What kind of milage is everyone elses 60's c10 getting?

[tiny norseman]

I have a 65 c10 stepside. It has a 327 engine and 3 speed on the column. I get like 5 miles to the gallon. I know these trucks aren't built for good milage back then, but I would think it would get better than that. I don't use it as a daily driver or nothing, but I was just curious what they should get. What's everyone elses trucks getting?

[hopped up]

5!!!! Something is really wrong with your tune ,or your gas gage is broken. I get 12 with 350/350 and 3.73 gears

[Jim53066]

Are you sure you don't have a son that disconnects the speedo and goes for joy rides?

My pop could not figure out his poor mileage until I got caught.

Jim

[wolfdaddy]

19.49 mpg three on tree 230 driving like it has not been stolen.

[donthekawguy]

built 350/350 I get around 7 but I can't keep my foot out of it lol

[66LSx]

22-24mpg

Just a few little changes from stock

[Todd W. White]

16 in town, and 18.5-20 on the highway, but it goes down if it's windy (also does if I have a brake problem - I had a return spring fail on my right front recently, and it caused the shoe to drag, which reduced the mileage pretty badly). I'm running a 283 bored out to .060 "-over with an SM 420 transmission, and a 3.08 rear end. Carburetor is a fully rebuilt Holley 4360 Economaster.

[MikeN]

Stock mid-70's 350 with a Q-Jet carb, 3-speed manual, 3.73 gears. I get about 12 city, 14-15 highway at 70mph.

[tiny norseman]

Thanks for the answers everyone. I thought I had a carb prob. I can smell gas like its flooding and it sputtters sometimes if I give it too much gas. Might be time to rebuild my carb.

[bhc41051]

Originally Posted by 66LSx

22-24mpg

Just a few little changes from stock

Wow what's your secret? that's 5 MPG better than my 2014

[66LSx]

Originally Posted by bhc41051

Wow what's your secret? that's 5 MPG better than my 2014

2014 Crew Cab = 5900 lbs, restrictive exhaust, restrictive intake

1966 C10 = 3200 lbs

EPA highway on your 2014 4x4 5.3L is 22 MPG fyi
(2wd 2014 1500 5.3L vortec is 23 MPG. Source: EPA.gov)

If you figure a 2wd 5900 lb truck gets 23 MPG...
A 2wd 3200 lb truck should get the same/better.

The new Ram Crewcab 4x4 1500 diesel is 28 MPG hwy, 23 or 24 I think combined.

Power, weight, speed traveled, aero drag.

Below 70 mph aero doesnt play as much of a role

I travel mostly at 60 mph to work...2 stops over a 16-20 min drive. (speed limit is 55 on a country hwy)

Not that hard...
My 2012 GMC 1500 Crew 4x4 5.3L gets 18mpg on the same travel when I'm not in the C10

[sixTsix]

I get about 2 gallons to the mile

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by tiny norseman

I have a 65 c10 stepside. It has a 327 engine and 3 speed on the column. I get like 5 miles to the gallon. I know these trucks aren't built for good milage back then, but I would think it would get better than that. I don't use it as a daily driver or nothing, but I was just curious what they should get. What's everyone elses trucks getting?

First thing that comes to mind when it is that far off is your speedometer/odometer is off. Either tire size, gear changes or tranny changes.


Next item is what gears are in the rear? 4.11, 4.56. or 3.73, that make a HUGE difference.

My speedometer is a bit off, but I am calculating with w 350/4bbl, 3 speed manual tranny, and 3.73 gears I am getting about 13-14 at 75 (oh I mean 70 since that is the speed limit). 13-14 is about average for these trucks with original drive line trim (IE tranny no OD, and 3.73 gears).

[curvedglass]

63 bone stock with 3.08's added by PO. 230 3spd. under 100k miles.

17.2 avg over the course of the summer. Back road driving. Occasional highway cruise.

[65chevysub]

my 65Suburban gets about 4mpg. I've been told my TH350 is shot. I have a 283, and 3:73 gears(stock) Engine runs good, but I'm pulling 4000RPM's at 70 MPH on the highway. So now it sits in my yard. I'm thinking of pulling the front clip off to clean up and paint the firewall until I can get a new trans. It really sucks that I can't drive the old beast.

[curvedglass]

Now would be the time to consider a 700r4 upgrade. Should knock down the highway to 2800 Rpms.

[XLCOR_65]

283, 2bbl, 3 speed, 3:73 gears, 225/75R15 tires.

Currently getting 12 miles per gallon in town. Not too shabby either in my opinion....my former 2004 Silverado 2500 quad cab got that! haha.

[66LSx]

for me.....

@ 60 mph = 1700 ISH rpm

@ 70 mph = 1900 ish


5.3 LS \ 4L60e

[Chevy1966]

Originally Posted by 66LSx

for me.....

@ 60 mph = 1700 ISH rpm
@ 70 mph = 1900 ish
5.3 LS \ 4L60e

Good info here... question: is there any advantage to using the 4L60e trans versus the 700R4? I'm going to upgrade out of the TH350 on one of my stock '76 C25's - I do a lot of highway driving and the mileage isn't too good when the engine winds up. Need the overdrive. BTW, what's the diff ratio on your rig? --Rob

[65chevysub]

Originally Posted by curvedglass

Now would be the time to consider a 700r4 upgrade. Should knock down the highway to 2800 Rpms.

What kind of modifications am I looking at? I have considered going with a 700, but I live in an apartment, and am on a limited budget. I have a 72 column for the TH350, and have had the driveshaft made to fit it from the original P/G. Is it computerized as well?