Last weekend I did a highway mileage test and it came out to 19.3 mpg.  Not too bad.  We were driving I-5 155 miles round trip to the Roseburg, OR show.  My wife was on board and about 100 lbs. of supplies in the bed.  65 mph at 2800 steady.  Throttle wasnt steady though because there are 4 good size passes each way, smaller ones too, and two or three lengths of tight turns, resulting in a lot of power valve action.  The run was done with 100% gas.  Oil is usually 10/30 but had been changed the day before to 15/40.  No wind in the morning and afternoon brought a head wind that buffeted around the truck a little bit.  Previously the truck only gave 16.6 mpg with 10% alcohol.  I noticed that the engine temps, (165 in the morning and 175-180 in PM) were about 5 degrees warmer with the 100%.  With a couple minor tweaks 20mpg plus should be possible. 

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

I hadn't noticed before, but a gear change to get the rpm down will probably help a lot. But, it might detract from the fun factor.

I'm hoping to get over 15mpg by the end of this year. I think I'm now a little over 14 in overdrive.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie, do you know (or remember) what rpm to turn at 65 with the OD.  Just curious.  Mike

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

It's very low. I try not to shift into overdrive until I hit 70mph. At 70, it's around 1900rpm. I need a rear gear change.

An RPM like that for yours will probably be fine, being so light and with a fairly stock engine.

My '88 Firebird with 305 which is stock turns well below 2000rpm at 70 - 80 mph. The best mileage I've ever had with it was I think 31mpg (it was definitely low 30s) but usually it falls between 25 and 30. I've never weighed the car but they're usually around 3500 lbs. It will probably have better aerodynamics than your truck but you have 700lbs less to carry around. I think you can easily hit 23 - 27 with more economy oriented gearing.


Lawrenceville, GA

I have to say I am actually impressed with "Vicky's" gas mileage! Just did a 460 mile roung trip, with the family of 4, plus the car loaded down with clothes and tools. I found if I keep the old girl at 65mph or less (rpm = 2800 with 3:55 to 1 gears) I managed to squeak 18.7 mpg out of her!

I did notice however that as soon as I hit 70mph, the vacuume secondaries opened up on the 600 Holley and the gas gauge started to move REAL fast!   At over $4.00 a gallon, I tried to keep my passing to a minimum!!!  LOL

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning!

That is pretty darn good if you are driving the 46 truck, trucks are not noted for low drag.  If you are running a 28" tall tire your rear axle ratio calculates out to about 3.89.  If you wanted to go to about 2500RM @ 65mph you would need something like a 3.50:1 axle ratio.  An overdrive trany with no axle change would give about 1960RPM which I guess would hurt your setup.

But before you do that you might want to get a vacuum meter to play with.  The instructions with my old SW motorminder vacuum gauge said that the higher the vacuum the better the milage. 

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

I just finished a 790 round trip weekend, my mpg were very close to yours, 67 mph, 2700 rpm, 3:30 gears, it was a lot hotter on the return trip and I noticed I gassed up a little sooner. At 67 it would run 210 degrees at 90 and 205 at 80 degrees.

       

Gary, 55 Vicky, St. Germain, Wisconsin

 

I noted my car's rpm at 70 in overdrive. It's nearly 1800rpm


Lawrenceville, GA

Thats impressive charlie, gonna need an AOD to match that

       

Gary, 55 Vicky, St. Germain, Wisconsin

 

Well, keep in mind that it's also about 30 years newer technology (1988). But I think our Ys, when set up right can produce very respectable economy.


Lawrenceville, GA