Just weighed my truck

[averagef250]

If you gear it like that; 1600 @ 70 of coarse it will go down the road, but it will drive terrible. On flat freeway I suppose a 460 will push a light truck at 1600 if you set everything up just for that. Then what happens when you hit a hill? Gonna downshift and run the engine at 3000 until you crest it? That's just stupidity. Gear it correctly for appx 2000 @ 65 if you have a newer EFI engine or 2500 @ 65 for a carb and drive it with mileage in mind and that's it, the absolute best it's going to do and still be comfortable to drive.

I'm not new to this stuff. I build parts and vehicles for people that do stuff like this, only they use modern diesel engines that are actually extremely efficient, several times moreso than a 460. Lowering cruising RPM doesn't equal better mileage. If you think it does you have completely missed the whole picture. Every internal combustion recip engine has a specific efficiency window of RPM and load. The wider that window the wider the space between gears can be. When you gear a vehicle for stupid low cruising RPM (1600 @ 70) you are far outside the engine's efficiency range in every gear shift- You cannot keep the engine in it's happy spot while accelerating, it's impossible.

In addition, a big displacement engine (460) is never going to be efficient only lightly loaded. The hardest thing for most people to grasp about using an engine that's too big for the application is how under loading effects ring life and also the engine's ability to get up to operating temperature. Do you think a "free breathing" 460 is going to get to operating temp on a 5 mile trip into town pushing a light little truck down the road? No, it won't get close to operating temp and won't see 20 MPG if you shut it off 1/3 of the way and got towed the rest.

If you want mileage use an efficient engine that meets your vehicles use requirements.

And using a double overdrive (to include a GV especially) to achieve a low cruising RPM is not efficient at all.

[Ranchero50]

Was reading about the new Shelby, 500ftlb's at 2000rpm

My Ranch doesn't mind lugging around 40mph in fifth with the long runner EFI 302.

I think the truest clue is to build your engine to where you spand 90% of your driving at and oh so many folks get this wrong. I build mine for 2300rpm and they perform that duty very well.

The wifes '02 Explorer runs very well with the driveline that's in it, 4.6l 5 speed auto (I think) and 3.73 gears.

I think the largest curse of the bumps is the poor transmissions that were put in them. A T18 and 4.11 gears will move the world, but won't do it quickly.

[Ripsnorter]

I agree ranch, I've always felt that the trannys were horrible in most trucks. As you say, they'll move the world, but not quickly.

Dustin, I think we'll just have to agree to disagree. I respect your ideas and opinions, I'm just not convinced on this.

I will say that I think you're right in the case you've presented. IF I were spending all my time at 1600 RPM and never more than that, pushing a 3000lb truck or less, yeah I can see your point.

However, our 92 extended cab F250 4x4 weighs in at around 6000lbs in everyday form that we use it. Tools in it etc, but no load on. Hardly a light truck. I'm also talking about cruising at 1600. After I've gotten up to speed and gotten onto the freeway. By the time I've gotten to cruising speed I've spent 5 to 10 minutes driving and shifting at around 2500 RPM or so. The truck is well warmed up at that point. If at 1600 I can't climb a hill, I won't shift down to 3000, that would be probably 3 gears down. I wouldn't need to shift down to more than 2000 or 2500 to climb, and that would have to be a pretty big hill.

After all, if Pontiac designed a big Bonneville to cruise at 2100 RPM on a little low torque 3.8L that didn't get to it's power band until 2500 to 4000, obviously it can be done.

Also, keep in mind that where I live just about everything is freeway driving. Geared for low RPM cruising wouldn't make a lot of sense for someone just spending a few minutes in town. There's nowhere I go that's less than 30 minutes away. Even the local podunk store is 15 minutes away.

Do I think that the 460 is just a misunderstood engine capable of being the ultimate in Gas Mileage? No. Do I think it's capable of better than what I have now? Yes.

Anyway, agree to disagree

[Ripsnorter]

Ranch, what kind of mileage do you get with that setup?

[Ranchero50]

The Ranchero with a EFI 302, 5speed and 3.50 gears around 20

The '93 Mustang same setup just heads and blower around 18

The wifes Explorer only shows 13 but it spends all it's time in town

My '71 got a solid 10mpg, thus it's been getting the Cummins swap.

My '68 Fairlane pulls 20+ when I drive it.

[69timemachine]

I weighed my truck no too long ago and it was around 3700 with no passengers and some gas in the tank. Its a F-100 shortbed, single cab, 390, C6, armstrong steering, no AC, no power brakes, aluminum intake, and aluminum wheels.

I ran mine across the digital scales at the local cotton gin since it's harvest time and they're open. Mine showed 3920 without me or any passengers and a half-tank of gas in the tank. Its a '69 F-100 shortbed, single cab, 351C with iron heads, aluminum intake, aluminum water pump, cast-iron TopLoader 4-speed, power steering, power brakes, no A/C, no radio, steel wheels, and no spare.

[ultraranger]

I have to pay property taxes on my '69 F100 Ranger but it's not much per year. Liability insurance on the truck is less than $200 a year. I have antique plates on the truck that cost me a one time fee of $11.00 bucks (do not have to renew them every year).

Arkansas does not charge fees on vehicle weight (at least not on non-commercial private vehicles). We don't have to go for emmisions testing and as of January 1998, we no longer have annual vehicle inspections, which means we don't have vehicle inspection fees.

[Mancar1]

$226. for the years registration here in Northern Ca. 1968 CS, 11 MPG sucks, but I don't own it for MPG

[CrypticRacer13]

So how an what did you all do to get this corrected by the CA DMV? im about due to pay my bill and i think its in the high $200 as is.

[chepdog1]

You need to weigh your truck at "certified" scales, make sure you tell them that its for DMV purposes, if your truck weighs less than the pink slip says you might have some savings $$$$, it has to fall under the criteria they have posted on DMV website, like under a certain poundage is $$$, when you get there make sure your tank is on almost empty, take your #100lb tailgate off (leave at home of course), spare, jack, any misc. items, the savings are huge, plus you'll save on registration fees. After weighing take certified paperwork to DMV show the zombies and hopefully enjoy a little xtra cash in your pocket.