Newbie to Gas with questions

[Trimmy]

I recently had to sell my duramax to buy a house and Im stuck driving a Jetta TDI(42-45mpg) now since I drive at least 700 miles a week now. I found a guy that wanted to trade me an 86 Chevy C20 that was in good shape from the typical chevy you see in my parts for a 1911 pistol I had $500-$600 in. It has a 454, th400 and 3.73 gears in it. All I really knew about the 454 is that its a gas guzzling pig but I didnt care because I wanted a project. What are some things I can do pretty cheap to help it out hp wise and maybe get a little better fuel economy? Ive been thinking about swapping a 305/700r4 in it until I can get funds together for the a ppump cummins and 47rh or nv4500 swap?

Thank you for any help

[bake74]

     First off welcome to the site.  A good tune up and light foot would be best with the 454.  If you could get a 305 and 700r4 in there it would be better on gas if you could live with less horsepower.

[Jason S]

If the 454 is tuned up and both the engine and transmission are in good shape it will bring a real smile to your face when you press down your right foot.

Here are a few ideas that you might consider for horsepower, fuel mileage or both: Headers; Fuel injection; Newer design cylinder heads; alternative fuel (e.g. propane - saves on fuel cost); Performance ignition advance kit; 4L80E OD transmission...

Your end result will ultimately depend upon what you want to drive, but I would personally think twice before replacing the 454 with a 305.

[gto109]

for what you will save in gas with the 305 you will loose more power then its worth.  If you really want to put a small block in I would put in a 350 instead.  My buddy has one of these trucks with a 350 700r4 combo and I have a 305 700r4 combo in mine and there isn't much diffrence in gas milage but he has more power then I do.

[Tazman]

I have an 87 with the stock 350 and the 700r,I did a complete tune up installed a tach and drive accordingly.I get 17 to 18 with ease and did get 19.7 on one tank a year ago.I do what I can not to go over 2000 rpm's.I cruise on the free way doing 67 mph with 1700 on the tach.

[Stewart G Griffin]

Big block on street = financial suicide.   

Replace immediately with 305.

[Trimmy]

Well the 454 was sold so it is out of the truck. I bought a 1990 TBI 350 with harness and computer bolted to a 700r4. I tore down the 350 and found a set of 906 vortec heads for $80 so the bottom end and vortec heads are at the machine shop and hopefully be back in a few days to reassemble. I have to buy a few small things such as a new alternator, ps pulley, vortec intake manifold, and a new prom. Im also buying the paint while the motor is out so I can pull everything and get inside there and start painting the engine bay so it will be a month or two more before its ready to go back into the truck. but hopefully Ill be getting some good mileage after this and ill be able to drive it more.

[454Man]

What cam did you choose?

[Trimmy]

The summit k1102. Its supposed to work real nice with TBI system and has great reviews in a TBI from everything I've read.