Hi there. I'm looking to purchase a 1979 F350 Super Cab Camper Special. It has a 460 and c6 trans. My plan is simple. To make it a MPG Beast! Retire it as a work truck and just drive it around. Any advise on how to increase MPGs without pulling the 460? I know diesel would be better...but just currious if i could add a five speed auto or change rear end ratios....something to make it better. Anything really.

 

You want an mpg beast,stay away from any 3/4 ton truck and buy a hyundai

 

"1979 F350 Super Cab Camper Special. It has a 460 and c6 trans."
and
"make it a MPG Beast"

that like speaking German to a waiter in a Chinese restaurant?

Seriously though, what is your idea of an "MPG beast"?
You don't purchase a 3/4 or 1 ton truck for mileage.

 

What's gas mileage? Gallons per mile is more like it. These ain't import rice grinders that get 20 mpg. Sorry.

Best I can tell ya is drive like a nun.

 

I've read and found a late 90's Dodge Ram 2500 HD with a Cummins was able to get 30.94 MPGs on the free way with the grill blocked off, fully inflated 31 inch tires and 3.55 rear gear. Just wondering if anyone's bested that. Or knows any tricks to make a 460 more liveable. its a project I'm willing to try.

 

Swap to EFI (or dyno tune a carb) and an overdrive trans like an AOD, AODE, or the 4R70W. Manual transmission are more efficient than automatics so a TKO or ZF is possible.... Don't expect miracles... these rigs are as aerodynamic is a concrete block (bigger than a brick).

Other mods to eke out that little last bit of MPG:

Close up body gaps to slick'er up. Ever notice that the radiator opening is smaller than open areas of the grill inserts? 'Glass over the unused areas.
Small mirrors and rain gutter delete.
Add an air dam with a splitter... it needs to be lower than the I-beams. Consider the 8-inch air dam from the 11-13 SuperDutys.
Body under-tray to slick up the under-carriage
Put it on a diet... For example, lose the rear dock bumper and brackets (90 lbs), cast iron FE intake (80 lbs), tailgate, swap to bucket seats, etc.
Decrease rolling resistance with tall, hard compound tires with a low wear rating. Btw, low wear rating tires have high numbers. In theory, a 400 wears less than one with a rating of 100.
Rear gear change
Practice "hypermiling"
.... and yes, drive like a nun.

 

I know its possible to build a better mpg truck than the Big Two (sorry Chrysler, your fault) can. If current trucks with diesels and more gears get 18 to 20 to the gallon, than in essences older trucks with more custom options should equal or better new! Especially with out the government "regs" on them.

 

E40D Transmission Swap - Custom Classic Trucks Magazine

this is part of a two part article that swapped a E4OD behind a 460 in a '73 F350. I believe that that tranny was stock behind the 460 from '89 up

 

Will the E4OD still mate with a 7.3 Powerstroke and be able to handle it? For future if i wanted to drop a 7.3 in it.

 

The E4OD was available behind the IDI, I don't know about the PSD. The block bolt pattern was not the same, but you could tear the good guts out of one case to throw in to the other case at changeover time

 

If you are going to swap in a diesel in order to get mileage don't waste your time on a 7.3 power stroke. Just go for a ve pumped Cummins backed by an overdrive manual transmission.

Have you thought of running the 460 on propane? Aside from one month this winter it's been considerably cheaper than gasoline and a much easier conversion.

 

So I've been told. A relative works for Roush. But I'm saving that as a last resort. I'm really partial to the powerstroke. I'm trying to keep the project all Ford if possible( I'm difficult? I know). And every used Cummins I look at to buy, the owner seems to think it's worth way more than its worth!

 

You should look into an IDI. They're cheap, reliable, and easy to maintain. I topped out at about 20 mpg flat going 55 in my half ton short bed. If it weren't lifted and 4x4, I'd see even higher. Around town it's anywhere from 14-16. If you can get a turbo and a ZF5 gearvendors overdrive, you'll have double overdrive and see 20s on the highway I bet. You could do this all for probably under 3 grand (if you can do the work yourself)

 

Under 3 grand? Sounds too good to be true.

 

How much electronic work comes with a E4OD? I've driven manuals until i got my '82 F 150 which has a 3 speed with OD so electronics are still fairly new to me.