Newbie From Phx AZ Eco1966F250
 

I have a 1966 F250 that is being built as a daily driver that would get much better MPG than a typical F250. In stock form with a 4.10 gear driving max of 65 mph on highway it was usually in the 10-12.5 MPG range.

The goal was to double that, which I have easily done.

But now looking for help in getting a proper front AirDam in place for starters.

I did a bunch of MPG testing but then moved on to seeing what it would do performance wise with tuning etc.

Now its back to AERO to achieve another goal in a 1/4 mile pass. I am now .037 away from a 12 second run. I was hoping I could achieve that with a bit of AERO.

Plan is to take this truck on a Lower 48 State tour in next couple years where MPG will be very important.

* IF * you can get TWO different "mappings" for the ECM (switchable: one for normal, one for economy), you can (roughly) achieve both hauling and FE goals.

Right now I have a few different tunes. A Tow tune and a Power Tune. Initially I had a great MPG tune but of course as the power was turned up the MPG dropped. Now that it's close to the power output I can start another tune. Currently running E30 fuel for a Power tune which of course lost me 5 mpg minimum. Soon I will go back to the FE tune and normal 91 octane fuel.

Most interested in Aero for the front Air Dam now as part of build.

Engine Cu In dropped from 352 to 213.

Without Air Dam



With Air Dam. Question is how much to be gained if I extend the airdam outward on each side.

It will not allow photo's until I have 5 or more posts . .

Lowering the truck will improve fe more than an air dam alone

Truck suspension has already been lowered approx 5". Simply no room to go any lower. The cab and box are also channeled down over the chassis to lower it another 4".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...4B0BD4BE4B.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...EFB18A532C.jpg

Air dam is less than 3" off ground

No more room for lowering.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...psfeb1ec45.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...psc4c03ddf.jpg

Already had to raise the box floor 6"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...23130A7C93.jpg

What's powering it?

Welcome to the site.

I agree, whats under the hood?

Its powered by a 2011 3.5L EcoBoost.

Building a 2nd truck now with same engine but this one a 2015 3.5 Eco

Undercarriage

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...B9DF24DD00.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...FA3FE4BCC1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...psbf29bd17.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...ps85f68c93.jpg

I wanted creature comforts so I installed the F150 dash also. Donor truck only had 6430 miles on it. All told these items added a lot of weight but it gave me a lot of needed stuff at no extra cost.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...54DB1E19A5.jpg

This is the 2nd truck but doing a lot to keep the weight down. Expected curb weight around 3800 lbs. That's pretty light for a F250.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...BD777F780A.jpg

Stock 1966 Restored chassis but with a few upgrades like disc brakes in front.
Using all the new 2015 & up Radiator, Condenser, cooling fans etc as its a bunch lighter.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...9A01042528.jpg

Wow. These classic ride conversions are becoming a thing suddenly. You'll keep the distressed paint, I hope?

EDIT: this is really good looking... that pic of the truck on the previous page... wheels look great too. Great job, man!

Lowered trucks are not my cup of tea, but that's an interesting project to say the least. BTW have you never considered to use a manual transmission?

Where do you put your legs?

He's using a 2011 truck as an organ donor, Ford pickups haven't had manual transmissions in them since 2008.

I don't doubt there are manuals to be had that could be connected, but what the heck, the original truck's tranny is right there. And the truck's ECU might expect to get some kind of communication to/from the transmission controller, too. It may just be easier to keep it all together.

I'm curious, is this heavier or lighter than the original '66? I wager it's gained a bit but not much over the original, but is still a pretty big weight loss against the 2011 organ donor.

The F-350 with the 6.2L V8 is still available with a manual in Mexico and Venezuela.


That makes sense.

It never crossed my mind to look at Mexican trucks. I imagine the hassle of getting one across the border would be a bridge - or a wall - too far.

And Venezuela is a whole 'nother continent.

I love these restomod projects, keeping classic appearance, or sorta-classic, while bolting in new hardware to improve the entire experience. You get engines that are both more powerful and more fuel efficient, a transmission with more than three speeds, brakes that actually stop the vehicle, and shoot, you can even upgrade the interior with factory air. You'll probably have to fab up a ventilation system that can actually hold an evaporator, but a '66 truck with air conditioning? Yes, please!

Being a budget build never did consider a manual trans as it would have been a MAJOR increase in cost to build with little to gain. As someone mentioned here there are no longer any manual trans in any ford pickup. I currently run a 6R80 6 spd so do not think it would have been a noticeable gain with a manual. ALso that would mean I would not have all the other creature comforts like Electronic Steering, Stability control, trailer sway control etc. It's very close to stock F100 ride height. Lowered is when the rockers drag the ground . . Knowing full well what the FE difference was with it being lowered some that's why I went thru all the work to channel the body down over the chassis.

We plan on taking a trip to all of the lower 48 states so wanted a bit of creature comforts. Bare metal for now but when $$ allow will do a paint job.

Wheels are custom one off's to clear the large 14" brakes.

A short video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY2VVmQtC_U

Yep, No way the PCM/ECU would work with a manual trans. A lot going on there. Truck with 50% fuel was 4250 lbs. At drag strip with full tank of fuel, me and a ballast for traction it was around 4650. Kind of heavy but a bunch less than the new F150's. Still enough power to push it to 13.036 @ 104.57 in the 1/4 mile on a hot night with poor air. 2011 donor truck was 1500 lb more

And yes I used the entire HVAC from the donor truck. Works great in such a small cab! Not to mention it was FREE. Simply the reason for a complete door truck I used everything I could to save $$. It was far cheaper to build this way than if I went back to stock components but added A/C, better brakes . .Now it drives every bit as good as a brand new truck at a fraction of the cost and performs better in every way. By the way my next project in the works Eco2 will also have a HUGE brake upgrade along with A/C.

No drama leave at idle in drive and run 13.0 with the A/C on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDIEY1vU8RY

13's pulling from idle is a really, really good run. No drama indeed.

That's a trick ride you got there.

Thanks!

Current pic

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...62DE4D519.jpeg

HUGE MPG gain with the cold air AirBox and from Airdam.

This is on E30 fuel. Once testing with E30 fuel is complete I will switch back to 91 which is prob 25+ % better MPG.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...490C0F3FE7.jpg

Beautiful display inside a gorgeous sleep ride. BTW, did you oil the old paint or clear coat it?

TKS!

Nothing on paint. Its been bare metal for about a year now.

Used Aircraft stripper then scrubbed it with scotch brite pads and PPG metal conditioner (I use it prior to primer) A few spots turning color but with another minor scotch brite scrub it will look good again. Got caught in rain 2x so far. Just wiped it down with towels when I got home.

4,700-lbs is what my 1971 Chrysler Newport with driver and full fuel weighed. The comparable Dodge Police Pursuit with V8 440 weighed somewhat more with necessary equipment and ran a 14.0 flat at 107 in the 1969 Michigan Police Trials.

4700 these days isn't heavy. A four door V6 Jeep Wrangler weighs that much without driver.

4000-lbs and 120" wheelbase are where "size" taper off the safety curve. More isn't necessarily better, but less is a greater risk.

Amazing to me that this kind of weight isn't the penalty it once was.

Sharp truck. 1966 across the board is my favorite model year, any brand.

That bare metal look is a weight savings. :) I remember reading about one guy who never, ever washed his truck, he just dumped the basin over the truck every time he changed the oil. :O Forty years later, no rust. No paint either, but no rust.

21 mpg is fantastic in a '66 truck, though I think in this case yours is more a 2011 with a much nicer body.

Start a garage page for the beast, and we can see how it does on an ongoing basis.

current 21 mpg is way down from what it gets in FE mode. Just switching to 91 Octane brings it up in the 25-26 mpg area. By switching tune and going with 91 octane I have gotten over 30 mpg.

Its currently set for total performance mode to see if it will dip into the 12's in the 1/4 mile.

That's an awesome looking truck my brother had one but with the straight six
I drove 63 D200 for a long time I wish I still had it 29mpg and would hall anything except ass