This thing is huge and it weighs a lot, not much is going to change that.
I made sure to pick out a 2 wheel drive, 6.2L diesel engine, with the TH700R4 automatic transmission and 3.08 gears.
I also burn used vegetable oil.
Turns out I do not have the 3.08 rear diff gears I thought I had. At some point they were swapped for 3.42s.
Build Thread:
Current Mods:
One of my first ecomodds I did was installing better and cheaper fuel filters so that I could burn waste vegetable oil. Soon after I was remaking the air intake and installing a ram air intake. Next I changed out the belt driven fan for 3 electrics. This was all back in 2006. That setup was good for 25-26mpg high way.
In 2007 I redid the exhaust, not really for economy.
In 2008 I switched from EGR "c-code" intake manifold to a "j-code" non-EGR.
That configuration turned fairly consistant 27mpg any time I got out on the highway.
Over all a nice improvement from the 21mpg highway I started with.
In late 2009 I tore the engine down for what should have been an overhaul that took 2-3 months max and found the block had started to crack in 3 places.
13 months and about $1800 later the new engine was in.
After I built it in my living room.
I up graded to a 6.5L block and kept my "small valve" #162 casting heads that a known for economy, not power.
6.2L heads on a 6.5L engine block bumps the compression to about 22:1.
I also found the time to file fit piston rings to reduce blow by, ported and polished the intake and exhaust port and ported the intake manifold.
During the engine build I installed provisions to run an electric water pump, not fully sure if it would work or even fit. So far it has.
I also converted over to electric fuel pumps.
Runs smooth, burns no oil and leaks no oil. (a huge improvement)
Smooth wheel covers.
Ram air fed, Twin turbochared (and intercooled) with a Garrett T76 feeding a holset HE351VE.
3 inch down pipe into a 4 inch weed burner straight pipe.
Water injection during the summer.
Installed 3 solar panels.
Installed LEDs every where but behind the dash and dont use LED head lights.
Planned Mods:
Add more Solar panels.
Peterbilt bumper and air dam.
Install 3.23 gears with an eaton posi. The Eaton positrac isn't eco, just bad ass.
