'71 El Camino is a GAS HOG!

[slowmover]

22 mpg solo at 65 would be good enough for me. The "returns" in money and viability decline rapidly after that point, IMO. An Elky can pull a decent-sized travel trailer. But greater FE might well mean degrading that capability . . ergo, get a vehicle better suited past that point.

[HellCamino71]

Hey everybody, just wanted to update everybody on my mileage increase. I'm up to 10mpg! That's that half of my tank consisted of work miles carrying landscaping equipment and hauling debris. This isn't incredible but its a definite improvement.

Adjustments:
Kept myself from trying out full throttle (Its a 2 barrel)
Lowered fast idle mixture
Cleaned carburetor thoroughly of gunky oil buildup
Changed PCV valve
Utilizing Neutral especially when coasting steep downhills
Conserving Momentum
Reduced ride height at the rear (bled air from air shocks)

Checked to see if the brake is grabbing as recommended and it seems fine. Just seems like it needs an alignment still.

PS: Anybody have tips, articles, etc. on an aerodynamic El Camino build? I was thinking of finding an aftermarket/fabricating a front air dam and tonneau cover for starters.

[slowmover]

An Aerolid and the recommendations for a pickup: partial grille block & partial bellypan. Read all the other pickup truck threads here.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by HellCamino71

Anybody have tips, articles, etc. on an aerodynamic El Camino build? I was thinking of finding an aftermarket/fabricating a front air dam and tonneau cover for starters.

I'm not so favorable to extreme aero modding as some folks here are, but you might take a look at some racing versions of the Brazilian Chevrolet Opala to get some inspiration for the aero mods. And a tonneau cover always leads to some good improvements

[Bposten]

Afternoon everyone! I just found this thread and decided to chime in with my responce!

I too own a 71 El Camino and I love my truck! On a recent trip I just took via back highway, going through alot of small towns to slow down for and a couple of stops i averaged 16.8 MPG with mine. Mine does have a 350 transmission with a recent rebuild on it and a 130,XXX mile old 307 small block, 2 barrel carb, and points ignition.

My biggest advice is if you want to keep the truck for along time and get good mileage, Pull that 350 and replace it with a 305. Chevy when they hit the 350 engine mark they turned into gas hogs, going with the smaller engine and possibly opting in an overdrive transmission can gain alot!

My dad as an 87 Elky with the 305 52,xxx mileage and a 200r4 trans 102,XXX mileage. He averages about 22 MPG, and thats with alot of city mileage.

You could go the LS engine route but with the changes with headers, computers mounts and everything it runs about 1500 to drop the 5.3 ltr engine in. The 305's can about be bought a dime a dozen as everyone wants the swap in the 350s. And a 305 can be swapped out in a day or 2 easily and still reuse exhaust, transmission, hoses and everything else.

Just some food for thought!

[oil pan 4]

A 6.5L turbo diesel with a TH700R4 transmission with 3.08 rear gears would be more than enough to move that car, pull stuff and get mid to high 20 MPGs.

[slowmover]

Except that it weighs more than a V8-454. Imagine the FF/RR weight imbalance, empty.

[Dubbio]

FWIW, I keep a K-5 around for emergencies and some topless fun in the summer, and it gets 10mpg pretty routinely, even with the top off.

Its a mix-match of other trucks but what i know for sure is it has a sickly '73 350 v-8 (more like 7) with a leaky Quadrajet from an '82 350 (oh yeah, its got HEI from '75+), TH350 w/ NP203 (AWD), the axles are 3.08:1, and 31" all terrain tires. Dual exhaust also.

Maybe you can go up slightly on tire size to get a mpg. I'm 100% certain you can do better than my Hauls-All

[Goldenstate]

I used to own a 73 El Camino with 350 and 2 BBL carburetor. It was terrible on gas and this was long before I had knowledge of modifications for mileage. It was easy to trade it on a small Datsun truck and gain some easy mileage.

With the age of a vehicle from 1971, one might also want to investigate the condition of the wheel bearings. Synthetic oil in the motor is always a good way to kick up the mileage with just an oil change. An underdrive pulley kit might be a easy way to gain some mileage. Get rid of the spare tire and big heavy jack to loose some weight.

[cosmick]

I had a '78 Camaro with the 5" rear spoiler do 25 MPG at 65 MPH with the centrifugal advance not working, and a mystery Q-Jet. That was a 350, I swapped a junkyard 700R-4, it had a 3.08:1 axle, and I still have every detail to duplicate it, but the point is, hoping for 15 is a joke. It should already do that just as you got it.