As good as it gets...MPG?

[EEVW]

Well I guess my 11 mpg is the best I'm gonna get on my 88 GW unless someone else has any suggestions. Below are all the changes done on the Wagon.

Rebuilt Jasper 360 ( with distributor) 11/99
Edelbrock Manifol& Carb..non EGR 3/2000
Rod and Jet Change ( lean mode) 8/2000
K&N Filter 3/2000
New Champion Plugs& 7mm wireset 7/2000
New Ignition module ( Pep Boys stock) 3/2000
New Tires
Tranny Rebuild 4/2000

I've got a ton of money in this baby, it runs great except for rattles and squeaks, pulls a
5,000 lb boat and trailer like a champ; but what I ould give to get to the "teens" in mpg ( 13 or 14).

One other odd item, I've monkeying with the carb jets, rods, float level and idele mixture screws this month to
get a leaner mixture, don't know if I've accomplished anything except now it doesn't want to start unless I pump the pedal and turn the starter for several seconds.

Anything else I can do???

Regards...Steve VW

[joe]

Steve, I'd bring the carb back to stock settings, jets, float level etc and then tune it with a tach or vac gauge. You shouldn't have to lean out a stock Edelbrock especially since you're running a low restriction K&N filter. That alone will lean the mix out somewhat by allowing more air into the carb.
I'd also go over "all" your vacuum lines checking for leaks. You're not going to get much better than 12/13 mpg or so running a 4v carb.
-joe

[Narnian]

Couple of quick comments for ya. My 81 without a cat got 14 mpg. As soon as I stuck the cat on there for emmissions, it dropped to 12 mpg. Supposedly, putting on fuel injection will get you at minimum .5 mpg, at maximum 3 mpg more. I spoke to one guy who told me it added 1 mpg to his 360 GW.

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81 Laredo, 86 Corvette
Beats me what's in the 81! (OK OK, 360 w/Edelbrock, 219, 3.31, 33's, no fuzzy dice)

[JERRY88GW]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Edelbrock Manifol& Carb..non EGR 3/2000<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm about to do the same. I'm curious, did you use the same air filter/housing?

I know this doesn't have anything to do with this topic, hope you don't mind.

[EEVW]

Jerry:

I replaced the original air filter housing and filter witha K&N and the housing by K&N,
you know chrome on top and bottom...open on the sides.

I just went back to the closed unit with the K&N, its quiet. Don't hear the carb sucking in the air as much. Will wait to see if mpg changes, but I doubt I much improvement anyway the other way.

[Marsh Mountain]

With a bone-stock 87 GW, commutting in rush-hour traffic in NY, flying down the Taconic Parkway at between 65-80mph, I get 12-13mpg. Champion 7mm wires, recent plugs, low-test gas, etc. (The cat has been "temporarily" eliminated for "testing"). At lower speeds on the highway, I get about 10-11mpg. The 12-13mpg is commuting mileage, stictly high-speed highway driving.

[Teach]

Try putting a MSD or Jacobs ignition system on it. It may not be much for your gas mileage, but it sure helps with the power.

[Brenton]

Ever consider a High-Flow system or dual exhaust? As I understand it, this is a good conversion that'll buy you power and fuel economy. The better she breathes, the more efficient she runs. That's why the CAT killed the MPG. It suffocates even the best of 'em. Fuel injection is the other biggie, and the FAT spark off an MSD Ignition is supposed to burn the fuel more thoroughly.

There's an item from JCWhitney that I've kinda had an eye on. Seems kinda silly, but the price might be right to try it out, nonetheless. It's a little magnetic thing that wraps or attaches around your fuel line. It's supposed to increase fuel atomization, and allow for more efficient burning of the fuel. Supposedly it separates the carbon atoms, or alines them, or talks dirty to 'em. Looks and smells like it's been in tons of info-mercials nationwide. Is anybody man enough to admit having tried it? And what were your results? Heck, if we all stick around long enough - I might give a report on it myself http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~zeimet/ubb/wink.gif.

Brenton

[scotty]

youll have to modify the warp coils to omit a tachion pulse-if the phase shift is correct then,and only then,will you get 15+mpg with a carb!

i for one would be really pissed off if i added a port fuel injection system and only gained 1 mpg! my camaro jumped from 9-10 to 20+ with a newer model engine and a crude throttle body injection. sure a camaro is more aerodynamic,but heck-3mpg!? its got to get better than that.

i have no idea what mileage the grand wag gets. the speedo has never worked,and would be way off anyway with 38 inch tires. also i wouldnt get an accurate measurement out of a tank- id have to drive x miles,fill it and check it. i waset alot of gas idling in the woods without adding miles,so that would bring it way down...

my new j20got about 11 with a rich running 500 cfm holley 2bbl. i just swapped on another motorcraft,which sees to be getting much better mileage. will report back after change the plugs and go over the vaccum lines and caps.



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scott
85 grand wagoneer
258 with motorcraft 2bbl/904/twin stick dana 300/dana 44/welded amc 20
38x15.5 gumbo mudders
snorkel/dual batteries/onboard air/"custom" convertable
3 inch body lift/mostly stock suspension/"modified" fender openings
custom front/rear bumpers and brushgaurd

possible small block chevy "test" swap in near future

[joe]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brenton:

There's an item from JCWhitney that I've kinda had an eye on. Seems kinda silly, but the price might be right to try it out, nonetheless. It's a little magnetic thing that wraps or attaches around your fuel line. It's supposed to increase fuel atomization, and allow for more efficient burning of the fuel. Supposedly it separates the carbon atoms, or alines them, or talks dirty to 'em. Looks and smells like it's been in tons of info-mercials nationwide. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yikes Brenton...cow magnets are alive and well in Montana http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~zeimet/ubb/smile.gif
That started back in the late 70's I believe around MT/ID where some good ole boys taped a couple of cow magnets to the fuel line and it was supposed to line up the electrons or some such. I used to work a lot in MT/ID and actually met a couple of folks that did it. Years later some scam artist re-invented the cow magnet by making a plastic box with a magnet in it that fit on the fuel line.
"It's a scam!"
I had no idea those things were still even being sold, haven't seen one in 20 years.
Ya gotta love JC Whipme...I suppose it's listed on the same page with the 300 mpg carburator or the 800 piece tool set for $29.95 http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~zeimet/ubb/smile.gif
-joe

[Ralph]

I get around 14.5 mpg on the highway. It's been less from time to time, and except for the Edelbrock and high-flow exhaust sytem (cat converter included) I'm running bone stock. Even the headers didn't make much of a difference, except that my old cat converter was badly clogged.

Also, I have 2.72:1 axles. I had a Holley manifold and Carter 625 AFB on for a while, but that didn't make any difference on the highway. I'm thinking about going with a 500 cfm carb in the future. Also, I'm sure a better ignition system would help, but I've got other projects first like the rear springs, gas tank skid plate, steering components, etc.

[This message has been edited by Ralph (edited August 26, 2000).]

[Brazzy]

OK I admit it I bought one of those little magnetic gizmos from Mr Whitney http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~zeimet/ubb/tongue.gif I installed it before really checking the guzzly capability of my rig so I cant really say it does any thing fer sure. I do get 11-12 in city and 13-15 hwy bone stock with cat absoutly no hesitation and have excellent power considering the miles.

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Brazzy
Formerly abused 87 G.W. 162k stock
TOW,PKG,727,229,360
The Chariot

[Narnian]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brenton:

There's an item from JCWhitney that I've kinda had an eye on. . .

Brenton<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If I'm not mistaken, they've gotten into a little hot water over this scam in Ohio. I'm pretty Ohio has tested a bunch of these gas saving gimmicks as part of a legal battle for the consumer protection agency and found them all to be nonsense.

But don't feel bad, I've bought a few bridges in my day.

[Narnian]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by scotty:

i for one would be really pissed off if i added a port fuel injection system and only gained 1 mpg!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The Holley is not port, it is throttle body. 3 mpg does seem like a major disappointment, but if you drive 15,000 miles a year and your mileage goes from 12 mpg -&gt; 15 mpg, you will save $375/year. That means that the unit will pay for itself AND be way cooler to drive! (Unless you R Scotty and have a Jeep submarine!) (Sensors don't like getting wet, as Scotty pointed out to me)

[Ralph]

Speaking of JC Whipme, has anyone tried that "tornado" device they sell? It seems like a good idea...

[Brazzy]

Speaking of the tornado device, I tried to buy that bit of snake oil, but they told me they no longer sold it. ?? That was almost a year ago, its still in thier adds. I ordered it at the same time as the cow magnet, guess the didn't want me sending back the item cause the combined fuel savings weren't up to the claims???

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Brazzy
Formerly abused 87 G.W. 162k stock
TOW,PKG,727,229,360
The Chariot