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My goal of hitting 20MPG will be mainly aero tricks, better tires, and maintenance. As much as I would like to do an engine swap or more drastic measures, I am planning on only keeping this truck about two more years and it has a recently rebuilt 350. In a few years I hope to do a complete truck mod and just get another one. I am looking at mainly good bang for the buck modifications in the meantime.
Aerodynamically, I can already tell the front de-cranking and air dam replacement have helped out, the next fill up will show exactly how much. Current upcoming aero plans are a tonneau cover and cab wing combo. I am trying to come up with the best/easiest/cheapest way to do it, while still maintaining relatively easy access to the bed. My current plan is to find a used tonneau, and then build a cab wing that sits on the bedsides. (I have looked at all the pickup diagrams on this site.) Also one of my bed sides has a huge dent in it, I need to pop that out to smooth the flow down the side. I would also like to build a lexan cover for the recessed bucket headlights, or alternatively swapping the whole grill to a model with composite headlights would do the same thing.
Tires, I am leaning towards Michelin LTX M/S2 in either P245/75R16 or LT235/85R16. I have been watching for a decent used set, but I may end up just buying new.
Maintenance wise I need to replace some EGR parts, door handles are all loose, interior needs some work, seat hurts my back, AC needs fixed, etcetera. While most of that doesn’t seem like ecomods, if I don’t fix those things I may end up driving my 2500HD that gets only about 13.5 MPG, so in a round about way they are ecomods.
As for noise, the NV4500 isn’t quiet, but I wouldn’t call it super loud. Granted the whole pickup is probably a little loud but the transmission noise isn’t any louder than anything else.
Speaking of the NV4500, I noticed mine gets a little warm from driving it home yesterday. I don’t think it is overheating, but it was definitely warm to the touch. I have ordered some PTO coolers for it, don’t need it overheating on me when it is even hotter outside. It might be the transfer case heating up the transmission, I need to check the fluid levels in both and make sure the transmission hasn’t dumped fluid into the transfer case and overfilled it. I may need to replace the input seal on the transfer case if that is occurring.
I am fully open for ideas and suggestions, that is why I am posting.
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