Allow myself to introduce.....myself
 

After having been lurking here and there for some time now, I reckon it's finally time to join into the fray.

My last vehicle was a 98 Ford Ranger, 2.5L 5spd, and with the process of fixing it up and doing maintenance no owner ever did, etc, I achieved a hwy score of 28mpg fully loaded with all my tools.

I'm a mechanic by trade, doing most of my work on-site, so reducing the weight of my vehicle is one of the things I'm unable to do. Anywho, I just parted ways with the Ranger to step up to something bigger, better suited to what I do.

The new vehicle is a 1987 Ford F250 XLT Lariat. 6.9L IDI, 5spd, 2wd, single cab, long bed. Immediate plans are to replace the bed with a flatbed once I have it running again (starter problems). According to the previous owner, it does roughly 18mpg on the highway. That's a pretty big step down from the 3k lb Ranger, but not too terribly bad for a stock 6k lb brick.

I've been talking to Christ a lot about it (he's a friend from another forum I frequent, CustomFighters.com. Motorcycles rock! WOOO!) and what I want to do to make it both more accommodating to my work as well as more fuel efficient. My end goal is 25mpg or better on the highway, and as close to 20 city as possible.

The biggest issue I have is that the only 2 ways I will be able to achieve this will be through aero and any changes I can make that lower my rpm's. I wont be mentioning driving habits because that one is just plain obvious.

Once I have the truck back up and running, I'll start a build thread/mod log/discussion thread, where I will post up my ideas, what I do, and any success I have. Though if I get bored enough tonight I might do it tonight lol.

That's all folks!

Since you have an IDI, would worth to give WVO a try...

An aluminium flat bed is a good improvement for weight reduction, but you might remember it has some gaps which would be better to cover, either with under-bed tool boxes or aerodynamic fairings. BTW have you already considered to get a fiberglass front clip to replace the sheetmetal hood and fenders with and then increase the weight reduction?

MPG instrumentation is the second most obvious thing that doesn't need mentioning. :)

Looking forward to the project -- those extra-thirsty work trucks benefit most (in terms of dollars saved/less volume of fuel burned) to improvements.

Welcome to the forum.

Going from the Ranger to the flatbed 250, you're giving up that convenient box into which you could pile your tools. You could consider some underbed toolboxes which would give you locking storage for your gear PLUS a handy anchor point for the many many acres of belly pan that truck would benefit from having.

How much of the flatbed's width do you need? Could you add locking toolboxes to the sides on the deck? You could create an ersatz pickup bed and still have 48+" between the boxes, and bring down a convertible fabric top to keep things smooth and aerodynamic when you don't need the extra headroom.

I'm actually sort of looking at this myself, my old truck's bed has seen better days. Going a route like this would retain the handy secure storage of a cap, if not all of the volume.

[edit]
Whoops, I see in your other post you've already addressed all this and more. Never mind me, carry on!

get a used GearVenders unit from CL. put one in the 93 chev 3500, 4:10 rear, bringing rpms to 2000 at 65 mph. also put 8R19.5 tires/rims(tall n skinny).

Here's a thread about an F250 diesel. http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...250-16798.html

Your mileage goals are very practical. Photos are in my profile.

^^^That is a powerstroke. Same engine with some differences, not the least of which being turbo and direct injection.