gasoline altogether.

[71meangreenc10]

Originally Posted by VWBeamer

I just went from Macon GA to Houston TX on one tank in my TDi wagon...16 gallons, 828 miles.

Which has nothing to do with your subject, except that it does.

Diesel is the only way to go...I would do a Isuzu or 4BT swap.

They are much more fuel efficient ( 20% more, which means 20% less fuel to carry), and are more flexible in the fuel they will burn. No diesel? how about kerosine, used motor oil, gas mixed with motor oil, vegetable oil, jet fuel?

plus the fuel is easier to find in large quantities. The typical broken down car has 20 gallons at most, where as the broken down 18 wheeler can have 400-500 gallons. Not mention all the military stuff is running diesel.

Then we get into the much longer storage life of diesel, especially with the ethenol crap they are putting in gas now days.

I will not even mention that diesel is safer to store and carry..

Yes and no.....The guard and reserve maybe running diesel, but the active guys are running JP8 which you DO NOT want to put into your vehicle if you have been running diesel the entire time.....unless you carry alot of filters....

Smitty

[JointTech]

holy crap this thread took off while i was sleeping.
im actually nt a big doomsday preppers fan. I think they take the biggest kooks and make us all look like tinfoil hatters.
I've actually been preparing since 1998...
so the farm is stocked... Just have to get there. I thought I'd have a plane and pilots license by now but life got in the way.
Preppers does give me some cool ideas though

Great ideas. I dont plan on wasting any ammo on zombies. You know how much bullets cost these days? Gotta just keep trucking so a cow guard will be in the works.
However if we have some fast movers I prefer

akimbo style

akimbo style 1911s with hollow points.
no need for large caliber due to the afore mentioned weak skeletal structure of a zombie.

Bullets are mainly to keep all YOU grasshoppers away from my ant hoard. I spent my summer planning. Did you? bang.

I'm not in a rush so the diesel swap is interesting. I can get past flagstaff with my current vehicles. Its just not very zombie proof... An emp strike would take it out and it doesnt carry all my stuff.

For tires i figure I can grab wheels and tires along the way. No need wasting storage space.

yea another thought on 350gallons of gas in a truck. That would be a bomb and a half if the madmax types threw a flare at me.

[shok]

The biggest mistake you always see in zombie movies with drivers is the drivers drive way too fast and then wreck. Take it nice and slow and your radiator should be safe with a regular guard.

[72chevyk10]

Originally Posted by shok

The biggest mistake you always see in zombie movies with drivers is the drivers drive way too fast and then wreck. Take it nice and slow and your radiator should be safe with a regular guard.

but fast enough they cant run after ya...

[odog]

I agree with the calm driving, it conserves fuel as well. The diesel idea is something to think about, especially if you have the time. You would have good power and torque, low risk of the 350 gallon tank exploding, fuel is easier to come by on the road. I agree with the thought of no electronics, an emp would be the end of the line. This is an interesting thread, I am glad to see that I am not the only one who thinks of these things, you never know how things are going to turn out, or what is going to happen.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Maybe this rig will have you thinking "Perpetual Motion"?

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by magwakeenercew2jh

Maybe this rig will have you thinking "Perpetual Motion"?

Perpetual Motion

[dracula4999]

you can find old military trucks that have the diesel engine that will run on anything flammable, that may actually be better than my cummins idea. Run on trans fluid, motor oil, kerosene, paint thinner or whatever...might not be a powerhouse, but should be sufficient.

[71STPSDE]

I say go diesel engine and make your own bio-diesel. The only problem is the zombies might smell the exhaust and think it's french fries.

[JointTech]

mmmmm frys.

[ChevLoRay]

I understand the questions, but haven't seen the "Why" for doing this. Is it some form of competition, which is the only thing I can read into seeing how far you can go on a tank of fuel. That brings some other factors into play that would theoretically alter the outcome.

As far as the question goes, it seems that NASCAR and other racers have been trying to answer that as long as they've been racing. The sanctioning organizations have continued to level the playing field, as best they can.

So, what is "fueling" this quest?

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

I understand the questions, but haven't seen the "Why" for doing this. Is it some form of competition, which is the only thing I can read into seeing how far you can go on a tank of fuel. That brings some other factors into play that would theoretically alter the outcome.

As far as the question goes, it seems that NASCAR and other racers have been trying to answer that as long as they've been racing. The sanctioning organizations have continued to level the playing field, as best they can.

So, what is "fueling" this quest?

You got to read between the lines and look around the world today.