I decided to make a thread for my RC so I dont have to make a new one every time I need help and clutter the forum.

First of all though, I could use some advice. I need to get better MPG one way or another, this 12 mpg (im guessing here, odometer is way off but its definetly worse than the 14 I got in my other RC) in a DD business is really taxing the wallet. So here's kind of what I thought for options.
1. Engine/Transmission mods
I could keep the RC and do some work on it like take the big cam out for a low/mid range one with better TQ and idle, maybe go down from the 750 carb, and put in an OD tranny. Wouldnt be too expensive, it would still need alot of interior work, and im not sure how far it would get me mpg wise. 16 maybe?

2. Diesel swap
This one would be ideal. I can get an intercooled '91 w250 with the 46rh tranny for probably $500-$800 (engine is gone and the body is shot), then find a complete 12v for $1200-$1600. It would be the most time/labour intensive as Id swap the entire drive train (springs,diffs,t-case,etc.),get a fuel tank and lines,do exhaust,etc. Itd be awesome to have a cummins in an RC, and according to the internet (it never lies,right?) 20-24ish mpg should be possible. Again interior work would be needed as well as room for the swap. I could sell the gasser driveline and recoup some of the expense.

3. Buy a newer truck.
For this Id be looking at a '90s dodge or chev, it would have to be an extended cab (got a baby in a rear facing carseat to consider now),4x4 and stick prefered. If I could find a v6 or a small v8 id be looking at around 18-20mpg, even if its a 350 they can get about 18 with TBI and OD. I dont think id consider a 360 as it sounds like they only get about 16 with OD.

I hope you guys can chime in with some experience/advice here for money/time involved. 19 year old first year heavy duty apprentice whos young, dumb,and foolish right

 

you got a 750cfm carb on a 360? that is most likely one of your biggest problems. i think anything bigger than a 500cfm carb on a 360 is a waste.
http://ramchargercentral.com/technic...56/#msg1764656

 

Thats an interesting read. From the sounds of it, the carb could be part of my bog too then? If I romp on it going on the highway, sure she'll get up to 4k but she doesnt pick up as fast as Id think she should.Same with going up the couple big hills on my way to work, I can lay into her good but its an effort to hold 90km,down from 110. It feels like the powers there, but being wasted almost. I thought it was probably the torque converter, maybe that and the carb? Its sure nothing like my dads '81 chev with a 350/435 trans. 100 at the bottom of the hill,120 at the top no sweat. All stock.

 

if you where to enter all your trucks info into a carb selector it would have told you a 750 was too big even for a modified 360.
straight from the holley website
HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT CARBURETOR SIZE
http://www.holley.com/data/TechServi...Carburetor.pdf

 

24mpg out on a 1st gen (VE44 pumped) 12 valve is not hard. Many guys get over 25, up to 28. I have driven an '89 Ramcharger with a 400 hp single turbo Cummins in it with a 5spd on 37's, it was fun to drive. The short wheelbase made for some interesting side effects to the torque (as opposed to my club cab long bed), but I could get used to it. I vote that approach.

 

I vote for a D swap but if you want to remain on the cheap, buy an edlebrock carby in 500cfm or under, change out the cam to a more mild cam, do headers and Y pipe and free flow cats (if needed!) and mufflers, dual exhaust, and get a quality aluminum manifold that fits the rpm design the cam does. I would think all this would get you into the 16 range if that is enough. Although, one of the best ways to get better mileage, is shave weight too, take as mush weight out for a DD until you need all the stuff we seem to want to carry in our trucks. Shoot, I could take 75lbs out of my truck today and never miss it unless I had to work on something on the side of the road.

 

Im looking to get about 18 if I can, I think that might be a reasonable goal, for highway anyways. One of the big things holding me back is interior work on it. It pretty loud in the cab I dont mind when its just me, I turn the stereo up haha. Makes it hard to hold a convo with my girl though. For relatively cheap/easy sound deadening, how would a layer of insulated carpet/mat or a similar product work? Right now its just a thin vinyl mat on steel.

 

You can get that spray in sound deadening stuff for the floors and it works well, although it does linger a bit smell wise after you spray it in unless the temp is over about 65 degrees. Then do carpet pad and good carpet and it should quiet down considerably.

 

If you put true dual exhaust on, cut the cats off, cut off the smog pump belt (some RCs had them, some didn't), get a K&N air filter (not the whole intake, just the circular filter), and ease off on the acceleration, you should DOUBLE your fuel mileage. I did all this to my 1991 RC and I get 18-24mpg (I used to get 8-12). Doing everything I said I did only cost about $315. I have saved over $1500 in gas since I did all of that about 10 months ago.

 

I WISH I lived in an area where I could do that! Here in the county I live in, we have to pass SMOG. And what really erks me out is I live about half a mile from the border of the next county where you have never had to pass smog and never will since the population will never rise enough for them to have to pass SMOG.