Trying to rehabilitate my truck from its currently areo handicapped state

[Demonic_Bloodfeind]

Ok, so I'm trying to rehabilitate my truck from its currently handicapped state into something that will not kill me on gas.
the specs are so:

Year: 1990

Make: Chevrolet

Model: C-1500

Trim: standard cab w/t (work truck)

Engine: 4.3l v-6 TBI

Trans: 3spd hydro-turbo 400

Drive train: F/R 2wd

Odometer reading: 200,xxx

Original avg mpg: 17mpg

Current avg mpg: 15mpg

Engine oil:5w-30 caster-oil edge syn W/ 1/2 quart lucas

Trans fluid: atf W/ 1/2 quart of lucas

Diff oil: ?????? (best guess is 80-90W)

Tires F: Master craft avenger g/t (P255/R70R15) 40% tread

Tires R: Good year wrangler A/T (P235/75R15) 100% tread (new)

Gas tank compacity: 40 gal

HP: 160hp

Torque (lb-ft): 235

Stock weight: 38xx

Add on's: 1990 ford camper (overlap 1" in front/ 2" in back squeezed 250-300 lbs best guess)

New parts:
heater coil/ egr solenoid/ egr valve/rear tires/ filters/ oil/ egr vacuum lines/ spark plugs/ coolant/ wipers/ spark plug wires/ egr and air cleaner gasket/ air cleaner/ trans vacuum line/ audio system/ gas cap/ R/P tail lights bulbs.

missing, broke or deleted:
a/c (disconnected)/air damn (broke/deleted)/ f/p fender (dented/ attempted to fix just ended up putting holes in it)/ interior light (deleted)/ thermostatic air cleaner valve (deleted/ because it was broke)/O2 sender (missing)

[Frank Lee]

Put a diesel and manual transmission in. Anything less is just fooling around.

[aerohead]

Do you have some photos of the beast that we can cry over?

[Demonic_Bloodfeind]

need 4 more posts

[Demonic_Bloodfeind]

3more

[Demonic_Bloodfeind]

2more

[Demonic_Bloodfeind]

1 more

[Demonic_Bloodfeind]

ok pic time


LIST OF IDEAS SO FAR: (WAITING ON FUNDS)
1) a/c-DELETE
2) air damn- REPLACE
3) f/p fender- REPLACE
4) thermostatic air cleaner valve + air heater line- FIX/ REPLACE
5) O2 sender- REPLACE
6) catalytic converter- DELETE
7) strait pipe- install
8) clean under body of truck
9) headlight covers and a grille block in one piece of acrylic plexi
10) smooth hub caps
11) seal and smooth gap between cab and bed W/ rubber/plexy glass or duct tape
12) move thinner tires to front when i get new A/T for rear
13) strip and repaint truck then wax
14) under drive pulley
15) electric fan DELETE manual fan
16) replace gaskets for timing chain cover/ oil pan/ transmission oil pan
17) 195 thermostat replacement (OEM)
18) 700r4 transmission swap


some of those are more maint. than for getting better mpg but I'm using this list to keep track of stuff i need to do to

ANY OTHER LOW COST MID-RANGE COST IDEAS OUT THERE??

[Demonic_Bloodfeind]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Put a diesel and manual transmission in. Anything less is just fooling around.

why not just buy a new truck if I'm going to do that do that working with what i have man

[brucepick]

From what I've seen in the posts here, the big gains in pickup truck aero are in dealing with the air flow from the cab roof back to the tailgate.

If you can get by without the current cap, you could

- - Easy route: cover the bed with plywood sheeting or similar. Make the panels 3-1/2 feet front-to-rear. So you can remove them and lay them in the bed when hauling something taller.

- - More thorough route: Build a cap that tapers down towards the rear. Search this Aerodynamics forum for discussions on - "pickup cap", "aero pickup", "truck". Or just scroll down through.

Cleaning up the aero underneath is also worthwhile. Working under a truck is way easier than wiggling around under a Civic up on jack stands. Count your blessings!