Big Block Blues
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Cuz, These ol pickups don't make good daily drivers, you can spend a lot of money swapping in a tranny/engine and wont pick up many mpgs.
Get a cheep car to run and keep the truck for what ever. Mine sits in the yard until I need it. My Taurus is my daily driver.
John
Get a cheep car to run and keep the truck for what ever. Mine sits in the yard until I need it. My Taurus is my daily driver.
John
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 260
From: Piney Woods of East Texas
If you have a good strong 390, you can swap the differential to a 2.75-3.25 ratio, should get you into the 13-15mpg range vs 8-10 for a 360. A 302 may not gain any mpg due to heavy weight of the PU infact may loose some.
And like jowilker suggest find you a small cheap car to drive.
And like jowilker suggest find you a small cheap car to drive.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: Dora Alabama
If you have a good strong 390, you can swap the differential to a 2.75-3.25 ratio, should get you into the 13-15mpg range vs 8-10 for a 360. A 302 may not gain any mpg due to heavy weight of the PU infact may loose some.
And like jowilker suggest find you a small cheap car to drive.
And like jowilker suggest find you a small cheap car to drive.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 6
From: UPSTATE NY
an old gas guzzilng ford truck is something to be enjoyed, and its best to drive it while your enjoying yourself. not commuting 30 minutes to and from work everyday. for that you gotta get a bike or a little riceburner car. gotta have the right tool for the job.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
ive got a little 883 Harley, im just using the truck for my winter/rain ride. and this was SUPPOSED to be my cheap, economical ride. i mean, i only paid 600 bones for it. i didnt expect it to get 50 mpg, but mebbe 15 would be nice. guess i should have done more research....mebbe i should ask for a raise. you think mebbe an automatic would help? different gearing in the rearend and such? mebbe a 351 instead of the 390? fact of the matter is, im stuck with this truck. gotta make the most,you know?
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,503
Likes: 2,820
No advantage 351 vs. 390 unless you do the OD thing and a few other tweeks.
Your diff should be a 9" Ford with a drop-out carrier. There may be a ratio tag on one of the studs holding the carrier into the housing. Look at about 5 o'clock, but it could be anywhere or missing.
You may have a 3.25 axle.
If you do, and if you have 235/75x15 tires at 29 inch diameter, then you are turning about 2450 rpm a 65.
Change to a 2.75 ratio, you'd be pretty tall in the low gears, but your 390 would handle it ok, and you'd reduce your cruise rpm to 2071 at 65....
Used gears $99:
Currie Enterprises Racing Rear End Categories
Calculate for yourself with different tires/gears:
Novak Conversions - Gearing & Gearing Math for Jeeps
In the mean time, go over your fuel system and check for leaks. Especially your carb--if it is the old vented type, they lose gas when the truck is turned off and parked.
There are some ways to save gas here, but fewer ways to save money.
Good luck with it.
Your diff should be a 9" Ford with a drop-out carrier. There may be a ratio tag on one of the studs holding the carrier into the housing. Look at about 5 o'clock, but it could be anywhere or missing.
You may have a 3.25 axle.
If you do, and if you have 235/75x15 tires at 29 inch diameter, then you are turning about 2450 rpm a 65.
Change to a 2.75 ratio, you'd be pretty tall in the low gears, but your 390 would handle it ok, and you'd reduce your cruise rpm to 2071 at 65....
Used gears $99:
Currie Enterprises Racing Rear End Categories
Calculate for yourself with different tires/gears:
Novak Conversions - Gearing & Gearing Math for Jeeps
In the mean time, go over your fuel system and check for leaks. Especially your carb--if it is the old vented type, they lose gas when the truck is turned off and parked.
There are some ways to save gas here, but fewer ways to save money.
Good luck with it.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
ive got a little 883 Harley, im just using the truck for my winter/rain ride. and this was SUPPOSED to be my cheap, economical ride. i mean, i only paid 600 bones for it. i didnt expect it to get 50 mpg, but mebbe 15 would be nice. guess i should have done more research....mebbe i should ask for a raise. you think mebbe an automatic would help? different gearing in the rearend and such? mebbe a 351 instead of the 390? fact of the matter is, im stuck with this truck. gotta make the most,you know?
Basically there is nothing that you can swap in that will recover the cost of doing so under 25 years of use. IMHO
The raise thing might be helpful.
John
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