Getting more miles to a gallon

With the price of gas going up like crazy these days [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif[/img] the cost of gas is a nightmere for those of us with daily driver early year mustangs. In the case of my mustang already a semi restro-moder I dont mind updating to more new and improved toys [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img] I have been thinking of swaping in a 1989+ 5.0 engine, and rebuilding it to improve gas mileage, with out losing tooo muchh horse power. So my question to all of you expert ford heads Is,,, what types of things in the rebuilding can improve the cash you spend at the pump, that will not give away your horse power.... Also I have wonderd about the size of the engine how it afects gas mileage,, I mean will a well built 351 get as much gas mileage as a simulary built 302??? The 351 using more gas as it runs, but it puts out more horse power alowing you to reach the speed limit with less efort??? Am I just crazy or does it realy work like that???

Thanks for any repley, Derek

rpm's are what really kill milage. The best thing you can do is put on an overdrive trans. Also keep your motor running cool.Efi save lots on milage but it is a pian to install. Also if yo rebuild a motor, try to use aluminum heads with about 9.0-1 compression or iron heads and 8-1 compression so you can use regular gas.

You dont need to go that low to run regular!!!

I run 9.8:1 in my iron headed 460, burns regular gas all day long, in 118 degree heat no less.

MY trick to mileage is to build with common sence. Nothing to crazy, or departed from stock. A slight increase in cam, to match your driving style and gears will make the biggest difference. I've not yet tested the mileage in my mustang, but whn this 460 was in my 74 F-350 with 4.11 gears and an OD tranny, I managed to get 14 mpg. When I was fully loaded, on the highway doing 90, I still knocked down 12.
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I agree, you can build a motor for mileage. I remember my 472 Cad motor and about 18 mpg. Buddy of mine just emailed me about getting 20 mpg on a road trip, 390 and 3.0 gears. Build the motor with mileage in mind, you need lots of bottom end torque, free flowing exhaust, Rv style cam, tuned carb, electronic dist, freeway gears. If you build the motor for low end torque the higher gears won't kill your performance so much.

Adding EFI is a great way to get better mileage and performance at the same time. You don't need to change the entire engine, you can retrofit EFI to your existing engine. Do a search for the Comp Cams 69 Mustang. It has 674HP with FAST EFI and gets over 22MPG.


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The best and easiest way to improve fuel mileage is to modify your driving style.

DON'T USE THE BRAKES!! [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Seriously, though.... Anytime you use the brakes, you've got to use the gas. Coast to stops. Don't run up on them, only to brake hard to a stop. You could have let off the gas way earlier and saved fuel.

If possible, drive at constant speeds. Changing the speed of the car (accelerating it) takes more fuel than keeping it at a steady pace. Every time you slow down, you have to hit the accelerator to speed back up.

Keep a steady pace and don't drive in a way that forces you to use the brakes any more than necessary.
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Mike's right i do a lot of coasting. There are a lot of car that will go around me cause i don’t accelerate as fast as they do when making the speed limit and i away try to time the lights as best as i can so as not to come to a stop. Keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure will help also. 6Front end alignment and brakes that don’t drag will all add up.
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