could i get 20 mpgs?
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 189
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From: Lake Havasu, AZ
If you do let us all know, so we can make the same mods to our trucks. My mods are just about the same on a 78 f250 4x4 and I go out drinking when ever I get over 10 mpg. I sure do miss drinking!
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
Likes: 9
From: iowa
Originally Posted by 78f250_rls
I go out drinking when ever I get over 10 mpg. I sure do miss drinking!
but seriously getting over 15 driving a shoebox on wheels is doing real good, and I seriously doubt your gonna get there. I had a 400, in a car and after some mods the best I ever got was 20mpg but that wasn't normal even then just a day of cruising down the interstate using cruise control at 65mph with a tail wind
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
An overdrive will help. Cubic inches per tire revolution and engine efficiency at the RPM in question are the biggest factors. Keep your RPMs low and a small cam is the best formula. Rear axle ratio and cam are the biggest mistakes users make. Forget HP and think low RPM torque. The 400 is an outstanding low RPM torque engine.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,533
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I doubt you will even come close to 10 mpg the the 400 is worse look at 8mpg I have had 2 trucks with 351m power both piggy on fuel and under powered.
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
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My stock F250 with a tired stock 400, T-18, w/3.07 diff got 12+MPG so <10MPG == lots of mistakes as mentioned above.
As far as a brick on wheels is concerned I got 17MPG hwy and 15-16 city routinely with an E150 Club Wagon with carb'd 300-6, 3.50 axle, and an AOD.
As far as a brick on wheels is concerned I got 17MPG hwy and 15-16 city routinely with an E150 Club Wagon with carb'd 300-6, 3.50 axle, and an AOD.
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
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From: iowa
different engine entirely Eric, adn that was the same mileage I got with a 95 F150 FI 300-6 5spd manual, and 3.08 gears, and 4x4 yet guys with 351w FI get routinely 3-4mpg less (based on a neighboring farmer with that combo same year as mine doing basically the same things with it, not on any published malarky in an ad)
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,561
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From: Earth
Originally Posted by Torque1st
My stock F250 with a tired stock 400, T-18, w/3.07 diff got 12+MPG so <10MPG == lots of mistakes as mentioned above.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
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Mine was consistent also, always running 12, 12.5, 12.3, 12.7, but always in the 12's. It did not matter what I was doing with it. My 265/75R16 tires are about the same size but my rear axle is higher. I think that 16-18 MPG is possible from a 400 in these trucks and that is what I am shooting for in my build. 20 MPG is probably not attainable and certainly not from a couple of bolt-on parts.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
My experience with the 400 since it came out in 1971 is why I think that the 16-18MPG I am building for is very attainable. I worked on those vehicles all the time back then and did a lot of mods in 1972 and 73 to squeeze a little more mileage out of them after the EPA killed the engine.
If you guys want to see what you can save by getting an econobox hybrid vehicle you can go here and they have a calculator set up:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10845_7...tag=cnetfd.dir
For example, at 12000 miles per year and gas at $2.69/gallon if you get the following mileage in your present vehicle you can save the following with a 2WD Escape:
MPG/$avings
10/2187
12/1649
14/1264
16/976
18/752
20/573 -probably not even a truck payment!!!
Yesterday I paid $2.00/gallon and you can use the calculator to put in whatever values for mileage and miles driven you want. If you drive 6000 miles per year divide by two.
Personally I like my old truck. I can pay for a lot of gas for the cost of a new vehicle payment. The restoration parts etc cost more but that is part of the hobby/entertainment budget!
If you guys want to see what you can save by getting an econobox hybrid vehicle you can go here and they have a calculator set up:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10845_7...tag=cnetfd.dir
For example, at 12000 miles per year and gas at $2.69/gallon if you get the following mileage in your present vehicle you can save the following with a 2WD Escape:
MPG/$avings
10/2187
12/1649
14/1264
16/976
18/752
20/573 -probably not even a truck payment!!!
Yesterday I paid $2.00/gallon and you can use the calculator to put in whatever values for mileage and miles driven you want. If you drive 6000 miles per year divide by two.
Personally I like my old truck. I can pay for a lot of gas for the cost of a new vehicle payment. The restoration parts etc cost more but that is part of the hobby/entertainment budget!
Last edited by Torque1st; May 28, 2005 at 11:48 PM.