Hey, I asked awhile back about gas mileage on a 4x4 and was wondering if anyone has used a turbo or 2 to "help" the engine? I am curious as I see these turbo cars getting insane horsepower and still get great gas mileage. Not that I want a 1000hp, but am more interested in having good gas mileage and wanted to see what you guys think.

 

I dont think you will find much in the way of forced induction on here. The modified family does not respond well to a blower, unless its built from the ground up for it. 460s are a bit more common, but the power adder is not needed. A mildly built engine will do more than what most ask of the trucks.

Unless it is an oil burner then turbos are common

 

Unless you go diesel, you're just not going to get "great" mileage.
You're trying to push 2-2½ tons of steel with all the aerodynamics of a concrete block down the road.
Turbos are great for helping small displacement engines make very respectable horsepower while delivering good mileage. On a dent' it's just not going to happen.
You would be twisting the laws of physics if it did.

 

On 300 maybe....

 

Suggest you research and learn about turbos. The book Turbochargers by Hugh MacInnes is a great resource and is period correct for these trucks/engines. It also has a Manufactures list of companies that made bolt on turbo kits for these engines and trucks, like RayJay had a bolt on twin turbo kit for 460s.

 

Turbos are cool. But I think a built & cammed 300 with an aggressive exh would be pretty sweet..

Can you tell I'm not much of a Puritan..? LoL

 

Dig around on the internet for a place that has several guys running turbo set ups on their daily drivers, mustang sites would be a good start. There will be more guys there with actual first hand experience on the subject. I wish you the best of luck on your endeavor, while you may not get "great" mileage I'd bet you certainly could improve on it.

 

At least one guy here did it on a '89 (?) with EFI.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/2...y-300-six.html

 

The only replacement for displacement is......... BOOST! And lots of it.

You must mean "Purist".

2x... good engineering and design is just that, good engineering and design. I think the LS engines (and brethren) are well designed and accommodated by the aftermarket. I mean, a complete E-rod LS3 for $9,000. Try that with a Coyote.
Btw, Have you ever noticed newer GM trucks have very pronounced square fender arches over the wheel? Wazzup with that?

 

Yeah, guess the GM stylists couldn't find their french curves that day.

 

IDK about you but IMO they've had square wheel openings on their pickups since 73.

 

You're absolutely right... but now it's REALLY pronounced. It suffers wheel gap bad.

 

I did mean purist. The Ls is a temptress I admit, so much potential just waiting to be unlocked

 

And requiring a six inch lift to run 35's. Lol