Muscle Car MPG?

[sc2dave]

Anyone KNOW the weber 32/36's? I need to adjust the acc pump.

[Duffman]

I would say it all depends on what you want to do. I would do a compression test and determine if what you are starting with is worth putting money in, if the engine is worn a rebuild will do more for your MPG than most little stuff will.

I think unless you are going to go to a OD transmission dont change the 3 spd, its likely wide ratio and will do the job. Unless your gearing is numerically high or you got a line on cheap gears I wouldnt waste my time there either. Gearing is king if you are spending a lot of time on the highway, it does nothing for you in city stop and go.

If your carb is jettable (meaning you can find different jets to swap in) that will be by far your best bang for the buck. If you are looking to spend some money I would start with the ingition system, 1972 will be a points distributer.... garbage.

[robertwb70]

I second the 2.3 + 5 speed swap.

[sc2dave]

Originally Posted by tr0n

I'm wondering if anyone else here has gone through the motions of making their own older classic car more fuel efficient and what kinds of things I can do to improve mine?
thanks

I plan to do this also on my 66 Nova 194 6cyl.

[viio]

I'd love to have a car like that, but the mpg would make me cry! I've been on diesels for years and I don't think I could go back.

[cujet]

The Ford 200CI six was my first "efficiency" project in the 70's. You can mill the head sixty thousandths. Or, you can pick up and old 170CI six head, mill it 0.060 inches and install for even more compression.

I did this. I also added a Weber 2bbl progressive carb, with small primary and larger secondary venturi. I milled off the single carb mount and brazed on a rectangular steel mount for the Weber. I fabricated all of this in a few hours. It could be done with a sawsall, a die grinder and a disc grinder.

I added a later model electronic ign, with vacuum and centrifugal advance. I think it was a Ford EecII.

I also did exhaust work, headers, transmission change etc.

I went from 21MPG or so, to 32.

[Old Tele man]

...certainly NOT a muscle car, but I took a '72 Pinto with 1.6L (FOB) engine and 4-speed from 24 mpg to 38 mpg by:

1) 3.55 axle to 3.18 axle
2) rejetted stock Weber 1BBL carb
3) installed Ford electronic ignition & distributor from newer Fiesta (same engine)
4) from cast iron manifold to tri-Y header

[flyer351]

I had a 289 '65 Mustang with 2bbl carb. The car could eak our 28 mpg at 55mph. Probably the easiest mod would be leaning out the carb with smaller jets.

[Schelter]

How bout just copying the '76 Plymouth Feather Duster? A little aluminum here and there, an OD 4spd, no options, lean carb, V8 Exhaust, and a 2.94 rear axle. They were rated at 24 City / 36mpg highway (although that was a bit optimistic)

[slowmover]

I had a '71 while in college. I'll never miss that car. Mavericks are crap: bad visibility, etc.

Recently got rid of a '79 Fairmont with the 200-6. Changed over to a progressive carb (off of a GM 2.8 V6 as I recall) and mileage improved. Crappy car, as with any Falcon derivative (brakes and front end). Not many speed parts (see CLIFFORD), but there is some effort being expended online. I also changed over to FORD ignition box that had some benefit (high altitude?). Not much better as a car than the Maverick.

The motor is not in the same class as the Mopar Slant Six, but, as a tractor motor you can probably improve steady state mpg as with suggestions above in re tuning, etc. It is heavy compared to an only slightly heavier 302-V8 where a door is opened to MANY more possibilities to play with in re mpg.

Frankly, the best way -- probably the only way -- to get money out of this car is to make it stone-axe reliable.

I like 6's to no end. But not this one.