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1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Bumpsides Ford Truck

fuel milage

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Old Sep 23, 2008 | 11:06 PM
  #1  
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fuel milage

ive got a 69 f100 2wd with a 289, 4spd, and a 9" rear, i was wandering how to get better fuel milage, now im getting 15, i was wandering how tall of a gear i could go in it to get better milage but not be sluggish off the start
 
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Old Sep 24, 2008 | 07:25 AM
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I'd say that you are maxed out. You are driving a box with no areo at all. The thing is you could possibly pick up another mpg, but you would never recover the cost in trying to get there.

Want better mpgs, park the truck and drive a car. My Taurus truck is my daily driver.


John
 
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Old Sep 24, 2008 | 10:26 AM
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yeah i would kill to get 15 or even over 10 for that matter...

but driving down hill all the time would help, always having the wind to your back, take all the sheetmetel off.....you get the idea...
 
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Old Sep 24, 2008 | 10:47 AM
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You want better than 15 with these old trucks? I would be one happy camper if I got anywhere close to 15. I get around 10 on a good day. It is my only vehicle so I have to deal with it.

I dream of being able to pass a gas station without having to stop and fill up. It sure is fun to drive though.
 
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Old Sep 24, 2008 | 12:08 PM
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I got my doubts that the 289 could pull 2.75 gears in the pickup without costing mpgs.

I have run a 2.75 behind my FE but it has way more torque that the 289. I have found that the 3.00 performs much better for all around in my truck.


John
 
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Old Sep 24, 2008 | 12:31 PM
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Pulling to big of a gear you will loose gas millage. With only a 289 I would not even try it. My 68 only gets 8-9mpg, so if I got 15, I would be in hog heaven. But it's not a daily driver.
 
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Old Sep 24, 2008 | 09:43 PM
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i get 15 also, and with you having a manual transmission i think u should be able to get an extra mpg or 2 on me, other ways not gearing, but like everyone says it will cost ya a considerable amount of money that you can buy an aweful lot of gas with.
 
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 05:32 AM
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Originally Posted by UTfball68
I wasn't suggesting that he DID do it, I was just saying that he could. Considering he was only concerned with mpg's, I never said it wouldn't be a complete dog...just that it could help in the mpg's department, even though the affects would be negligible.
There are more opinions here than facts, so don't let it bother you. My comment was certainly an opinion.

What kind of mpgs do you get with the bronk?


John
 
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 07:51 AM
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like everone says the cost of trying too save will cost more on parts in the shortrun.i had a 80 150 4 wheel drive 300 six with a new prosess transmission,but the truck came with 32's and it seem ya had to wind the clutch to get her going.the input bearing went out in it,so i put in a regular 4 speed with the granny gear and it took off a lot better in 2nd gear.my point is that trans seems to me to be higher geared and probally was better on gas than that 4 speed,but really did not have it long so i dont remember the mpg's.i dought that trans would bolt up to yer engine but not really sure.just trowin some ideas.
 
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 02:00 PM
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my truck, with a 302, c4, 9" rear end with 3.73 non locker rear, and 31" tall tires electrick fan, and a median sized 4 bbl. i would get around 20-25 MPG! i had my grandpa do all the set up, he's a genius. but thae main thing is keep your foot out of it, and keep up with the oil changes and air filters and make sure your air pressure in your tires is correct
 

Last edited by matejcekautoworks; Sep 25, 2008 at 02:01 PM. Reason: add info
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 03:41 PM
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i am sorry but there is NO way a 72 gets 25 MPG i am sorry but i just cant belive that...
 
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 03:55 PM
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Originally Posted by BradyCouchman
i am sorry but there is NO way a 72 gets 25 MPG i am sorry but i just cant belive that...
Amen Brutha!
 
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 05:22 PM
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and what theory would that be?
 
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Old Sep 25, 2008 | 05:35 PM
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sounds about right.....but come on 25 MPG in a 72? unless its a desiel conver its not gana happen
 
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Old Sep 27, 2008 | 09:27 PM
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So about three weeks ago I took the 68 up to San Francisco to pick up a king sized bed.
95 miles one way and I burned a 16 gallons round trip. Well I wasn't that surprised but you do the math. 12 mpgs!!!! Thats cruzing @ 70mph and with only 300 or so pounds in the back, one way! I run the stock 360 with the crappy stock 2 bbl and such. Everything in that truck is origonal except the new Tires and rims!! I bet you can squeeze 15+ out of these old beasts but to me thats not an issue sense its not my daily driver.

25mpgs in a 72?? Sounds like a job for Mythbusters!!!!!
 
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