so i feel like I'm getting somewhere.... my best tank yet out of this thing. 11.41 mpg avg. and that was with a trip with a friend who wanted to make good time with the A/C on (he paid for the gas, so i didn't complain).
and on the "2000 rpm" sweet spot... I've found my best results, in 90's chrysler products anyway, that 62 mph/1750 rpm is the sweet spot. i read somewhere a long time ago that 1750 rpm was the "brake specific thermal efficient" rpm or something like that. in the jeep my economy always hit the moon when i cruised at 62 mph. and usually rolled around 20-22mpg up to 80 mph. I'm wondering if i should've built up a thread on it... it was simply dropping it an inch and a half and a light pedal... and usually get 19-20 out of it.
anyway, i tried sitting at 2000 rpm for most of the 200 mile trip. and got 11 on the computer before i was back home again. next week ill be heading down there again but will be able to do 55-65 mph and get things up a bit.
and the topper is still together. i notice at highway speeds the tail end lifts off the tailgate about an inch. otherwise all the glue is holding and it hasn't melted in the heat yet, although it was just 70 ish today (warm for february, making me scared this summer is going to be a hot one, or a whole bunch of rain (i like rain))
and i cannot see behind with it on. i might as well just got solid panels... although these where the cheapest i could find per sq ft... but my first idea was a 6mil plastic sheet. $20 to cover it 3 times.... but i didn't want a balloon flailing in the wind behind me, even with tension...
so. im happy with the fact I've broke the 11mpg barrier for a whole tank. or at least 3/4 of it. i did make it 100 miles on a quarter tank once, before the topper, but that was sitting behind a truck...
and another thing. I've gotten some "thats cool"'s and some "what the bleh is that?"... i just say its worth a %20 some improvement in economy...
also, did not have time to drop the ride height down. next weekend for sure. i mean it this time...
one last bit, I'm getting the parts list together for a manual transmission swap. I've made my decision on the nv4500HD. more abundant and cheaper. 6 speeds would be nicer for towing, but 5 is just easier to work with. I've found ebay specials for rebuilt ones for $1500, $2500 for the nv5600... so ill be walking the local junk yards to see if i can get lucky and find a v10 or cummins with all the fixings i need. i could get a used gearbox for $150, rest would be probably $300 more. and a rebuild kit is around $350. so if i could slap a manual transmission behind this motor for less than a grand i would be all kinds of happy. i want to change the transmission as soon as possible. this automatic just does the exact opposite of what i want it to... holds gears too long, and I've set the kick down cable from too tight (stupid high shifts) and even disconnected it. but having it connected and properly adjusted gives the best results. however it shifts gears using a calendar... i can't coax it into the next gear easily without loosing speed and keeping it from going into the next gear. and the overdrive torque converter lock out doesnt kick in until 50 mph, and loosens up as soon as you drop below it. but once it locks up instant mpg goes from 8 to 14 in a snap.
i know its a strong word, but i
HATE
automatics... with a passion... they're just lazy lazy lazy...