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General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: 84chvy on December 06, 2011, 12:54:10 pm

Title: mpg
Post by: 84chvy on December 06, 2011, 12:54:10 pm
hey guys i was just wondering what everyone got on mpgs. give me your setup and mpg. ex. motor/trans/rear end gears/tire size/tire type/engine mods.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: 1979C20 on December 06, 2011, 01:04:10 pm
Rebuilt 350 with a hearty cam. SM465 trans, 4.10s, 33x12x16(285/75r16) BFG All Terrains. Last time I checked im getting 8-10, but that was when I had 31's. Id guess 12-13 now since I had a tune up and the bigger tires.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: 84chvy on December 06, 2011, 01:04:44 pm
thats not good.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: black85k10 on December 06, 2011, 01:35:45 pm
GM performance 350 with 330 hp th400 trans stock gears 31x10.50-15 general grabbers at2 tires. the last time i checked i was getting around 12 mpg
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: mrboyy17 on December 06, 2011, 01:47:36 pm
86 4x4 scottsdale 3/4 ton 6.2diesel stock tires, and everything stock
18mpg
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: zieg85 on December 06, 2011, 02:52:42 pm
1985 C10 305 TH350 2.73 P205/75/15  15.6 mpg
1985 C20 454 4 speed 3.21 gears LT235/85/16 load range E 15 mpg
1985 C30 350 TH400 4.56 gears LT265/70/17 load range E 12 mpg

All taken mixed Highway/rural and all trucks have over 100K on stock engines with stock quadrajets
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: 84chvy on December 06, 2011, 03:58:54 pm
thank you for all the replies.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: 1MCP7.3/87GMC on December 06, 2011, 11:51:06 pm
Sad part is I should be getting better then what I get. 1975 Chevy 350 tbi stock out of an 87 gmc 700r4 trans 3:73s pushin 33" savero m/t half town half freeway 13.1mpg that's the best I've ever got. My 84 2wd with a 290hp crate 350 with true duel exhaust flow tech headers running a 600cfm Edelbrock 700r4 and I believe 2.08 rear gears got around 7-8mpg but when I pulled that motor and put it in my 62 impala with a 3 speed on the column and unknown rear gears gets around 17mpg with factory exhaust manifolds and a offenhouser intake and Holley 570cfm carb. Not to mention the impala tachs around 1200 more rpms at freeway speeds then my 84 did.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: str8bloc on December 08, 2011, 08:30:31 am
1986 lwb 305 700r4 2.73 peg leg. i get 13 mpg even with a leaky carb  and esc dist.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: ehjorten on December 08, 2011, 10:49:13 am
I get a little over 11 MPG in my '91 V3500 with the TBI454 and 4L80e with 4.10:1 rear gears on 35's with 8" of lift.  Now that was a mouthful! :D
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: bluecrew on July 04, 2012, 06:05:32 pm
yeah, I'm digging up old threads.

Tell me if I'm crazy, but I bought my 91 V3500 300 miles away from me, and the whole way back, mostly interstate (~70-75mph) I scored 20 mpg.  Small block 350, 4L80E, stock everything.  Checked the math three times, still came out to 20.  Sounds insane, right?
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: fitz on July 04, 2012, 10:19:27 pm
Bluecrew,i agree. 20 mpg's from your set up does sound insane.
Trust me, I don't question your math, just  keep in mind when people change gears and tires the odometer does not read accurately.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: jaredts on July 04, 2012, 10:22:35 pm
I hate to say it, but there's no way you're getting 20.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: howlinwolf on July 05, 2012, 09:19:34 am
speedo is off possibly. i can only make a rough estimate of maybe ten. 350, quadrajet, 425 propane carb, 3.23 gears possibly, 4wd with stock tires, a heavy ass flat bed, and 80 gallon fuel tank on the back
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: slammed79 on July 05, 2012, 09:36:23 am
I get 14.5 or so mixed driving, 255/60/15 3.73 rear, sm465, fresh tune up and rebuilt qjet all on a 350. That factors in how heavy my foot feels on any given day too.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: bobcooter on July 05, 2012, 12:23:25 pm
I get 12
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: bluecrew on July 05, 2012, 05:20:15 pm
Bluecrew,i agree. 20 mpg's from your set up does sound insane.
Trust me, I don't question your math, just  keep in mind when people change gears and tires the odometer does not read accurately.

I hear ya.  I did have a stock setup, fuel injection, and I babied it all the way home.  I have since lifted it and will slap some 35's, but I will drive it around for a little bit on stockers to see how much the mileage is before the tires.  300 miles, 3/4 tank of fuel, and my monkey math.  maybe I am crazy...  I still haven't checked what gears I have...  I did check the speedo with my gps, my phone app, and the wife driving my stock intrigue.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: 1980c10 on July 05, 2012, 05:46:36 pm
'80 2wd, swb, lowered 2", 275/60/15,  nv3500 5 speed. no a/c
engine is a 350, mild cam, flat top pistons, vortech heads, edelbrock intake, holley 670 street avenger, flotech headers, magna flow exhaust, balanced and dyno tuned.  I also installed an electric fan and removed anything emission related. I get 17-19 in the city and 19-22 hwy. I'm not sure what the ratio is but it is stock.
The engine has very good low end torque and I can just about idle everywhere. Down the interstate the rpms are fairly low in od. in forth they are fairly high (forth gear is a 1:1 ratio)
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: thirsty on July 05, 2012, 06:42:28 pm
I used to average about 8 mpg when mine was my daily driver. My driving habits varied a lot though. Occasionally I would baby it but I would work it hard, drive it normal, have fun with it on the street, or wheel it. ;D It was usually a fun 8 mpg!
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: Edahall on July 05, 2012, 09:33:56 pm
1982 C10 Suburban 6.2 700R4 3.08 LT30x9.50  28-31 mpg
1990 V2500 Suburban 4x4 Cummins 6BT NV5600, Gear Vendors, 3.73, 2" lift, 265/70/17, 26-27 mpg
1996 Chevy Tahoe, 4x4 Cummins 6BT, NV4500, 3.42, 6" lift, 35" tires, 22-24 mpg.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: Captkaos on July 07, 2012, 10:27:20 pm
My 1Ton Crew Cab with the 350TBI/4L80E would get 17-17.5 running about 65 mpg, so if you are off, it isn't by much.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: markus on July 11, 2012, 12:08:12 pm
about 12mpg, 350 with quadrajet and th400, 31.5x10.5x15 all terrain
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on July 12, 2012, 12:26:24 pm
I get about 16mpg on the freeway at about 65mph.

78 3/4 ton 2wd / 350sb / th400 / 3.73 rear / 33.5" tires /

Truck weighs about 5400 lbs with me in it.

I'm real easy changing speeds, i don't accelerate quickly, Try not to use the brakes (I stay like 10 car lengths or more behind the car i'm following)  (mainly to prevent rock chips on the front end though)

Dunno the in-town mileage, never checked it.  I only check it on long trips (150 miles one-way or more)

Speed kills MPG in these things.  I found if I go 60-65mph I get about 16mpg.  IF I GO 75mph or higher though, i only get around 9mpg or less.

I've noticed too, on NON-OD trannies, I get better mileage with the WINDOWS UP and THE A/C GOING, than with the windows down and the A/C off. 

This doesn't work out quite like this for OD trannies in my experience.  REMEMBER:  They didn't wind tunnel test these trucks with the windows down.  that makes a lot of drag.  And keep your tailgate up.  it may or may not give you like .002mpg more, but the sand your tires kick up will ruin your paint if you drive around with the gate down all the time.

Also when running your A/C:  if you don't have it set to full cold, it doesn't run the compressor as much.  use MAX but don't set it to full cold.  use max and set it to what's comfortable.  the A/C doesnt have to work as hard using MAX because its cooling already-cool air from the cab and not just strictly hot outside air.

The best way to improve mileage really is to control your foot, like my dad told me, drive like there's an egg between your foot and the gas pedal.  don't break the egg.

another trick is to put a vacuum gauge in your cab, and watch it while you drive.  the object here is to make the needle move as LITTLE AS POSSIBLE while driving.  it will always move, you just try to minimize the movement.  It's HARD!  haha!
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: audrima on July 12, 2012, 05:18:20 pm
my 1978 GMC C25 350 Qjet sm454?(3 speed with granny) hm posi rear end (3:73?) last I time I check I was getting 13mpg with a leaky tank no tune up and apparently a bad fuel pump lol when I get the pump on I will see what I get, my goal is 15mpg ^_^
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: screamin86 on July 12, 2012, 10:33:01 pm
Best I ever got in my 86 k10  was 16mpg all hwy averaged 9-12 in town depending on how hard I beat on it. 3.42 gears 31x10.5 350 040 over 9:4.1 cr 214/224 cam longtubes no cat single 3 in exhaust th350 2800 stall . I miss that truck :/
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: bluecrew on July 15, 2012, 09:34:04 pm
my 1978 GMC C25 350 Qjet sm454?(3 speed with granny) hm posi rear end (3:73?) last I time I check I was getting 13mpg with a leaky tank no tune up and apparently a bad fuel pump lol when I get the pump on I will see what I get, my goal is 15mpg ^_^
Sm465.  It is a four speed, but you rarely use first (low gear).
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: Bitzer! on August 05, 2012, 04:28:46 pm

I have no idea what my truck is running especially as the UK & US gallon differ I believe.

I was of the understanding these trucks rand gallons per mile!
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on August 08, 2012, 09:09:36 pm

I have no idea what my truck is running especially as the UK & US gallon differ I believe.

I was of the understanding these trucks rand gallons per mile!

well actually for most of us its Smiles per gallon, which is priceless.    8)

Costs me $60 per week to get complimented, and many offers of cash, and to be driving something I LOVE 100 times the way i love my focus.   ;D
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: markus on September 14, 2012, 12:15:04 pm
went to a small roadtrip last weekend and figured that i got 18mpg, driving mostly at 55mph. happy with that  :)

350 with q-jet and th400...
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: Edahall on September 14, 2012, 04:54:29 pm
Got a tad above 20 mpg towing this from WA to TX.  The flip side of the coin is I paid as high as $4.40/gal for diesel and had to use 2 different credit cards to fill up the tank. 

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/Ventura/P1030293.jpg)
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: Bitzer! on September 15, 2012, 09:30:49 am

I have no idea what my truck is running especially as the UK & US gallon differ I believe.

I was of the understanding these trucks rand gallons per mile!

well actually for most of us its Smiles per gallon, which is priceless.    8)

Costs me $60 per week to get complimented, and many offers of cash, and to be driving something I LOVE 100 times the way i love my focus.   ;D
Very true- the smile and the admiring even from the people that don't want to look if ya know what I mean!
I dare say I was getting 4-5 mpg on the last two runs, mostly 'cos the passengers wanted me to hold back from the traffic then nail it so they could hear the sounds, needless to say I happily obliged.
Checked the plugs and it's running rich so a carb rebuild and tune is now due.
Still, like yourself, I'd drive the truck 1000 miles instead of 50 miles in my toyboata poo estate car.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: Sartobuilt on September 15, 2012, 12:58:00 pm
454 Holly 650, TH400, 205, 4:10 with 36" tires.......6.5 mph. I got you all beat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: 4x4x4x on September 20, 2012, 12:02:49 am
1985 k10 swb with canopy, 6.5 diesel, banks turbo system, marine injectors, 700r4, 411 gears (with elec. lockers f/r), old style goodyear MTR 33/1250r/15............ 22+ mpg hwy driving easy, 60mph
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: 1979C20 on September 20, 2012, 10:32:48 am
I filled my tank, drove 470 miles and when I refilled my tank it took 27 gallons out of 30. Equals out to 17.4 mpg. Its on my 89 GMC V2500 Suburban with a 350 4.10's and 35's.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: bobcooter on September 26, 2012, 09:00:10 pm
Mine was getting 12 mpg as I stated earlier. I have since installed a Skip White distributor when mine crapped out. The ad said 65000 volts and it was $49.80 to my door.  I installed it, regapped my plugs to 44/1000 from 40/1000 and my mileage is up to 14 on the highway plus it runs a lot smoother. Pretty good return for under $50.00 .
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on September 28, 2012, 03:09:25 pm
i have to say concerning mpg is that you are not going to get really good mileage out of these trucks unless you go either:

a) diesel
b) LS series engines
c) move down on cubes, i.e., 4.3 v-6

Due to the size, weight and aerodynamics of these trucks plus the gen 1 smallblock, you are not going to get stellar mileage.  You can only refine and make improvements.  This is not nessesarily a bad thing as you are still saving money vs. buying a newer truck or a newer/different drivetrain.
Title: Re: mpg
Post by: slammed79 on September 29, 2012, 06:11:34 pm
I foresee my next round of mods netting near 20mpg. TBI, Exhaust and 5 speed. With 13-14 I get now with my qjet, stock exhaust and SM465, a 5-6 mpg jump sounds reasonable.