You don't have to BE an old fart to get good mpg.

Unfortunately, you just have to drive like one

I'd love to feel a 300-6 with 4.10's. Gotta be fun.

BTW, I average around 15-16 anywhere EXCEPT the highway. I do not doubt that I get 11 or less MPG going down the highway with my set up. 55mph = 2200RPM. 60+mph, I don't even know. 4th is 1:1, and it just KILLS me on the highway. Fortunately, I rarely have to get on the highway. Half the time, if it's not busy, I go 45 in a 55.. Makes a big difference going 1800RPM instead of 2200+.

But I get my best mileage on backroads where 4th gear is cruising along at 900-1100RPM at 20ish MPH.

 

If I drove like an old man I'd get run over around here! Ha.

My truck is pretty fun with OE sized tires and deep gears. Sometimes you don't need so much motor, just gears! With the big tires it brings my gear ratio down to about 3.55. Isn't your final drive something like 4.10 or lower with your tranny?

 

I've got all the stuff stashed to convert mine to 4x4. All I need is the time to do it.

 

It's a shame we can't buy time. Even if we could, inflation would kill us!

 

now that 19.5 mpg is interstate driving.i understand what you were saying about my math being off because i thought it was.my truck does seem to run alittle lean.i have took all the egr and smog stuff of it it.i will say one thing i did that i think helps these old trucks run alittle better is the vaccum lines on these trucks are junk. i replaced all of mine when i bought it and i also have a flow on it with a electric fan all things to help my mpg.

 

I didn't mean to sound rude. 19.5 is just very rare. Other guys on here have claimed to get 17, 18, 19 MPG with their 300's. They were all carb'd too.

How wide are your tires?

 

they are 8" wide i think

 

Ain't that the truth. I just got another project truck. The little kid in me says build it. The adult says part it out and make some cash. I don't have a flippin clue which one is gonna win.

 

..My money is on the kid. Ha!

What kind of truck is it?

 

So is mine.

79 F350 4x4 pickup. 300, NP435 4 speed, NP205 transfer case, Dana 60 axles front and rear. Rear of the frame is rusted out. Bought it from my brother.

 

"Old farts=higher MPG." <-- [/QUOTE] Well it is only right---after all-something should get better when you get older...

 

well i do drive like an old man aleat thats what my buddys say lol

 

Better to be young and driver like a older driver than to be old and drive like a kid. It gets embarrassing to get speeding tickets from cops that are younger than your first born!!!!

It is amazing how when you get older---the rear tires last longer and the traffic/speeding tickets become more rare.....if you drive like your age.(But I wouldnt know about any of this first hand-yet!!!)

 

you have got that right