There are a lot of older models, and sports machines out there. FORD has always been cutting edge on vehicle issues anyway.... There are exploitable vehicles built by FORD that were likely ahead of their time, or ignored since mass market appeal was not what it is now with the fuel wars like they are.

EXP was an attempt at a commuter car with fuel mileage in mind, and there are more concepts coming online with an eye to mileage advantages. The Fiesta, and others including the venerable Pinto and Mustang II come to mind.

If you were going to reach back into older FORD econo models and update it to the modern day, what would you run with, and what do you think of the chances of modifying it for even more mileage with todays tech?

Yes, this is a truck site. But if you took it up as a crusade to wring the maximum out of every dime spent at the pump - what would you DO IT with?

 

My '71 Maverick with a 200 CID I6 and a three on the tree got 26 - 27 mpg on highway. It was a very spartan car that had power nothing (no PS, no PB, etc.) which I actually liked. The things I would change are:
a) body panels that are rust proofed
b) 5 or 6 speed manual tranny instead of a 3 speed

 

an 85 or 86 escort with a 4speed manual. my 86 got up to 42 on the highway when everything was tuned up and running right. they had a diesel version that was suposed to get even better mileage, so if i could take the diesel escort from that era and place more modern diesel technology onto it, i think it would make one outstanding little fuel sipper.

 

Eh? Well, I'm not trying to start a war or anything like that, but if you would have said Honda or Toyota, I might be a little more inclined to go along with that. It seems like all through history American car makers have been playing 'catch-up' to imports. Right after the oil embargo, american companies rushed out anemic powered, over weight slugs, while the imports were already producing moderately powered, relatively peppy and efficient models. The domestics have come around recently, both in efficiency and quality. Although it never seems too hard to find an import that does 'just a little better' in fuel efficiency. Toyota Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid, anyone?

Specifically to your question about fords, I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to get an old model and update it for more MPG. The laws of physics would say, get the smallest, lightest, most aerodynamic shell you can and stuff it with the smallest, most efficient engine that will 'just' get you up to the speed you want. Throw on some skinny, low rolling resistance tires and call it good.

Personally I would love to see an 89 Escort GT (my old highschool / college car) stuffed with a hybrid system from the Escape I have no idea what all the packaging and fitment issuse would be. But, what the heck!

If you were looking for ultimate MPG, that would almost certainly dictate a diesel powerplant. Although, the last time I looked, diesel was costing more than premium gas around here, so I am not sure that the Miles per Dollar - which is what I really care about - would totally offset.

 

There it is - miles per dollar is the bottom line.

 

I'd like to take a turbo diesel I4 and tranny from an Australian Ranger and put it in an early Bronco. Already modern technology, over drive tranny, good power, etc. . .

An old Model 'A' with updated suspension and axles and a v6 from one of those compact SUV's would be neat

But before that I'd like to see what I can get out of a properly tuned and turbo'd 300 I6 in my F250.

 

I'll pick an early Falcon Ranchero: add disc brakes and swap the 144 six for an OHC 4 with EFI. Make it with a lightweight tube chassis with aluminum body panels to reduce the weight since we're dreaming here anyway. Anyone who's ever ridden a bicycle uphill with a drunk girl riding on the rear carrier rack knows that more weight means burning more energy.

 

I got on the phone to an insurance guy (I can't name the company - sorry) the other day, and was looking over what cost what - trying to find way to shave some $$$ off of my monthly payments, but mainly looking at what a 1993 Suzuki Swift would cost to insure if I switched to it from the truck.

Believe it or not - in the USA it is MORE EXPENSIVE to get liability and collision on a high mileage imported car than it is to cover a quarter ton truck like the Ranger! Seriously....

The Ranger is almost $50.oo a month cheaper to insure than a 1300cc econobox from outside the country. In my case, nearly 50% cheaper.

So, after a day to think about it I called the guy back and asked: "Is there such a thing as a very small truck or a car that is less expensive to insure than my truck is?" and the answer is yes, there is.

But the basis is somewhat screwy.

REGARDLESS if we are only talking about liability to THE OTHER VEHICLE in an accident, the insurance company rates take into account how expensive it is to fix YOUR OWN vehicle - and that's what they base the rates on.

Imported cars (He told me) are more expensive, and there are fewer parts for them, even in junk yards. So what is better is a very small american car or truck, that we have plenty of stuff on the shelf for.

Example in point: Escorts, Festiva's, Fiesta's, etc...

In counter-point: The EXP is out, because they all went by-by and no support is out there for them either.

Now, it stands to reason that an EXP could be re-engined with a cross mount engine out of something else, but the rates are based on the chassis itself so that wouldn't be too helpful.

- Just some ideas to keep in mind here that also feed into the total dollar-per-mile factor. The insurance factor is also money out of pocket.

Oh by the way: A Volkswagen Beetle is also more expensive to get basic L&C coverage on than a ford ranger, believe it or not

 

i know you put alot of thought on your insurance theory, and i'm all for economics, bot to pick a 1/2 the areodynamics/twice the weight chassis simply due to insurance costs (though i would pick that to, simply given the availability of them, and the fact that you have a six or seven foot cargo bay to boot) but ANYWAY, thats irrelavant to my point, my point is leting something that cost's 50-even 100 dollars a year (13-26 cents a day) differance in insurance, dictate the chassis u use is ludicris. especially if you are gonna spend more on/use more fuel to move this cheaper to insure chassis

 

as for the 4 cylinder trbo diesel, this is already a popular and common thing 2 do, with a cummins 3.9L 4bt (b series cummmins diesel, t is for turbo, there are rare bta's which are intercooled, but the 6bt is there 6cyl counterpart, you may better recognize them as the noisy 6 cylinders that power a certain dodge pickup..... ram i think it is??? lol) but its a big thing to do in the 4 wheeling community in jeeps, and the ones converted usually can achieve 40 mpg, and i have heard of a K5 blazer with a 700-r4 automatic get 35mpg with this same swap

 

Unfortunately NO.

It's per MONTH. That makes it much worse....

 

sweet christ man, i pay 450 every SIX monthas for liability... regardless of what i drive......300 hp mark viii, a 91 hp sunbird, my diesel (91 f superduty)...... and i am 20, soon to be 21, so you have my pity kind sir, and then some. where do you live?

 

Memphis TN, home of the I-240 manglefest...

Having six measly miles over the limit raise my premiums lately didn't help at all - and it stays there for (quote) thirty months.

 

ouch, six over? shoulda contested it on your court date, new tires, speedometer error, lots of ways around it, at least six over, not to mention, it worked here, i don't know if it still does, or if it works there, but when you pay it, pay by check, write the check for like 10 over, and request that they give you your "change back" via check, or that they mail it to you, cause then they HAVE to do it by check, then when you get that check, DONT cash it, cause the case remains "open", and insurance companys don't get to know about open cases.

 

$50 higher insurance premium on Suzuki Swift compared to the half-ton Ranger? Swift should be considered a small American car .

Geo Metro, Yugo, and Ford Festiva were the best miles per dollar. Example In 97 the Metro got an average rating of 40mpg compared to the hybrid Pruis' rating of 46mpg, with less than half the initial price! All things excluded it was much more cost effective then the Prius!
If I could design a successor it'd use a similar design; hatchback, light weight, and underpowered engine. But the difference would be 6 speed tranny, an awesome low drag body design, the added options of a flex fuel(optional) or hybrid(upgrade!), and maybe a slightly longer wheel base ...safer design...w/e works. Ranger style headlights and high mount tail lights so it looks sad up front but looks like it's mooning you from the rear. I'd say keep it FWD but I prefer a sportier RWD myself. Keeping it light weight and fuel efficient would be the main goals. Limit top speed of the vehicle to 85mph or less. High visibility windows, bright colored paint schemes, and maybe a loud horn for good measure. High visibility inside and out. Might be cheap for basic model maybe not for hybrid option.