In light of another round of high gas prices, I thought this would be a good time to ask if anyone has focused on a good mileage engine with decent performance.

What are your opinions on a good economical all around daily driver engine/trans combo? Is it possible to get about 20 mpg avg. in a F1 or F100? I'm a little surprised with the weights being around 3300 lbs. or so that my trucks don't get better mileage, in spite of the shape.

Is there anything else that can be done to our beloved boxes to improve economy? With this thought in mind, I wonder if anyone will bring an "aerodynamically" designed truck to this years show. Haven't seen this theme so far at the show; figure it's just a matter of time.

Just curious,


Paul G.

 

Much of the drag on our trucks is from turbulence under the truck. An air dam is very effective at reducing that and keeping the truck fairly low helps. It also helps with cooling.

Unfortunately, not many 50's trucks look good with an air dam, IMHO.

 

As much as I would like to say a flathead or a Y-Block and since your set up for a small block. I would go with a 302 (That hurt) with better breathing heads, electronic (Again) fuel injection, T-5 with a 3:25 rear, and decent flowing headers.
Keep your foot out of it, and ride your bicycle as much as possible.

 

for a daily driver I love my 223, three speed OD and 3.89 gears..17 city, 20hiway if its flat..but I sure miss the 390 I had it originaly, but it was out of my price range for daily use..my truck is a box going through the air, but I wouln't change it for anything

 

consider a geo metro before they're all gone. If yer set up for a small block, as options with the same bolt pattern, the 300 6 and 3.8l are 2 that will bolt up. I think there was another thread on this topic in the last month or so.

 

I am planning to install a Mercedes Turbo diesel in my 53. The engine makes around 27-28 MPG in the car it is in now. I am hoping for 20+ in the truck. These engines do pretty good on performance in the car, so hopefully it will be adequate.
Jeff

 

it really doesn't matter.... when gas hits $5-6 bucks a gallon only the rich guys like Jet Jock can afford to drive their rides.....

I'm thinking about building my 460 with only 4 pistons.... still have more torque than them girly 302s

later
john

 

The 302 is a Crap egine for a Truck, so go w/ a 223c.i.er or a 300c.i.er, if done up correctly both will get around 17/8 city & 24/5 Hwy in your truck.

 

I think this is a conspirsy to get rid of all the gas guzzlers. It won't work on me, (yet) I'm leaving the FE in there. The Harley gets 50-52 MPG, so riding it whenever I can will compensate for truck. Back to the thread, my folks have a Crown Vic with a 4.6 that runs sweet and gets 22 MPG.
_________________________
XFM...

 

The 302 is only a bad truck engine in the 73 and up trucks due to a heavy truck, but due to lightness of the 48-60 trucks they make a fine engine. The 300 I6 is another good choice. The 223 is good but is a little underpowered stock (BTW I have driven all three of these engines.)

 

And don't forget that after 69 they started adding polution equipment and the horsepower just went down from there. I have a 69 Bronco with a factory 302 and the stock 2 barrel and it is pretty peppy. That little Bronco weights 4,000 lbs, not sure how that happened. Must be all the big 4x4 stuff.

Oh, and I put a AODE behind the 302 with 5.12:1 gears (I got 36" tires) and it still gets pretty good gas milage. I can't say what it is because the speedo broke but I don't fill the tank very often and it only holds 13 gallons.

 

I have centered on the 300 I-6 with a ZF S542 5 speed. I might do a Cummins 6BT if I can find a Donor Dodge truck cheep!

I think with right gearing it won't be too bad (it also won't be a daily driver)

ANother choice would be a cummins 4BT (for a F1/100/2/250) or a 6BT (for an F2/250+)

There are Dodge trucks (2wd 3/4t) getting over 20mpg out there with "tall" gears.


To get good mileage you HAVE to turn them slow (gas or diesel)


Cheers,

Rick

 

So have I or I wouldn't have stated what I stated.
The 300c.i.er is a tight squeese, but it does everything it's supposed to & even more.
If I can chirp my tires w/ a Stock 223c.i.er, it's more than enough power for everything else.
Friends & aquaintences have had Nothing but bad to state about using the 302 in '48-'60 trucks, as in the power band is all wrong when using as a truck & poor mpg when not.

 

if the truck is used as a truck, I'd go with the 300. A manual tranny is most helpful too, but good luck finding a zf 5 speed, as most were behind 460's, thus bolt pattern issues.

 

Another combo that should get better fuel economy would be the 256Cu In V6 with electronic fuel injection, a 5 speed manual and a 3:31 rear.
As stated above somewhere, you have to keep your foot out of it, no matter what.