Performance vs. Gas Milage
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Freshman User
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From: oklahoma
Performance vs. Gas Milage
I'm about to buy a 90 f150 that has a 351W. Not bad out of the box but i dont know for sure what performance parts to buy for it besides intake and exhaust. I want a larger cam but generally the larger the cam the lower the milage. I drive about 500mi a week to school, body shop class, and work so i cant loose much milage. And i'm also kind of on a budget. The truck is a 2 wheel drive extended cab short bed. The best part is that it only has 77k miles on it. If some body could please help let me know.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Ocala, Florida
If you can legally use full length headers, use them. They will give you a slight increase in fuel economy. I have a Jacobs Mileagemaster ignition and that has also given me an increase in economy. Both of these mods will help with power and fuel economy, at least for me it did.
If you engine does not have GT-40 heads, find a good used pair.
If you engine does not have GT-40 heads, find a good used pair.
Last edited by mako5972; Jan 11, 2005 at 01:04 AM.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Moved to proper forum.
Leave the stock cam in for economy.
The first thing to do for performance is improve the exhaust. Put a good set of ceramic coated headers on with no larger than 2" dual pipes with some Magnaflow mufflers.
Leave the stock cam in for economy.
The first thing to do for performance is improve the exhaust. Put a good set of ceramic coated headers on with no larger than 2" dual pipes with some Magnaflow mufflers.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: midwest
i know some will disagree, but you can improve gas mileage and power with a lower gear if you do a lot of in town driving. your truck problably has a 3.55 gear which is good, but if your driving at lower speeds, like 60-65 and less, a 4.10 can make it easier to excellerate in town which can give better mileage cause the engine wont be working as hard. if the truck has a high overdrive you wont turn real high rpms even on the highway, the engine will be in its prime working rpm band, 2000-2500............just an easy way to increase power and economy depending on your driving conditions........
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Freshman User
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From: oklahoma
Thanks for all the input. If you come up with anything else let me know. I would love to have a 4.10 rearend, but i do think that it will lower the milage b/c i drive between 70-80 on the highway. In town yes it might help some but i would deffinatly loose on the highway. I was thinking of going with a set of headers, $120, and dual flowmasters. I've also herd some bad about jacobs ignition and was thinking of accel or msd. I would love to get a larger cam but i know it will eat my milage also. So, thanks again.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
Okay, if you want better fuel economy on the highway keep it under 70..... In my '92 E150 I got 17mpg at 70, and 13.5 at ~95. With a 4.10 gear you will be just out of your power band at highway speeds, so unless you like doing 60 to 65 on the freeway keep your 3.55s. With a 3.55 gear, and an E4OD trans I was turning 2100rpms at 75 and ~2500 at 80....
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