What would the approximate mileage be for my truck?

I've got a 400, C6, stock 2BBL carb, no emissions crap, shortened exhaust, and the stock rear end (Dana 60 with I would assume 4.10 gears?). It's also a 2wd super cab camper special with factory AC.

 

Not good. If your lucky maybe 10 mpg.

 

Phew that's going to hurt since I'm going to be using this as my daily driver pretty soon and I go to school a half hour away and then have to drive back here for work.

 

hopefully one half of the commute is down hill.

 

Haha nope. It's mostly uphill and semi flat roads. Burlington to elkhorn then back to Burlington...that's gonna hurt the budget a bit.

What would be the cheapest (or best) upgrades to get better mileage on this thing?

 

Sell it and by a small commuter car.

 

I'm in the same boat. If I can't get my mileage up I'll have to sell mine.

I'm going to try to go to smaller jets. Then maybe a 4 bbl carb.

 

No way I'm selling this old truck. There's just something about this era truck that makes me have to have one in my garage.

I think the first two upgrades I'll make to it will be to give it dual exhaust and an upgraded msd ignition. I would upgrade the rear end to a lower gear ratio, but I like my immense pulling power.

Side thought: I know of a 1978 ford f250 4x4 that gets 9mpg and has a 400. Why would my 2wd truck get the same mileage as a full time 4x4?

 

Keep the truck - pick up a cheap (2 -300 dollar) beater for commutes. Some old 4 cylinder import. Strip it down so that it's just a rolling gas can with a motor and one seat. Put the geeters you save in gas toward the truck.....Priorities!

 

I'm afraid there is no cheap way to get better milage out of that truck and even if you put the money into it to get it regeared etc, the best you can hope for is probably around 15 mpg. Sorry but P.O.C. is right, if you want good milage you will want to get a small commuter car.

 

Dang I think you're probably right there. Or I can hope that the job offer I should be getting this afternoon has a nice paycheck.

 

Oh, in regards to your side thought Dave, the reason the 2wd would get nearly the same mpg as the 4wd, is that for one your friends 78 should have a part time 4x4 and for two the 400m is a pig no matter what it is in. I hope you get a really good paycheck if you plan on driving that truck for a daily driver. Best wishes.

 

You're right about the 400 being a pig. My dads a mechanic and he says that no manufacturer ever made a decent 400. And also the position I'm being offered is a crash technician at a local research facility with a salaried position and about 40 hours a week...hopefully they will come through with a decent pay load to add to my existing pay check from my job at mc Donald's.

 

Not to be a smart-a**, but why not just calculate it yourself? Does your odometer not work? That's going to be a way better answer than anything anyone on here tells you.

 

I got out of a $450 mo truck payment, 15mpg F150, and into an OWNED F250 9mpg tank. Insurance is cheaper, license is cheaper, parts are cheaper, people don't want to be around me on the freeway... and you'll never see another truck like mine on the road. Most of the time when you figure out the costs of a higher mpg vehicle vs an older less efficient vehicle you break even in the long run.