I would like to make a challenge to us FTE 460/429 owners to
see if someone can make 20 mpg in a truck. I have heard of 17 or close to 18 on flat runs but would like to see how many of us can make 20 or 20 plus, at 55 or 60 mph, carb or FI, I don't care which.

I get usally 12 to close to 15 mpg now.


Thx

 

great idea, I like. I know I will never get that or even get miles per gallon with the only 385 series engine I am currently running but I do like it. (I figured mine out once and it scared me so bad I decided that was a stupid idea to figure it out but I get approx 18 gallons to the mile)

 

A few years ago, probably 6-8 years, I read an article in Car Craft about a 455 (Pontiac I think) that was built with the goal of super milage and reasonably clean emmisions while still making big block power. It was built by a professional tuner. He set it up to run very lean at cruise along with several other little tricks to squeeze more efficiency out of it. I think it was carbed but I'm not sure. I probably still have the issue but it would take me a month to find it. Maybe someone better organized than me remembers this? Or, perhaps there is a way to hunt down old issues of Car Craft?

 

Dig it up turbo-- love to see it.

 

Fantasies are fun and this is a good one. This engine's technology is just not up to these kind of numbers and it will cost way more than the fuel savings will be.

 

Fantasis huh Maybe-- I guess we will see. I would put some $ on it that we can make 20mpg relatively inexpensively.

 

Yeah, you could probably get 20mpg's from a 460, but you still need to rig up a mast and buy canvas for the sail for the truck!

 

Just strip it down to the bare minimum like you don't need doors or a bed or a hood or a full seat or a and body panels what so ever that would be a huge help or buy i new truck and put your 460 in and do the same thing strip it down lol

 

Yeah, you can use an empty 5 gal plastic bucket for a seat. Pretend you are a Beverly Hillbilly.

 

So you think it would help to remove excess weight. Lets see I could remove my 150# brush guard. That would make it just a hair under #6000

But I am going to put in water injection, then cooresponding timing to the max., and add a vaccum gauge. humm then maybe a tonnage cover-- one at a time to see if each makes a diff. if can make any difference.

Other--I don't know about a K&N filter-- kinda spendy but may instead try a colder air intake from the front. Maybe a cooler thermastat. Acetone additive. Let's see 285 tires now--- maybe change there but tire are again$. Make sure the air psi is to the max.

Hey others out there have made 17 or 18 so that's pretty close to majic 20.

I just don't know where I could find I nice light bucket to sit on or sails may help-- hehe

 

Well, so they claim. Then again do you believe everything you find on the internet?

 

what are you saying? surely your not suggesting that some on the internet would lie are you? I mean it's in black and white so it must be true

 

Ya know I was reading the other day about some killer four-bolt 460 blocks so I'm gonna go find me one and.... Oh, yeah, we did that already.

Getting back on thread. Don't forget the high-dollar gear vendors unit to bring down the RPMs.

 

I'm not an expert on engines by any means but the way I look at it is for a given amount of air volume you're going to need a minimum amount of fuel. A 460 has a lot of volume and therefore needs a lot of fuel, even in a tame engine. Cruising in a light car with a light foot you can probably make it work since that engine is running at idle but I don't see how you can push a 4,000 pound truck with a 460 and get 20mpg. I'm not saying it's impossible but I just don't understand how it would work. Guess you gotta think outside the box.

 

Put your 429 in an early '80s Ranger pickup.
Remove the box.
Put skinny tires on it.
Pump them up to 40 psi.
Raise the compression ratio.
Lean it out.
Run 2.50 gears in the rear.
Run an overdrive tranny.

Drive it very gently on a straight level road at 35-40 mph.

You might even see 25mpg+ with that setup.

It's all about the physics.