Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Dave
I think a 40 MPG Crown Vic can be done, but baby you are gonna have to throw the kitchen sink ($$$$) at it.
Gabi has a good start and slamming a vehicle has worked for me. Do everything: belly pan, air dam, grille block, radical boat-tail. Maybe some radical narrowing of the aft part of the cabin.
To get to 40 MPG, you will have to be equally ruthless about weight. Lose the spare/jack. Replace the glass windows with plexiglas. Pitch the sound system overboard.
Narrower (say 215 or 195 width) LRR (maybe Goodyear Fuel Max Assurance or Michelin Hydroedge) will help. Be sure to smooth out the wheels.
Gotta lose that gas-pig engine. Gotta lose the slushbox. I have often thought a Cummins 4BT3.9 or M-B OW617 mated to a T-56 would be a very hot setup for MPG. Get the numerically lowest rear axle gears you can find.
40 MPG from a Crown Vic is ENTIRELY DO-ABLE, but don't kid yourself it will be easy or cheap.
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except for the boat tail and the narrowing of the cabin they were on the list of mods to do. It was a toss-up on the plexi windows(more for than against) sound system...on the table. It does need new tires and they are currently riding 215's on stock steelies. I was looking into baby moons as well as pizza pans...!
Again with engine swaps, I'd like to be able to some towing with it(not on a regular basis thought). The cummins is more than buying a used hyundai, not worth it. I have worked with benz om616 and the m115, and with the availability in my area of the om617 that could be a possibility.
Why so exotic of a trans? The merc 190e 5spd has a 0.78 fifth, that should come closer to mating up with the om617 should it not?