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Old 12-12-2009, 04:57 AM   #71 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by taredog View Post
Not too much. The sound of the Ram exhaust was much too mellow for me. I liked the sound of the '57 BelAire four door coupe that passed me earlier. Obviously an automatic, pretty stock with a staccato sound I remember from my youth. Like a cheap Thrush. The driver just cruising along, taking his time. My thoughts were, "it needs a Muncie M21 or a Borg-Warner T10. Then "maybe he want's to keep it fairly stock" Then "wonder if it's a powerglide or a turbohydro implant and a 265 or a 283 stock or an implanted 327/350/400.

That's the way my old gearhead mind works. Why I am no longer a gearhead???

Some of this likely belongs in the lounge.

I have come to the conclusion that no matter what I do short of very radical modifications, my Dakota will continue to get 16-18 MPG on my commute and in the 20's on highway trips.

Based on what you drive, some of you posts about "35 MPG pickups" and my perception of your overall cheapness, (not a bad thing, I too am "cheap" but cannot win all my battles at home) what do you think is the best course?

My Dakota is paid for. I drive less that 10K per year. Buying a less thirsty beater for commuting is not an option. Once in a blue moon I use the pickup or 4wd function of the truck. I think I should keep it and suck up the bad FE. What do you think?
I like stock or well muffled vintage Chevys; my '59 has the factory stock 283 with stock manifolds and dual turbo mufflers exiting ahead of the rear wheels. There is something about those 283s, I don't know if it's the camming or what, but they're just plain quiet even if the exhaust is opened up somewhat. Not at all like a 350.

As far as that '59, in the past I considered this mod or that mod but in the end I drive it and enjoy it for the '50s car driving experience. So doing what "everybody" does i.e. disc brakes, new drivetrain, suspension, exhaust, stereo, etc. is NOT in the cards although I made the concession of running nice radial tires and gas-charged shocks. If I want to drive something that feels like a new car... I'll get in the new car!

But I do have a ratty parts '59; very little would be "lost" by modding that one.

Re: Dakotas (and Durangos too)- it never ceases to amaze me how awful their fe is- smaller trucks with full-sized truck appetites. As you can see I'm beating your truck with a V8 4x4 F150 that pretty much only gets used for hauling/towing. Although there is someone on here getting better than average fe with his Dakota, I don't know the specifics.

Why is having an economical car for all the non-hauling jobs "not an option"? No parking? Old lady? What? My Tempos have been so cheap to own that not saving money and lots of it with them is an impossibility. And of course an integral part of my fleet are the bicycles/scooters/motorcycles which all save loads of fuel too. That truck sometimes sits for a loooong time.

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Old 12-12-2009, 05:02 AM   #72 (permalink)
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Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cd View Post
That commercial is geared towards guys like this : ( or is that an angry female ? )



( We see a lot of these here in Texas. )
Soooo...

at least the vehicle has a pair
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Old 12-12-2009, 05:14 AM   #73 (permalink)
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What is the big deal with TRUCK NUTZ?

I mean, come on... they're plastic testicles that come in many colors and hang facetiously from the lower portion of a vehicle (which is not always a truck) in hopes that they may garner a reaction (positive or negative, whichever) from some poor sap that should likely be paying attention to the traffic light ahead of the vehicle whose genitals are showing so that he can time it correctly to re-start his engine, which ideally should have been shut down, however, he spent so much time admiring (read: mentally *****ing about) those NUTZ, that he completely forgot his redlight routine and left the engine running the whole time.

Wow. All for a piece of plastic.
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Old 12-12-2009, 03:23 PM   #74 (permalink)
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> What is the big deal with TRUCK NUTZ?

At least they're subtle, and unlikely to offend. Unlike my bumper sticker that says, "My Powerful Libido Compensates for my Pipsqueak Car"

I may only have 32 horses, but they have steaming flanks!
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Old 12-12-2009, 06:09 PM   #75 (permalink)
Moderate your Moderation.
 
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I'm still looking for a bumper sticker that says:

"If you can read this, get your insurance information ready."


One of my friends is trying to get a window vinyl that says:

Warning:
Brake lights may not illuminate until the insurance adjuster gets here.
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Old 12-12-2009, 07:50 PM   #76 (permalink)
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would it be bad form to pop off the nuts and replace them with something else? oh perhaps like a vagina?
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Old 12-12-2009, 09:23 PM   #77 (permalink)
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Location: up north
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Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
Ha Ha, how about an itty bitty pair of nutz?
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Old 12-13-2009, 02:12 AM   #78 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee View Post
Ha Ha, how about an itty bitty pair of nutz?
If the driver wanted itty bitty nutz back there he would have used his own.
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Old 12-13-2009, 02:16 AM   #79 (permalink)
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I'd replace them with a Gumby hung from a noose. That would get someone's attention.

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Old 12-13-2009, 09:34 PM   #80 (permalink)
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I thought this was a parody poking fun at Ecomodder until I listened to the ad... Why would Ram not coast to a stop? How is it possible to not downshift?

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