I have a 88 dodge ram with a 440 swap, edelbrock heads, 3.90 gears, headers, speed demon double pumper 750 carb, msd 3 wire distributor. 31 X 12.50 mud terrains, 4x4 with a 2400 stall 727 and a np203 t-case, stock cam, performer manifold, 4 inch lift in a 1/2 ton short bed.

Gets 8 in town and 9 on highway.

I just bought a 700r4 and np208, hoping to get another 3-4mpgs with a tighter stall.

I plan on doing a big write up on the swap.

 

1992 Ram 150 3.9L V6 3spd auto long wheel base - 17.9 most recent check. Wishing I had an overdrive. In case you missed it, Myth Busters did a special on tailgate down vs tailgate up. Worst case - tailgate down. Next - bed cover. Second best - tailgate up. Best - plastic tailgate net with large round holes in it.

 

BTW If you want an accurate picture of your mpg you cannot depend on one short mileage check. Keep up with all of your gas purchases for at least 1000 miles. Divide miles driven by gallons pumped. Its that simple. If you do want to check after just one tankfull divide miles driven since last fillup by total price of purchase (just the gas part, not the beer) and multiply by price per gallon. Check it 4 or 5 times and average.

 

Thanks for the info.
I knew that the tailgate up was good, read it in a magazine about 15 or 20 years ago, it was tested in a wind tunnel.
The air flow comes off the cab, goes into the bed, curls up over the tailgate then over the tailgate and curls right back and flows against the tailgate, thereby pushing the truck.
When I tell people that it is better up than down they don't believe me.
I do like running with the gate off when I plow snow, much better visibility.
Another good reason to keep the gate on is that it keeps the bed sides more stable, I don't want my bed to end up like some others where the sides are broken and flopping back and forth.
Sam

 

good mileage for a big block

 

Me? I didn't think its to bad considering my bosses 2001 360 ram gets 12 at best with a small block and overdrive, can't wait to do this sway with the 700r4. If that goes well I'll be looking in to a fuel injection kit, maybe one from FAST, they are supposed to be the best and gain another 1-2 mpgs with more low end power and throttle response.

 

One other thing to look for when checking gas mileage is whether or not your odometer is accurate. Drive ten miles down a highway (speed isn't the issue) and see if your trip meter agrees with the mile markers. If your trip meter posts 10.2 when you travel ten miles, multiply your gas mileage figure by the ratio 10/10.2. Normally, larger diameter tires will make your odometer read under and your trip meter might only show, for example, 9.5. In that case you should multiply your mileage figure by 10/9.5. You could be getting better mileage than you think if you are running oversize tires. If you have swapped rear ends, that can cause the same type problems. Checking your trip meter against the miles markers is a fairly reliable method. I have used that same ratio to determine how many teeth the speedo gear should have in order to correct the error in older model vehicles.

 

i think im getting beter gas mileage with my flatbed now but not sure about it could it have heklped any putting a flatbed on it with gas mileage and why would it have

 

1990 dodge ram 150. swb, 2wd... 17-20 town 22-25 hwy.. TBI, 318, 904 trnny........i heard that when its rust free you get better mileage.... thats probably y its so good

 

Replaced the Holley 600 on my '86 D150 318 with a boneyard QuadraJet off a '93 cash for Clunkers victim. Instantly gained 2 MPG, I'm a little over 12 now. yippee.