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my 5.0 is getting tired and almost ready for a new motor. i don't mind changing motors i am just curious which one gets the best milage. 302, 351, or 460.
i have built a lot of cars and everything that i know about milage is out the window when it comes to a van. also have you guys got gains from switching to 80psi tires
92 e150 cargo, 5.0, carry lots of tools and a few ladders up top.
The 302 (5.0) get better MPG, but the 351 (5.8) has more power making it better for towing, the 460 (7.3) will require a lot of changes for mounting it and then you have to upgrade the cooling system, MPG is poor for it, in todays fuel prices, I'd not consider it. You have fuel injection, making it ECM dedicated, if you change from a 302, you'll need a ECM matching the engine you put in.
right now i'm getting 12.5 mpg, stock gear ratio. now i am looking for a good combination of economy and power. i have heard of guys getting 17 mpg plus with a 351 hwy is out the window becouse all i do is city driving no long trips. not a stranger to engine swaps built several hotrods.
The gear ratio is a big contributing factor, I have the 3.50 Hwy gears in my heavy van, resulting in single digit mileage in town, looking for 3.90 or 4.10 to replace it. A friend was getting 17 from his I-6 95, getting 12 right now because it needs maint, check engine light is on.
what about the 80 psi tires? i have been doing eight months worth of katrina recovery work and putting on the cheapest tires that i could buy becouse i averaged 4 to5 nails per tire per week and now that i am in va i could buy some good tires if they will help the milage.
If you aren't an E-350, I'd just toss on some D tires, the E's will not improve mileage, they will last longer under your van because I believe the C's aren't heavy enough for vans. My previous van was a G-20 high top, it would wear the C load tires out very quick due to it's weight, but they were the required tire according to the door. The load E tires are hard, if your van doesn't require them, don't bother, I'd go with a D, but I've had mine on a scale, it weighs 8,000 lbs unloaded.
i have axle code 19 (3.55 nls). trouble code 32 came up so i checked the egr valve and the vacum popped off. plugged it back up and it stopped missing. while i had the panel off i noticed oil on the drivers side plug wires, turns out the dipstick is loose where it fits in the block. also check the air filter, it was soaked in oil. new filter and did a little patch work to see if the oil was getting in the intake. also pulled the dash and found the a/c blower switch was fried and got the wiring ready to install a stereo. all around a good day, now have a parts list to take to u pull it and have fun next weekend. i drive on constuction sites everyday, lots of ruts and rocks and bad on tires, what tires do you recommend? also i want to stiffen the suspention a good bit can i use e250 spings or are the frames different?
p.s. i thought more tire pressure less rolling resistance=more mpg
thanks for the info
Last edited by 92cargo5.0; Aug 27, 2006 at 04:11 PM.