Are you swapping big inch to little inch?

Big inch for smaller cubes?


  • Total voters
    24
-

dodgedifferent2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2008
Messages
3,133
Reaction score
992
Location
southwestern, Ontario
With the fuel price having doubled in the last year.

Got me thinking as I have noticed alot of stroker combos trying to be sold. Is it lower incomes or trying to find better mileage?

Are people considering pulling their big inch motors for smaller cubes for better street fuel mileage ?
 
These no reason you can't get decent mileage out of larger displacement especially if were talking similar performance, aero weight speed driving habits have a larger roll in mileage. And in a summer play toy it's hard to recoup the cost in the quest for better Mileage other than a good tune up most don't bother with the math usually it's cheaper to just live with it.
 
While we haven't had either car on the road in a very long time there is no change of plans. The 340 car will keep the 340 and the car with the transplanted 440 will keep it. I could go to a 340 in the car with the 440 as I have two of them, but there's no desire to. We do have a car that get great mileage (47 on the last trip from Fresno to Redwood City and back) that is NOT a hybrid.

We are also making plans to buy an older diesel pusher motor home. Even with today's fuel prices it will be cheaper to drive it to the kids house four hours away if we're going to stay more than one night. They do have room to park it.
 
Big inch, small inch performance motors both suck the gas. I don't see the return of investment going from big to small happening soon.
 
These no reason you can't get decent mileage out of larger displacement especially if were talking similar performance, aero weight speed driving habits have a larger roll in mileage. And in a summer play toy it's hard to recoup the cost in the quest for better Mileage other than a good tune up most don't bother with the math usually it's cheaper to just live with it.
As said in the OE post, a lot of stroker combos of rod which I can’t think of a singular stroker with a small cam and tall gear being built here yet.

“Oh yea guys! I have a 408 that gets 22 mpg with that factory dual plane and TQ! The real secret is the Isky “Mile-O-more” cam I have in there. What a broomstick!
I can’t wait to try the OD trans and 2.45 gears with my 3.15X15’s!!!!!
:rofl:

What’s decent mileage from a stock ‘70-440?
 
I built the biggest small block I could. I'm going against the grain, because f&$% it. I'll be dead someday, and I won't be thinking about the $5.00 I saved per drive on my deathbed
 
This all reminds me of all the folks that unloaded their muscle cars in 1973 during the GAS CRISIS, when gas went up to (((gasp))) 42 cents a gallon. Just to set the record straight, even at its worst gas prices have not doubled and it has come down 35 cents a gallon in the last 2 weeks.
 
I hope to see 440 6-pack RR's for 1200 bucks - gas guzzler !!! :D

I'll be a buyer !!
 
I'm thinking a 2.5 4cyl 5 speed from a Dakota would be perfect in our A-bodies! We'll show 'em !!!
 
Reminds me of an old saying from my days in engineering school (something like):
"It's more efficient to run a larger engine at low loads than a smaller engine at high loads". Within reason.
 
Last edited:
Your engine only makes the power needed at the time, eg.. say 65 hp at 70 mph, it’s gonna take a certain amount of fuel within a narrow range to do so, how efficient your engine is making 65 hp at cruising speed is what matters.
 
Your engine only makes the power needed at the time, eg.. say 65 hp at 70 mph, it’s gonna take a certain amount of fuel within a narrow range to do so, how efficient your engine is making 65 hp at cruising speed is what matters.
""At 60 mph, a typical car needs 10 to 20 horsepower simply to maintain its speed. That energy level is needed to overcome wind resistance and the rolling resistance in the tires.""
 
I’m helping my Dad convert his hot 440 / auto 1970 Cuda to a 360 magnum short block topped with X-heads and a 6 barrel drive brake and Fi Tech carbs. Also, I’m giving him the Tremec 5 speed that is in my Cuda.

He drove a 1970 Cuda 340 / 4 speed when he was in H.S. in 1971. He just wants his car to be more like that one. He’s in his 70’s and isn’t concerned with the big power that the 440 makes. The price of gas isn’t the main driver. He wants a milder engine. If his 440 was OEM specs and had highway gears he may have not really had the urge.
 
Smoke crack- it makes you feel like your driving a big block 4:56 geared monster but your really just sitting still.
Lol! That’s one way to save fuel.
Side note: don’t do crack, you may forget your laptop with really important stuff on it.
 
While we haven't had either car on the road in a very long time there is no change of plans. The 340 car will keep the 340 and the car with the transplanted 440 will keep it. I could go to a 340 in the car with the 440 as I have two of them, but there's no desire to. We do have a car that get great mileage (47 on the last trip from Fresno to Redwood City and back) that is NOT a hybrid.

We are also making plans to buy an older diesel pusher motor home. Even with today's fuel prices it will be cheaper to drive it to the kids house four hours away if we're going to stay more than one night. They do have room to park it.
 
What car give you 47 MPG?

Hyundai. I believe his is a hybrid. My auto diesel TDI wagon gets 42 and my wife's manual TDI wagon has gotten 52.

I live in Forest Service housing and it's right next to the fire station I work at so my commutes to work are measured in calories per mile.
 
Hyundai. I believe his is a hybrid. My auto diesel TDI wagon gets 42 and my wife's manual TDI wagon has gotten 52.

I live in Forest Service housing and it's right next to the fire station I work at so my commutes to work are measured in calories per mile.

Hyundai, yes. Hybrid, no. It's a 2020 Elantra ECO with a turbocharged 1.4 that makes about 135hp. Typical highway mileage is in the low 40s. I had no desire to pay the premium for a bank of batteries or for the future replacement cost. We also got a smokin' deal on this car new, roughly 25% off sticker...one of those one at this price sort of things.
 
As to fuel mileage, yeah, I like decent fuel mileage but it isn't going to kill me. Still planning a big stroker build for one of my rides.

Just to set the record straight, even at its worst gas prices have not doubled and it has come down 35 cents a gallon in the last 2 weeks.
Just to set the record straight, we were at about $2.20 a gallon before everything went stupid and then it jumped to as high as $4.99. That is more than double. Yup, it's come down a bit but we're still around $4.50 a gallon right now which is still over double!
 
Here's my economy engine. When a 273 is too big, go for a 241 cube Hemi. :lol::lol:

241 red ram.jpg
 
I am building a 170 to replace my 225.
And I have started racing 1/8 mile to save on each pass!
 
-
Back
Top