Cali Gas Prices Rocket

[Cali-Deuce]

Northern California gas prices have rocketed to $4.50/gallon for regular unleaded fuel... This price level is expected to remain because of the issues that surround fuel production will not be solved in the near future. With my 74 Chevy Step side with a 350 V8 4B/ 350 auto coming in with an averaged 12 mpg, I end up paying just short of $18-20 per day for fuel for the commute to work and home (compared to my Harley at $5/day).

I feel like I need to make some changes and have begun looking at the 90-91 4.3L Chevy V6 (carbed), coupled with a 700R4, which is rated in the 20-21mpg range. Has anyone made this engine swap?

Deuce

[Jason S]

I haven't made that particular swap combination, but many on here have made the 700R4 swap.  As for the V6, I'm sure someone will chime in soon.

How much is propane out there?  I've got both my '73 and '74 running on propane and really like it.

[nucknoel89]

Northern California gas prices have rocketed to $4.50/gallon for regular unleaded fuel... This price level is expected to remain because of the issues that surround fuel production will not be solved in the near future. With my 74 Chevy Step side with a 350 V8 4B/ 350 auto coming in with an averaged 12 mpg, I end up paying just short of $18-20 per day for fuel for the commute to work and home (compared to my Harley at $5/day).

I feel like I need to make some changes and have begun looking at the 90-91 4.3L Chevy V6 (carbed), coupled with a 700R4, which is rated in the 20-21mpg range. Has anyone made this engine swap?

Deuce

I love it when Americans complain about high gas prices.  Here in my hometown in Canada (Abbotsford, British Columbia to be exact), our current price is about 13% higher than California's "skyrocketing" price.  With the Canadian and US dollars on par, and converting our litres to your gallons, our price is the equivalent of $5.10 a gallon.  An hour from me is Vancouver, which has among the highest (if not the highest) prices in North America, equal to $5.77 a gallon. 

[bd]

Prices are relative to location.  In California it simply amounts to theft sponsored sanctioned moderated by government.      What's the story in Canada?

It's up to $4.99/gal in parts of Fresno.

[nucknoel89]

Prices are relative to location.  In California it simply amounts to theft sponsored sanctioned moderated by government.      What's the story in Canada?

It's up to $4.99/gal in parts of Fresno.

A lot of the reason for the higher prices here is taxes.  The reason it's even worse in the Vancouver region is because on top of all the taxes the rest of us deal with, they also have a transit tax on their gas which supposedly encourages people to take public transit.    I think it's ridiculous that our prices are so high when the province next to mine (Alberta) churns out tons of oil every year.

[bd]

A lot of the reason for the higher prices here is taxes.  The reason it's even worse in the Vancouver region is because on top of all the taxes the rest of us deal with, they also have a transit tax on their gas which supposedly encourages people to take public transit.    I think it's ridiculous that our prices are so high when the province next to mine (Alberta) churns out tons of oil every year.

How many people in Vancouver actually use public transit in direct response to the added tax?

We, in California, are at the cusp of feeling your pain!  But, it's still a relatively new insult to us!  Mandated regional fuel reformulations in concert with persistent record oil company profits (not to mention the impending high speed rail that no one except the railroad and government wants) - it's exhausting to be 'governed' by government that rubber arms itself and boasts of its grand accomplishments, however hollow, at public expense.  It seems that no matter where we live, some bean counter in a windowless cubicle lobbied for our extraneous burdens.  It's shameful!  But, we diverge too far from the original post....

...I feel like I need to make some changes and have begun looking at the 90-91 4.3L Chevy V6 (carbed), coupled with a 700R4, which is rated in the 20-21mpg range. Has anyone made this engine swap?

We had a few 4.3L/700R4 light trucks in our dealership fleet.  None of them achieved more than ~16 MPG.

[Captkaos]

I don't think the smaller V6 is going to yield better gas mileage.  I also don't think you will be getting more than 19mpg average on a 73-87.
If you are just driving it and not loading it, pulling anything with it, it may be fine, but otherwise it will be working harder. 
If you don't have an overdrive that will help.