Anyone got better than 15MPG in a 460/429?

How you do it?

c/r?
gears?
tires?


Thanks
Greg

 

Here's how I did it. I took out every other plug wire from the cap and took cardboard and duct tape to cover the secondaries from getting any fuel and bracketed the carb linkage so it would only open half-the-way. It "runs" but not to well --- using a gallon of gas in the bed hooked up to the holley, I was able to drive 15.5 miles (and that was with the bed off...).

Here's hoping somebody can come up with a better idea - I'll buy you a six pack of beer....

 

Dennis, one of our beloved admin's of this here web site has stated on the 79 truck forum that he gets 18 to 19 MPG on the hi way with his rig. ( That is around 15 to 16 MPG for south of the 49 US GAL Yank's) Thanks Dennis-- Give the specs on what you are running to get there.

G

 

I only got eight on flat land until I installed a vacuum gauge. I now do much better by never allowing the vacuum to drop below 7 inches.

 

There are only three true ways I can think of:

1. Lie about your mileage

2. Never start the engine

3. Vehemently denounce all who do not believe your claim of getting XX miles to the gallon...and actually believe yourself when your lieing!

Deen

 

i agree with the post above. I get between 4-9mph in my 460, on street or highway....

maybe its time for a tune-up or is this normal? Any suggestions?

 

Mark,


All I know at this time is I have a GVW of #6500 for my Crew cab and I get 9 to 12 MPG now running a 429 without any mods.

 

with the truck and set up below i got a best of 12mpg doing 85 with my 500lb motorcycle in the bed from san diego to phoenix. wasnt even trying for good gas mileage just trying for good time. made it in about 5 hours too. have 3.73 gears and the engine set up below, besides what is posted everything is stock. i probably could get better if the wind is behind me, doing about 55-60 on a good flat or slightly declinging road, the straighter the better, hills kill my mileage becuase i like to go 80 up them. good luck./

1977 F250 460
C6 Hedman Headers
Dual 40 series
edelbrock performer
holley 4160
msd 6a and blaster coil

 

DAMN!!! i am getting crappy mileage then. I think it is time for a tune up. Would bad timing affect milage?

what things should i check to get better mileage when performing my tune up besides: timing, plugs, filter.

 

I have to agree with Dean. A 460 and a truck aren't exactly a valid combination for seeking economy. And I notice that many claims for high mpg are usually touted by owners with aftermarket wheels, big tires and low ratio (high number) gearing carrying 5-8000 pounds of truck. That's not unlike making the statement that just because a woman is beautiful, well educated and from a good family she doesn't have to be expensive to maintain.

 

I think you could get 18MPG plus, IF you start from the top of Pikes Peak and coast down with the engine off most of the time. A good Tail wind helps, and if you have those tow straps try to catch a passing semi's bumper. The used car saleman I talked to told me I would.

I get jealous when I read the very very few posts of guys who do get good mileage with a 460.

I personally get 11mpg almost regardless of how I drive. Once in a great while especially if the wind is right I might get 12mpg. If I tow my 8,000+ trailer I will average 8-9mpg, not as big a change as I would have expected. If I am in hilly country, I get dizzy at how fast the needle moves on the gas gauge. I once got something around 5mpg or worse on the Grapevine in Calif on a 105+ day during a forest fire.

So it is the lot in life of 460 owners to spend money on gas and whine about it. The only positive is that I know it will tow almost anything reasonable and the mileage doesn't change much considering the style of driving and what load I have. Air conditioning has no effect as far as I can tell.

Mine is a 94 F250 4WD E4OD 4.10 supercab, long bed with a shell.

Wish I got 30mpg but not likely in my lifetime.

Jim Henderson

 

I agree... if some 460 owner thinks that they could get 30mpg out of their truck they are nuckin futs!!! I think we all realize that 460 motors are large and in charge and get very thirsty when they are working hard.

I would however like to find out if there are somethings that i can do to my motor as far as tune-ups go to see if i can squeeze a little more mileage per gallon. Can somone provide me with some ideas... like (fuel filter, carb tuning, timing, plugs, etc.)

 

Dennis, one of our beloved admin's of this here web site has stated on the 79 truck forum that he gets 18 to 19 MPG on the hi way with his rig. ( That is around 15 to 16 MPG for south of the 49 US GAL Yank's) Thanks Dennis-- Give the specs on what you are running to get there.


I just saw this so I better answer.

70 429 CJ C6.

First the technical side.

1)Clean air filter & regular oil changes
2)Well tuned engine (and burn as fresh a fuel as possible)
3)Tires inflated to specs
4)Run truck as much as possible with least amount of weight on it.
5)In the city >Keep 1 tank above 1/2 full <>the other with 5 gallons
6)2.75:1 Rear axle
7)Keep front wheels aligned properly.
8)I keep my foot out of the accelerator(drive with an raw egg under the pedal<> No jack rabbit driving <>which doesn't allow the 2nd set of barrels to kick in.
9)When driving on the Highway(pulling the trailer) and it's really windy<> Pull over for a while and rest,then proceed when the wind subsides.
10)Make sure clutch fan is always working properly
11)Smoothed exhaust ports.
12)True Dual exhaust w/2 1/2" pipe


Does this help?

Real Numbers

When I drive from Calgary to Edmonton <> 180mi or 300KM
or From Calgary to Gull Lake,Saskatchewan <> 270Mi or 450km

With a completely full tank (76 Litres = 16.7 imp gal)
I can usually go 520 km or 312.2 mi depending on the wind.

Do the math 312.2 mi divided by 16.7 = 18.7 M/impGal

Dennis

[i]F.T.E. Assistant Administrator

http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/starfleet_command_e0.gif

[link:www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html|Club FTE]

[link: motorhaven.autoanything.com|How YOU Can Support This Site]

[link:www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion/Mil1ion.html|My Website,"North Of The 49th"]

 

Wow:-staun 2.75 rear-- there you go. I am running 4.10s!

But the other things help. I know I had the front end worked on in another truck and it badly threw off the alignment-- the mpg imediatly fell 10 mpg! When I got the alignment fixed the mpg went right back up.

I get 12 mpg if I keep my foot off the floor.

I am on somewhat of a mission to get my miliage up to 15mpg or better, but I still want to punch it at times for fun! I can go with higher gears in the back(which I plan on doing) but I have the NP205 so I can cut my gearing in near half in 4x mode.

Greg