For 26 years I've been running a 4.9L C6 E250 work van, it gets about 16 mpg on average, a bit better on the highway. The problem is that its all but rusting away, the floors are gone, the rockers are gone, the motor has upwards of 430K on it and its on its third trans. The motor is on its last leg at this point and the body doesn't justify a new motor.
I found an almost identical van but with a 7.5L engine with only 9K original miles on it, its been garage kept by an antique collector who only used it for one or two annual shows. Its mint.
My concern is mpg, 16 isn't great but not bad for an older truck, but what would I expect to get from a 460 in one of these?
(The 460 van has less miles and is in better condition than when I bought mine back in 1990).

 

What year is the 460 van? If it's fuel injected probably 10-12 mpg. If it's 87 or older ( carbed ) , the last 460 powered van I had got 8-10 . You mileage may vary. It didn't seem to matter if it was loaded or empty. It still got around the same mileage.

Just be prepared. The 460 is a much bigger pain in the rear when you need to work on it!! Changing spark plugs is a nightmare. And if it ever needs head gaskets or an engine swap!

 

The 460 van is an '88.
I was thinking the same thing as far as maintenance but the intake access may be better than on say a 302 or 351 since the 460 lacks the big intake plenum.
I changed plugs on a 460 ambulance once, I don't recall it being all that bad but I think I got to most of the plugs on the right side through the wheel well with a long extension and swivel socket.
The hardest part would be having to reach for my wallet so often to fill the tank.

 

It sounds like the new '88 is a really nice van, just don't expect to get close to 16mpg with it. As an '88 it is probably a c6 as well. The lack of o/d and the non-locking torque converter would cut down on mileage.

If you like that era of van and want better mileage you could always look for one with the 6.9/7.3 IDI diesel. I have an '88 IDI c6/DNE2 3.54's that is my DD. I track all my mileage and average about 16mpg. I just got 16.5mpg on a 2500 mile hwy trip with the cruise set at 70mph. If I slowed to even 65mph I would have got 17.5mpg. If you found one with an e4od you could get over 20mpg on the hwy.....as long as all the maintenance was up to date and you don't mind cruising a little slower.

 

Its a super clean truck but the mileage that I'd likely get from the 460 is unacceptable with fuel prices where they are these days. I don't need big power, a 4.9L six would be perfect with an AOD trans but every one I've looked at has been either beat to death, rusty, or priced higher than it was when it was new.
The fact that the 460 truck was so clean is what made me go look. The owner swears he gets 18 mpg out of it but its got 3.55 gears and a C6. I sort of figured I'd be lucky to get 10 mpg from it on today's gasoline with 10% ethanol.
I've been trying to stay away from carbureted models for the same reasons.
I looked at a few 302 models but they too needed a lot of work.
I suppose I'll just hold out till a clean 4.9L, AOD model comes along.

 

There's another option, build what you want. That's what I'm doing. I couldn't find one that was equipped the way I wanted so I'm building mine. I'm swapping a modified 300, NP435 4spd manual transmission, NP205 transfercase ( for extra low range ) , heavier rear springs & 99 E350 disc brake D60 rear diff with 4.10 gears and a limited slip in a 89 E350 extended Club wagon. The Club wagon wasn't exactly the van I wanted. I wanted a 78-86 extended cargo van with a high top. But living in Minnesota it's very hard finding any clean van that age. This 89 is what I could find and afford. It's crusty bucket that is going to take a lot of work.

So if I found a low mileage van that was in good shape and I could afford it. I wouldn't hesitate buying it. Even if it meant swapping drivetrains. Drivetrains are a lot easier to find then clean bodies/chassis are.

 

Interesting point.

 

I put over 140K on my 4.2 (small V-6) with manual 5 speed on my F150 and got around 19 mpg on interstate, driving slow, cool weather (no A/C), etc. I know my neighbor had a 460 van and was laughing about it getting 10 mpg. And, if you think of it, if something is really clean with a really big engine, it's possible it wasn't driven much due to sucking gas so bad. I know I parked my 390 Galaxie and dropped the insurance on it, because 10 was just so horrible (also a C-6 and 9 inch rear).
I can't imagine how good a driver someone would have to be to squeeze 18 mpg out of a 460 van.
Although I don't have my 351W out on the road yet (E150) I'm anticipating 13 mpg at 50-55 mpg. Maybe 14 on a GREAT day, and that's with alum intake, small holley 4 barrel, HEI, true duals. I know my old '67 mustang fastback from 35 years ago had a 289 2 barrel, C-4 and 3.08 rear end gear and with super tune and true duals, etc, I could luck onto 17-18 mpg from time to time.

 

spending thousands to save fuel seems fuelish to me

 

Truth!!!!

"Which of these two antique, gas sucking engines will net better fuel economy results for me?"

Just get a newer van with a 4.6 or 5.4 and get to work! It'll come with fuel injection, electronic overdrive transmission, better brakes, air conditioning that works, etc etc etc.

What will you use the van for?

 

Gee it's been so long since I got to see you spewing your crap about old vs. new. If you didn't notice the van he was considering was basically a new 1988 van. It has probably has fewer miles on it then the van you currently own. And a 1988 van will have EFI. 87 was the last year for a carb in a van. And the C6 in the older vans is a whole lot more trouble free then most of the newer computer controlled stuff.

You can buy a whole lot of gas for what a newer van would cost to buy.

Newer doesn't mean it's more dependable. Because it seems your newer van isn't so trouble free!

The A/C in my 1989 works just as good as a newer van.

 

watch your self fella.

 

If you think old vans are better than the new vans, you have a screw loose.
And don't forget the difficulty of finding replacement parts since the bailout

 

Availability of stick shift tranny is a good arqument for older van. Newer vans all have auto. I hate that!

 

You want a stick shift in a van?



You must be a former truck driver…