What's your mileage?

[Stepside65]

I didn't see anything when I searched, so here we go. What kind of fuel economy are y'all getting out of your trucks? I ask because I am still looking for my next truck, but I need something to get me to work everyday without emptying my bank account in fuel. Thank you for reading.

[Jeff La]

Here you go http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=605616

[Clyde65]

Get a truck with a 6cyl and strap a 5speed or a 7004r behind it, 3.42 gears work best but 3.73's will work just fine.

[61_FL_Apache]

I get around 10.

[ChrisDollins]

Our 66 got over 15 on the way home from a trip. 250/3 speed. I was really impressed with it. Ready to swap to a 5 speed.

Chris

[Lugnutz65]

I have talked to a lot of owners who want to improve their fuel economy.
The popular choices in no particular order are:
1. Keep the 3 speed and swap in a 3.08 rear differential
2. 700R4 AT with a 3.42 or 3.73 rear differential.
3. T5 5 speed MT with a 0.86 OD gear and a 3.42 rear differential
4. T5 5 speed MT with a 0.72 OD gear and a 3.73 rear differential
5. Tremec makes "bulletproof" 5 and 6 speeds but very $$$.
Fuel injection will help improve MPG as well.

Most importantly, match the rear differential with the transmission OD gear.

[66Submarine]

I think upper-teens is pretty easily achieved with a half ton (IME), at least if you aren't driving real fast. (Haven't been able to test how much of a hit you take from higher speeds, so I can't say for sure there.)

IMO, a 250 six or 283/327 (perhaps a 302?) with a manual OD trans would be at the top of my list if I was putting something together for economy. A good ultra-common 350 also works well.

Personally, I don't find these trucks to be really thirsty.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Lugnutz65

I have talked to a lot of owners who want to improve their fuel economy.
The popular choices in no particular order are:
1. Keep the 3 speed and swap in a 3.08 rear differential
2. 700R4 AT with a 3.42 or 3.73 rear differential.
3. T5 5 speed MT with a 0.86 OD gear and a 3.42 rear differential
4. T5 5 speed MT with a 0.72 OD gear and a 3.73 rear differential
5. Tremec makes "bulletproof" 5 and 6 speeds but very $$$.
Fuel injection will help improve MPG as well.

Most importantly, match the rear differential with the transmission OD gear.

good advice. an overdrive cog is a way to drive at highway speeds and lower rpm. which means the simplest way to get better gas mileage is not included on your list and is actually free, and that is to slow down. since air resistance is exponentially growing as speed increases (its the velocity squared part of the drag equation), the torque required to overcome drag at a speed of 70 is much more than that of a speed of 50.

I know a lot of guys who miscalculate their mileage too. I rode next to a guy in a ford last weekend who looked as his gas gauge, said "sheeeeet man we got 270 miles outa that half tank, thats 30mpg wooooo!". We then got about 110 out of the second half tank. Thats 21mpg. thats also what his truck is said to get for highway mileage on fueleconomy.gov. I have a ford focus and its gas tank behaves the same, first half lasts forever then plummets to e. When I went to lunch I had a 1/4 tank, this was driving home.

[Clyde65]

I forgot to ask, how far you driving one way to work?

[Sharps40]

Last 2 tanks were 18.5 mostly highway. 250/T5/3.73/weber 2 bbl and hei

[Todd W. White]

I get 16 mpg in town consistently. In a recent trip, I got 17.5 on the highway traveling 60 miles per hour, but that was with some contrary winds. The best I've done on the highway is 18.75

I find wind is my biggest hindrance to good mileage.

Mine is a 1965 C-10 with the following:

283 CID Engine
Holley 4360 Economaster 4-barrel Carb
ME Wagner Dual-flow PCV Valve with a custom designed catch can system
Headers
Dual exhaust with X-pipe
SM 420 Transmission
3.08 rear end
29" tires

Also, I use ethanol free gasoline exclusively. I also use AMSOIL synthetic oil and their oil and air filters.

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by Todd W. White

I get 16 mpg in town consistently. In a recent trip, I got 17.5 on the highway traveling 60 miles per hour, but that was with some contrary winds. The best I've done on the highway is 18.75

I find wind is my biggest hindrance to good mileage.

Mine is a 1965 C-10 with the following:

283 CID Engine
Holley 4360 Economaster 4-barrel Carb
ME Wagner Dual-flow PCV Valve with a custom designed catch can system
Headers
Dual exhaust with X-pipe
SM 420 Transmission
3.08 rear end
29" tires

Also, I use ethanol free gasoline exclusively. I also use AMSOIL synthetic oil and their oil and air filters.

How do you like the Economaster carb? I've got one sitting on the shelf waiting to be used on something. Sounds like a good setup with the 283 for sure!

[Todd W. White]

Originally Posted by jcramsey

How do you like the Economaster carb? I've got one sitting on the shelf waiting to be used on something. Sounds like a good setup with the 283 for sure!

Now that it's running properly, I like it. You just have to be sure it's set up and jetted for your engine, your locale, and your power train requirements.

While it's NOT a Quadrajet, and, therefore, doesn't peel rubber, it does what I want it to do - it gives me "enough" power when I need it, and delivers good gas mileage, which, at today's prices, I definitely need.

One thing, though - you MUST make your own base gasket for it! There are small channels in the base that must be covered with a gasket to pass the air through properly, and the "spreadbore" gasket available at the parts house leave some of those passageways uncovered.

[supercharged]

What's zero divided by infinity?

[AcampoDave]

What is an ME Wagner dual flow pcv valve with custom catch can? Can you elaborate a bit or post a pic? I'm curious.

[Todd W. White]

The ME Wagner Dual-flow PCV Valve is a revolutionary new design that outperforms ordinary pcv valves in a manner that can only be described as the difference between night and day.

Here is a link to their website :

http://mewagner.com/?page_id=444

Here is the link to the information about the catch can -

http://persh.org/Pickup/PVCseparator.html

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by Todd W. White

The ME Wagner Dual-flow PCV Valve is a revolutionary new design that outperforms ordinary pcv valves in a manner that can only be described as the difference between night and day.

Here is a link to their website :

http://mewagner.com/?page_id=444

Here is the link to the information about the catch can -

http://persh.org/Pickup/PVCseparator.html

Why is it that I need all that, though?

[Todd W. White]

Well, an incorrectly operating PCV valve will prevent the correct amount of fresh air making it into your engine, and will allow a lot of crud into your intake, including oil, which will reduce your octane level, thus compromising your engine performance. All of that is also bad for your engine in general.

[66Submarine]

I know that, but why all that oil separator stuff and the $130 PCV valve? The factory setup seems to work fine IME/IMO. I'm know it's better in theory, but it just seems like a lot of work for questionably noticeable gains. I guess a better way to put it would be "Why did you decide you needed to do that instead of the factory-type setup?".

[Todd W. White]

Well, for one, if you do any modifications or deviations from the factory setup, such as a different camshaft, the original PCV valve will not work correctly. Then, you are faced with the dilemma of trying to find the correct PCV valve for your setup, which, if you're lucky, will only take you several dozen hours. Most, however, never find it. A more detailed answer to your question can be found on the website of the people who make the PCV valve I purchased.

What are the benefits? How about an improvement in gasoline mileage by a minimum of 6 miles per gallon in my case on the highway? That alone, makes it worth it. Long term, I am protecting my engine from the acids that inevitably get back into my engine because of an improperly operating PCV valve, and associated systems.

[Vernski]

Originally Posted by Todd W. White

Well, for one, if you do any modifications or deviations from the factory setup, such as a different camshaft, the original PCV valve will not work correctly. Then, you are faced with the dilemma of trying to find the correct PCV valve for your setup, which, if you're lucky, will only take you several dozen hours. Most, however, never find it. A more detailed answer to your question can be found on the website of the people who make the PCV valve I purchased.

What are the benefits? How about an improvement in gasoline mileage by a minimum of 6 miles per gallon in my case on the highway? That alone, makes it worth it. Long term, I am protecting my engine from the acids that inevitably get back into my engine because of an improperly operating PCV valve, and associated systems.

Mind sharing the name of the PCV and website?...Vernski

[AcampoDave]

Very interesting. I never knew about that. PCV's were alwas kind of a mystery gizmo to me. I mean, I knew they sucked out blowby but never knew they operated in stages. Thanks for the info. What are you running for an intake manifold there Todd?

[Todd W. White]

I'm running an Edelbrock Performer

Actually, only the PCV valve from ME Wagner is a two stage, adjustable unit. When an engine is designed, the engineer specifies the PCV valve based upon the engines requirements at the time of manufacture. Once any modifications are made, those specifications no longer apply. The more drastic the modifications are, the more off the original PCV valve will be. This results in poorer engine performance, decreased efficiency, and many other detrimental effects. The one I put on my truck was easy to calibrate, and improved my performance incredibly. The other fly in the ointment is that there are no published specifications that I could find that describe specifically the performance parameters of PCV valves for engines that have been modified. I certainly could not find any charts that would tell me which PCV valve to use based upon my engine modifications. Thus, the Dual-flow PCV Valve was a perfect, natural choice, as it allowed me to fine tune it in real time to my engines exact requirements.

Thank you for the compliment!

[Vernski]

Originally Posted by Todd W. White

I'm running an Edelbrock Performer

Actually, only the PCV valve from ME Wagner is a two stage, adjustable unit. When an engine is designed, the engineer specifies the PCV valve based upon the engines requirements at the time of manufacture. Once any modifications are made, those specifications no longer apply. The more drastic the modifications are, the more off the original PCV valve will be. This results in poorer engine performance, decreased efficiency, and many other detrimental effects. The one I put on my truck was easy to calibrate, and improved my performance incredibly. The other fly in the ointment is that there are no published specifications that I could find that describe specifically the performance parameters of PCV valves for engines that have been modified. I certainly could not find any charts that would tell me which PCV valve to use based upon my engine modifications. Thus, the Dual-flow PCV Valve was a perfect, natural choice, as it allowed me to fine tune it in real time to my engines exact requirements.

Thank you for the compliment!

Some people are just hard to extract an answer from. So is the website Wagner or Edelbrock? And what compliment?...Vernski

[Todd W. White]

The link is to ME Wagner.

The thanks was to AcampoDave.