Grill block on a Silverado

[Nonhog]

Thanks for the pics! I'll have to copy your belly pan. Is that coroplast?
Whats the rig in the background C-10 ?

[darcane]

Originally Posted by Nonhog

Thanks for the pics! I'll have to copy your belly pan. Is that coroplast?
Whats the rig in the background C-10 ?

Yeah, it's just corrogated plastic. I bought a couple large sheets from a local plastic distibuter.

The other truck is the first vehicle I've ever owned, a '68 C10. Even with a 400 small block, I get about the same mileage as what my '03 got before I started here. It's fuel injected with an overdrive tranny and about 1000 lbs lighter than the Silverado. It's fun and pretty nice, but I just don't put that many miles on it any more.

[apc]

awesome!

what did you do to your wheels? I can't tell what's different between the photos. [oh, nevermind... I see you got different rims. I was looking for some sort of blockage haha!]

I got the holes in my valance blocked off. I cut up a plastic plant container and reinforced it with PVC. haven't expanded the grille block yet. I'm surprised with how little it seems to cause any thermal problems. A/C is still nice and cold and the temp gauge hasn't budged. next time I'm at the hardware store I'll be getting black zip ties to replace the white ones, and at that time I'll redo my grille.

[darcane]

Looking good. Are you noticing any change in mpg that isn't attributable to other factors (like progressively warming temps or driving conditions)?

[apc]

dunno, I haven't been at all scientific about this. I've just done everything at once. aired up my tires past mfg spec, did the aero mods, and started frequently shifting to neutral with a lot of P&G. I've also been keeping my reps below ~1750 (which with 4.10 gearing means a top speed of 55). however, I filled up my tank when I first started making changes, did not top off, and at 150miles am just now bouncing around 1/4 tank down. normally I'd only be at 100miles by this point, so there's definitely been an overall significant improvement. maybe whenever I put in an MPG gauge I'll do some A-B-A and isolate specific mods.

reminds me, in your silverado, have you noticed the fuel gauge is unreliable? especially near empty, it fluctuates in a way that doesn't seem to correlate with fuel splash, although I've seen that too. what I've also found now is in neutral is will read a little different than while in drive. I know there's a common problem with the sending unit with these trucks that can cause a false empty, and that others have seen neutral involved, but have yet to come across an explanation for these particular variations.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by apc

dunno, I haven't been at all scientific about this. I've just done everything at once. aired up my tires past mfg spec, did the aero mods, and started frequently shifting to neutral with a lot of P&G. I've also been keeping my reps below ~1750 (which with 4.10 gearing means a top speed of 55). however, I filled up my tank when I first started making changes, did not top off, and at 150miles am just now bouncing around 1/4 tank down. normally I'd only be at 100miles by this point, so there's definitely been an overall significant improvement. maybe whenever I put in an MPG gauge I'll do some A-B-A and isolate specific mods.

reminds me, in your silverado, have you noticed the fuel gauge is unreliable? especially near empty, it fluctuates in a way that doesn't seem to correlate with fuel splash, although I've seen that too. what I've also found now is in neutral is will read a little different than while in drive. I know there's a common problem with the sending unit with these trucks that can cause a false empty, and that others have seen neutral involved, but have yet to come across an explanation for these particular variations.

Well, what sort of whole tank mileage were you getting before and now?

I haven't noticed that particular behavior, but these trucks have problems with the stepper motors in the gauges and really, ANY gauge can be off. Both my speedo and oil pressure gauges will read way off at times. Basically, the gauge loses track of it's zero point, so it will fluctuate normally, just while pointing at the wrong spot. i.e. I will be going 50mph and speed up to 60 mph and the speedo will read 90mph and go up to 100mph.

This is one of the reasons I bought an ultragauge. It can display most of my gauges and it's far cheaper than the $500 for a new cluster.

[apc]

wow glad I haven't seen that. just my fuel gauge that will vary by 1/16th to 1/8th.

before I was getting around 350 miles to a tank. this is my first tank since adopting these changes though but I'd say I'm on track for 400, maybe more. I'm very impressed.

[Nonhog]

Funny my 08 Silverado often teases me with hopes of a really good range on a tank. Then at the last 1/4 it speeds up and stuck with another 18 or 19 mpg. Still hoping for a twenty tank.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by apc

wow glad I haven't seen that. just my fuel gauge that will vary by 1/16th to 1/8th.

before I was getting around 350 miles to a tank. this is my first tank since adopting these changes though but I'd say I'm on track for 400, maybe more. I'm very impressed.

Miles per tank is not a terribly useful number. If you go 400 miles but just got the tank closer to empty, you didn't really gain anything over going 350 and filling a little sooner. Calculate your actual miles and divide by actual gallons to completely fill your tank.

For reference, I can go over 700 miles on a tank. Doesn't mean my truck gets twice the mpgs...

[apc]

hey, you asked.

when I go a full tank, I almost always fill up about 22gallons (almost at E with three gallons left) and always had around 350miles. likewise I know where I'm usually at around the 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 marks. I monitor my mpg and this has been pretty consistent (15-16mpg combined 60/40 city/highway). but I probably won't even let this tank get past halfway as I'm anxious to fill up and see what kind of gains I've had.