okay so im new to the forums, like it says in the title i have a 1979 f150 short box with a 460 cobra jet and it is eating gas like no other i was thinking maybe the choke was stuck close or maybe my float is ****ed or anything carb related. but i pulled of my carb and inspected everything and everything check out. fuel pump is fine it sit about 8-9 psi, everything seems to be checking out but the ****er is just eating gas....

any ideas?

p.s. im running a msd brain box and about 3 weeks ago my tack stopped working... think it could be the msd? its about 5 years old.

 

Doubt it's the MSD, they work or they don't. You don't mention what your definetion of EATING gas is ??? I have a DOVE headed 460 in my truck, in great tune, and it doesn't do very well economy wise. Maybe 11-12 on a good day. They just eat gas, no way around it.

Also keep in mind your 1/2 ton shorty has a puny tank (at least mine does), and the needle will move rapidly.

 

I agree with the DaytonaTunnel Man... I have a 460 in my '76 F150 with a Holley carb and electronic ignition and it eats gas as well. Just have to keep your foot out of it to squeeze out some extra mileage.

What carb are you running? I just put a 50cc accelerator pump on my Holley and the throttle response and overall ballsyness of the motor jumped but I did notice a huge decline in fuel economy.

 

it is a 460. What are you expecting it to do? What kind of mileage are you getting versus what you are hoping to get?

 

7-9 mpg is about what they get. Maybe more with high gears and a feather foot.

NOM NOM NOM NOM.

Thats a 460 eating gas.

Nice looking truck and real clean engine bay. Where did those valve covers come from?

 

First off, that is a nice looking dent you got there! My 77, I rebuilt the 300 I6 in it last summer, and when I started out, I was getting 10.3 mpg, and as I continue to drive it, and it slowly coming up to this last tank of gas, is now at 14.0 mpg. (tweeking and adjusting along the way)

Currently I am experiencing a rich condition, and need to make a float adjustment, but I don't expect my mileage to jump all that much more. Unfortunatly they are about as aerodynamic as a fridge laying on it's side going down the road.

I remember back in 77 when my dad got his f150 explorer, gas was at .62 to .64 per gallon.

 

I have a 1 ton 79 lariet flatbed with a fresh rebuilt 460 that I bought to pull my horse trailer. And it WILL pull it......looked down the other day and was going 90 mph with a gooseneck and 2 horses...but it gets 7 mpg... Its for sale for 2,00.00

 

I assume you have a typo in there and are missing a zero? But if you really only want $200.00 for it I will buy it.

 

Nice looking truck. I like the valve covers as well. My 1977 F-150 4x4 460 gets around 6-8mpg. They just dont get very good mileage. Mine isn't my daily driver so its not a big deal at all for me.

 

The words "good fuel mileage" and "460" just don't go together in a sentence. Yer lookin at 7mpg, maybe a little bit more if you have a tail wind. Even the ones with OD don't do much better than that.

 

Put a cute fluffy bunny under the throttle pedal so you can't stomp the gas. Gas millage should increase.

 

I have a 79 Ford F-150 with a 460 and my truck on gets 10-12mpgs if I keep my foot out of it. I was wondering if any of you guys have put headers on your trucks if so what brand of header did you use and did you guys have to do any modifications? Because I bought a set of heddman heardera and the driver side went in real easy but the passenger Sid is hitting the frame, look like it will hit the motor mount tower. Any help or advice you be appreciated.

 

This thread is coming up on 5 years old, so hopefully the OP figured out what his problem was (if it had one to begin with). Anyway, welcome to FTE! There's a really great bunch of guys on here that love to talk dents and help with any questions you may have. I recommend starting a new thread with your question. You might get better feed back that way. Enjoy!

 

10-12, damn I'd do back flips for that kinda mileage . I've had great fitment with L&L and Stan's tri-y headers. Neither are easy on the wallet, but both are engineered great, and it shows when you install them.

 

Higher cost usually results in better design, engineering, and fitment. You get what you pay for so choose wisely.