Bang Shift Approved Economy Car?

[Bob Holmes]

I've thought about building one of my extra 2.3 T engines up as a mileage motor. I'm getting around 20-21 mpg in the SVO on my 70 mile round trip commute that is mostly freeway stop and go. I'd shave the head to get to 9.5-10:1 CR, put on an IHI turbo that I can get for about a $100 used (although I currently own one, I put the number in there for informational purposes) and then blow on it not more than 4 to 5 psi. Then gear it appropriately. It'd be a great stop light to stop light car, but no top end to speak of. It ought to sip like a humming bird at cruise on the highway. Stick it in a lightweight early two door sedan fox body and it should be gold. The coupe is lighter and stiffer than the hatchback.

Alternatively, buy the early NA 5 speed fox body (fox body 4 cylinder autos were about the slowest Mustangs ever made) and GENTLY blow on it and you could have some fun. If you can find an early carbed 4 cylinder turbo set up, it should be easy. Otherwise you'd probably need to do a Mega squirt set up to control the fuel and timing.

[throttle monkey]

How about a used Mercedes-Benz C-class. Alot are 4cyl, comfortable, they are RWD! 6 spd stick or a 5spd auto. The 6cyl is probably decent of fuel to.

[milner351]

Not a bad idea to give your current ride a tune up - and also check things like alignment, tire pressure, brake drag, etc to help get the best mileage from it you can. Going slower will certainly help as well, but that's easier said than done some times!

[Russell]

I've thought about building one of my extra 2.3 T engines up as a mileage motor. I'm getting around 20-21 mpg in the SVO on my 70 mile round trip commute that is mostly freeway stop and go. I'd shave the head to get to 9.5-10:1 CR, put on an IHI turbo that I can get for about a $100 used (although I currently own one, I put the number in there for informational purposes) and then blow on it not more than 4 to 5 psi. Then gear it appropriately. It'd be a great stop light to stop light car, but no top end to speak of. It ought to sip like a humming bird at cruise on the highway. Stick it in a lightweight early two door sedan fox body and it should be gold. The coupe is lighter and stiffer than the hatchback.

Alternatively, buy the early NA 5 speed fox body (fox body 4 cylinder autos were about the slowest Mustangs ever made) and GENTLY blow on it and you could have some fun. If you can find an early carbed 4 cylinder turbo set up, it should be easy. Otherwise you'd probably need to do a Mega squirt set up to control the fuel and timing.

Bob How much do you think this is worth? He said the exhaust is leaking between the head and the manifold http://greensboro.craigslist.org/cto/2278815887.html

I had one a few years back it was a POS w/ and auto never did run right. It normally got low to mid 20's I did get 27mpg one time when I was trying to see how good I could get it.

[Russell]

199.7 miles / 8.7 gallons = 22.95 mpg or $32.70 / 2days = $16.35 per day. Maybe with a little luck I can get it up to 25mpg. You know any tips or tricks other than tune up, change to synthetic oil, pump the tire up a little more. Does anybody make fender skits for a fox body ;)

[1trickpony]

I have read somewhere that adding an air dam off of a Ranger helps. Don't know what years for sure.

[1badmonkey]

You got it worse than I do. Never said I was going to mover closer but may depends on where I can find a house that I can build a shop, Right now I think trying to get the mileage up on the 5.0 is best. I might keep my eyes open for a $500 escort. I wonder what my SC will get for mileage hopefully it will be up DD standard in a week or two



assuming gets me every time!!!

[Bob Holmes]

Turbo Coupes can be pretty cool. I'd offer him $750, on the condition that you're allowed to do a compression check and can determine if the leak is between the turbo and manifold, or head and manifold. Both easy fixes, in fact a lot of folks run without gaskets on either place. If its a cracked manifold, which is not unusual, offer him less.

[Russell]

Turbo Coupes can be pretty cool. I'd offer him $750, on the condition that you're allowed to do a compression check and can determine if the leak is between the turbo and manifold, or head and manifold. Both easy fixes, in fact a lot of folks run without gaskets on either place. If its a cracked manifold, which is not unusual, offer him less.

I asked him if he would take $500 he wrote back, "800 no less" i don't own a compression gauge, what's the best type to get? One that screws in with a hose attached. What should it be? Around 100, all within 10%

[Mater]

i get 30+ out of my lebaron convert and it has the craptastic 3.0 v6 and a604 autotragic. a turbo 4 5 speed would get better milage and have more power

[Russell]

i get 30+ out of my lebaron convert and it has the craptastic 3.0 v6 and a604 autotragic. a turbo 4 5 speed would get better milage and have more power

You might like this? I think I would rather have the TC

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/cto/2338695346.html

1986 Shelby Charger Turbo - $1500 (Burlington, NC)

[Beagle]

2011 Ford Mustang V6 - if Economy means 30+ mpg and 300+ hp in RWD.

[Beagle]

Sorry - I call BS on the ranger getting that kind of mileage unless he's using some serious "hiper miler" techniques and has done some modifications - aero on most trucks sucks bad - does he have a cab height cap? Tonneau cover?

I can see it at 55-65 mph very easily. There are a lot of guys running rangers and s10's around here claiming 30. The new Ranger is claiming 27 hwy with then new "more real" EPA estimates. I've seen 32.8 out of my Escape and it's almost the same ugly brick moving through the wind.

I had an '88 S10 4.3 700r4 whatever the helll they put behind it, 3.42's iirc and 215/65/15 that would pull 25-26 with my mom driving it. I'd get 23-24 pretty regular with it at 70 ish. If you slow down to 60 it would go up a TON.

the '95 Lightning - 10% improvement with a improvised bed cover test. Went from typical 15 to 16.5.

The lips sticking off the end of the tailgates these days are an aero trick, and I think are worth something. I'd be curious to see what pulling them off did to mpg. The cabs are designed to bounce the air out of the middle of the bed and over the tailgate which is why running tailgate down doesn't do much for you with a modern truck. Or so I've been led to believe. I didn't notice any difference up or down with my 2000 lightning.

[milner351]

I can see it at 55-65 mph very easily. There are a lot of guys running rangers and s10's around here claiming 30. The new Ranger is claiming 27 hwy with then new "more real" EPA estimates. I've seen 32.8 out of my Escape and it's almost the same ugly brick moving through the wind.

I had an '88 S10 4.3 700r4 whatever the helll they put behind it, 3.42's iirc and 215/65/15 that would pull 25-26 with my mom driving it. I'd get 23-24 pretty regular with it at 70 ish. If you slow down to 60 it would go up a TON.

absolutely - highway speed has a huge impact on fuel economy - more so with not so aerodynamic vehicles. New escapes with the 6 speed transmissions get 30mpg all day long at 70, earlier 4 speed versions not so much.

If you get a small pick up in search of mileage - find a cap height cap to put over the bed - not a super tall one - they are the best for aero, a tonneau helps, but a cap is better.

[Bob Holmes]

Yes, you want a screw in. Make sure you have one with an extended tip, the 2.3 doesn't start the spark plug threads at the top of the hole, so if you don't have the extended tip, you won't be able to screw it in.

I think the last time I did mine, it was in the 120-130 range. But its been a while. Yes, all within 10%. It'll be obvious if its got a blown head gasket.

These things are anvils, but the head gaskets will go if they are being abused. Also, the most common problem is a cracked exhaust valve seat. Unfortunately you can't really figure that one out with out pulling the head. Although, when you pull the plugs, if they look like they'er rusty or they have pitting around the engine side of the threads, that's a sign. I'm nursing a couple of those issues on the DD '86 right now while I put together another engine.