[Big Dave]

Both vehicles arebeing compared over my normal test route - roughly one-third urban/suburban, one third superslab, one third state two-lane roads.

Both vehicles have 3.08 gears.

The 7.3 diesel can be coaxed up to 3,800 RPM, but it is a dead cat above 3,200 RPM.

The Impala 350 runs 87 octane. The LT-1 uses reverse-flow cooling (cold coolant flows first into heads. This supresses knock, so the engine has over 10:1 compression.

There may be a T-56 six speed manual in this car's future.

The listed Cd for the Imp is .34. I'm sure my efforts have improved my Cd, but I doubt I got it lower than the Impala. FWIW, the Impala coasts magnificently.

With a diesel and a stick, this is a 33-35 MPG car, easy.

Problem is that is not a clunker. It is pristine.