E body fuel economy surprise

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    Author Topic: E body fuel economy surprise  (Read 2941 times)

    Offline AMXguy

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    E body fuel economy surprise
    « on: July 08, 2008 - 01:41:22 AM »
    I never gave fuel economy a thought when I started restoring my Challenger but at todays prices it's nice to get a pleasant surprise when your car does better than you expected.

     I took my '70 Challenger R/T SE out for it's first extended drive since I finished restoring it up into my elk hunting country near home ( paved roads only of course ) and in 150 miles of driving 40-65 MPH my 440 six pack with 3.55 gears and a 4 speed got 14.3 MPG.  I have a pretty good cam and everything so I was pretty impressed, granted I wasn't getting on it too much but is this pretty common?

     I took some pretty good pictures of the car I'd post in the pic thread but I can't get them in because it says they're too big? beyond me but if someone can tell me how to fix it ,or I can email them to you and if you can post them if you know how and want to.
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    1970 R/T SE Challenger
     1970 Superbee
     1969 S code Mach 1
     1967  GTO


    Offline 1BADFISH™

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #1 on: July 08, 2008 - 01:51:16 AM »
    I must say I was surprised at how reasonable my car was on gas as well. It is easier then my 2007 F150 around town for sure. Mine is a 340 6 pack 4spd with 3:91's.  I think i'm getting around the same mileage.

    IF you wanna send me your pics I can resize them for you

    crane_david@hotmail.com   :2thumbs:
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    Dave
    Charlottetown, PE
    2014 GMC Sierra Crew Cab White Diamond edition.
    1970 Dodge Challenger 340-6 4spd.
    *Member Since* Oct 11, 2005

    Offline Chryco Psycho

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #2 on: July 08, 2008 - 02:51:36 AM »
    I consistanly get over 20 MPG with the engines I build & laugh at the econoboxes that are totally ugly & barely do better  :swaying:
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    Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

    Offline MrMopar440

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #3 on: July 08, 2008 - 03:05:15 AM »
    Chryco - I need you to buold mine! Last time I checked, I was getting like 8 mpg. That is with a lot of tinkering, idling, etc though. I hope to have a better idea after this next tank. But I doubt running at 60-80 mph with 3.55's is going to be too friendly. Oh well, that is why I drive my 93 BMW the rest of the time.
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    Offline Chryco Psycho

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #4 on: July 08, 2008 - 03:08:52 AM »
    no Problem
    I just built a 512 stroker that is getting close to 20 MPG & it is just got about 350 miles on it , it will improve
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    Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

    Offline MrMopar440

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #5 on: July 08, 2008 - 03:17:39 AM »
    OK, so what is the secret?
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    Offline Jacksboys

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #6 on: July 08, 2008 - 03:32:29 AM »
     :popcorn:
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    1971 Dodge Challenger:  360/904/3.23
       
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    Offline HP2

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #7 on: July 08, 2008 - 07:11:00 AM »
    Quote from: MrMopar440 on July 08, 2008 - 03:17:39 AM
    OK, so what is the secret?

    Cylinder pressure, quench, fuel mixture, and ignition.

    The 440 in my truck is getting 16-18 on the highway with 4:10 gears and an auto trans.In a car with a four speed it could easily be over 20 mpg. It is built with a dynamic cylinder pressure that equates to about 10.5:1, is set up with a carb that is lean in cruise, and has the ignition as dialed in as I can get it.
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    Offline MrMopar440

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #8 on: July 08, 2008 - 07:17:18 AM »
    Guess I need to do some more tinkering - At least there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel
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    Offline miketyler

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #9 on: July 08, 2008 - 07:34:49 AM »
    Dont forget tire size, weight, and rolling friction. My daily driver is an automatic G35 Infinity. It had factory 17" wheels with 225/50-17's on it. I was getting around 23MPG with this setup on the highway. I liked the 18" 350Z wheels (similar look to the 2008 Chally concept) and I put a set of them on with 255/35-18 low profile run-flats. They are just under an inch smaller, not sure on weight but the car lost about 3-4mpg as a result. The run-flats are probably a heavier tire than the 225/50 baloons I had on it previous.

    Not sure wht tires/wheels you aare running but tire size, width, assembled weight, etc can affect your mileage.   
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    72' Cuda restomod
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    Offline Carlwalski

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #10 on: July 08, 2008 - 07:36:52 AM »

    My 440ci Magnum in the 70 Challenger R/T is mild, at best, around 400hp (up around 25hp from stock). I get around 16-18mpg with driving normally. I mean overtaking (foot to the floor) and driving how I want, squealing the tires, launching hard, cruising, real world driving. I feel 20 is achievable IF I wanted, but, I will never drive THAT slow or consertively lol.

    Any car no matter who builds it won't get good mileage results when you go out for a proper blat/drive, ie:  "enthusiastically driving" in which case I'd probably get, at a guess, 12-14mpg, tops. Getting good mileage can be done when it calls for. I may just set out to get the best mpg I can one day but it's too tempting having power on demand in a classic muscle car like this lol. I have 3.91s with GV OD which run like 3.05 and 28" OD rear tires.


    :2cents: :wave:
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    1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
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    Offline IMNCARN82

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #11 on: July 08, 2008 - 07:39:13 AM »
    I can relate a bit...     The 5 speed with 3:91's lets me get to the cruises without burning up all my gas getting there.I have a bad habit right now.It's amazing how well it does puttering around.Although it's hard to drive slow.My foot is heavy. Anything helps.    14.3 is good IMO. Sounds like she's running great! And your enjoying her.  :2thumbs:
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    '73 340 5 speed,RMS,BAER,... "Supercuda" (O[   ]||||[   ]O)  
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    Offline GoodysGotaCuda

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #12 on: July 08, 2008 - 08:29:08 AM »
    If i had an overdrive gear i bet i could get high teens out of my 318 if i stayed out of the throttle....but thats no fun!
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    Offline Oldschool

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #13 on: July 08, 2008 - 08:53:30 AM »
    The Beast has 31" tires and a 4.10 gear.  2-Holley 750 dp's and a lot of horsepower.  I get around 10 mpg when driving it conservatively.    :bigsmile:  When I play with the "GO" pedal, it is much, much worse....      :misbehaving:     :walkaway:     
     :roflsmiley:    :roflsmiley:   
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    Ken  --  In Georgia

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    Offline 71bigblock

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    Re: E body fuel economy surprise
    « Reply #14 on: July 08, 2008 - 09:51:21 AM »
    16-17 average, yes, average with my 383 2 bbl.  Driving like grandma, stepping on it every once in a while.   :2thumbs:
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