I remember the National competition when all the auto makers got into the mileage challenge. 318’w we’re not used. The mighty /6 was and the 170 was the champ.
Best possible mileage?
- Thread starter Clelan
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Typically it was a 273 in the V8 class. Rambler was the 6 king for many years, I believe.
Mobil Economy Run - Wikipedia
Funny thing was, I did not build it for economy, but performance.
Dig. I built this for a little more zip and expected an increase in fuel efficiency, but didn't expect a 50% increase!
It currently doesn't start with one bump of the key when it's half warm to cool anymore. It takes a little throttle to get it to ignite. We'll see where it goes from here. It still has a points ignition and stock coil.
Doesn’t start with a bump of the key?
More initial timing, limit the advance back to what you have now. More initial makes the car jump better off idle.
More initial timing, limit the advance back to what you have now. More initial makes the car jump better off idle.
Setting the optimal cruise advance was one of the changes I made with the headers, carb, head, and thermostat. I'm wondering if the BBD is just operating leaner out of the box than the original Holley 1945. The plug on the left was before the mods and on the right is now...
I should have added that after setting the timing for cruise, the idle timing went from 2 1/2 deg - factory spec to 11 deg BTC.
I've checked my odometer against a GPS and it appears to be right on. I've been getting a fairly consistent 18.5 with a mix of city and highway driving. Stock 225 with Holley 1920 and about 143K miles.
Oldiron440
Well-Known Member
My mom was the gas mileage champ, she had a 66 Belvedere ll tree speed /6, she would get in it turn the key back out of the driveway and go to work, work was les than two miles away with one stop sign that got the same treatment every time, stop first gear hafe way through the intersection the second then it was full on dash shake for five seconds or so third was soon after with the same dash shaking now she was book’n maybe 20 mph always worried about the cop at the park checking speed. She drove like that year round and for the three years she had the car before I started driving she never got less than 20 mpg and would get mid plus on the highway. Her next car was a 72 Gremlin X 6 with a 3 on the floor she averaged in the 30s with that.
my68barracuda
Well-Known Member
Cool that your mom drove a car with three pedals.
Oldiron440
Well-Known Member
The last one was a new 83 ply Horizon 1.6 4 speed after that she got herself a Park Avenue for retirement, no more shift’n.
Shifting gears can take its toll. Many repeated movements add up. I’m not sure of the ladies pay more.
Getting an automatic “Park Avenue for retirement” is a well deserved retirement gift for herself that’s is well earned.
Getting an automatic “Park Avenue for retirement” is a well deserved retirement gift for herself that’s is well earned.
I've had a few 318 Dakota's, the champ in mileage was the 93 on which I converted it to a 5 speed and added the 3rd pedal. I miss that truck!!!!!20 mpg without even trying, but that's not the only reason I miss it. I replaced that with a 92 318 Dakota (I wrecked the 93 way beyond repair) then later, my wife talked me out of fixing the trans at about 230k miles and I junked it. Another one I miss. Not quite as good on gas as the 93 but still never worse than any of the 3.9 Dakota's I have also had.(the best of which was the 90 with TBI not magnum) neither of my magnum 3.9s could ever Break 17. And were dogs on power, besides
Currently I have a 96 4wd 318 Dakota. This one is 3.91 gears rest were all 3.55. can get 17 if I'm nice to it in combo driving. Still no worse than any 3.8 and have V8 power to boot. All my 318 Dakota's have been club cabs. All my 3.9 ones except the 99 were reg cabs. The 99was club cab. I also have a 12 ram 1500 2wd reg cab Long bed . This is my 1st 4.7 ever. That one is doing 18-ish.
For mileage while the weather cooperates I have a Harley Sportster. Gets around 45-48.
Idk what my /6 truck will get, kinda anxious to find out soon as I get my new /6 swapped in and get it registered.
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I couldn’t stand my 6 cylinder in my ‘03 Dakota. No power and even worse in the summer where I had to hire a team of Gerbils to run on a wheel to help that lame *** engine move the 4X4 truck. At least the feed was cheap!
20 mpg’s with some added help. The MSD6 was a little help.
20 mpg’s with some added help. The MSD6 was a little help.
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