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The best I have gotten regularly was about 16-17 with a 96 F-150. It has a mass air flow 302. That's about as good as you will get with a pushrod engine and todays gas. Back in the early 80s I had a couple 300s that would bang on 20s door, but the speed limit was 55 then too.
I too would suggest the 4.6. My 98 Gran Marquis has averaged over 30 on interstate and never worse than 24.5 with combined city and bucking a head wind. A friend of mine put one in a 49 Ford business coupe with a T5 and he gets 25-26.
well he did say he had it leaned out.... but seriously, i myself have witnessed this truck getting about 18mpg with a camper on it driving in the mountains.
guys, i know this sounds impossible, but this truck must be one of the flukes, cuz its true. Scouts honor.
dead serious, im not trying to throw anybody for a loop here, i dont want to here that it cant be done because it was. when we left for this little trip it was empty, we put in 5 gallons, it went just over 90 miles (actual road distance, not odometer reading) and ran out again. 90 / 5 =18
this was its final voyage so we were trying to run it as low as possible, and we had to pour in another gallon to get there.
i believe that it was getting 22 on the flat interstate without the extra wind resistance and weight of the camper....
and with every thing i do, if i can keep it there, id be happy enough.
I will be getting 30.... when the Cummins 4-popper is in there. I have all the stuff for a rumpity 410 FE but I've realized that if I add any power i"ll just hit the guy in front of me.
Eric