+2 Topdog is the Topdog on this subject....If you really want to increase the fuel mileage of the D....Keep the ignition key in the kitchen. Besides that go back to the basics...proper tune up, tire pressure, spark plugs, air filter etc......keep extra stuff out of the D until you need it. I am sure that is easier said than done, because what is necessary is subjective. One thing that is common that should not be subjective is the spare tire. That no matter what needs to stay.

 

+1

You have a big motor and thus comes big gas usage.

 

Your slipping Hydra, get back to your two uncles I was +2 you are +3

 

Give him a break.. im sure he was distracted by uncle jack or uncle morgan when he was posting....

 

if you are looking to remove the a/c they make a belt so you dont need the by pass you dont need any other bs its just is shorter. and as for weight reduction unless your going to go with fiber glass body panels your not going to lose enought to make any differance. i you get a taller gear and lose the power.

 

And you will use more gas when i bought my Durango i did my homework i knew how much gas i was going to eat he should have got a car if he wanted gas mileage i get 14-15 city and 17-18 highway and im fine with those numbers

 

I dumped a TON of useless weight.... called it an "ex-wife"!



Of course then I just went out and got another one to replace her.

Bob

 

But have you ever changed a belt making a bold comment like that? What would you rather do..?

Loosen the belt tensioner, take off the old belt and remove the A/C Compressor with open bolt holes exposed asking for debris to get in them, buy a new belt for $45 and then when you want your A/C Compressor back on you get another $45 belt and have to replace the belt all over again. All in all the total cost is around $90 and an hour of your time...

OR

Loosen the belt tensioner and just pull the belt off the A/C Compressor pulley, take off the A/C Compressor and put the $25 bypass pulley bolted onto the block and just loop the existing belt onto the bypass pulley and when you want your A/C back you just remove the bypass pulley and put the A/C compressor in and just loop the existing belt around the pulley. All in all the total cost is about $25 and takes 10 minutes of your time...

Please don't question my experience ever again, because I've been thru all the "other solutions" and they end up being a waste of time and money. I owned a shop of mine for 9 years so I know what is the best way for people to save their money in the long run. Buying a shorter belt is simply not a cheap alternative it's just another way of doing things.

If you think replacing a belt is much easier than replacing 3 bolts, you my friend have never replaced a belt.

HAHAHA! So true!!!

 

Simple realy, remove most of your heavy body panels and replace them with aluminum foil, remove four spark plug leads and disable the injectors on those cylinders, then you would almost have a Hyundia .
Even better, just buy a small 4banger, and put Durango badges on it, cos thats the only way yer ever gonna get good mpg out of a D.

 

LOL this thread has gone the direction I completely figured it would so I'm going to end with saying this...

You take the body off the frame and slappa da 3.9 V6 under the hood and put a seat on the frame. Badda bing badda boom you got instantly better fuel economy.