Just how fuel efficient can an old truck be?

First of all, I have searched on here and these mpg posts seem to always degenerate into political debate and that's NOT what I'm trying to start here.

My construction job takes me 100-ish miles a day (total) and I am currently driving a 1997 Dodge ram (5.2) with 239,000 miles on it. I carry about 200-300 lbs. of tools at any given time. Obviously, my fuel economy is not the best. My wife and I did the math this week and figured about 11 miles to thte gallon is what I'm currently getting. The truck could use a tune up, but it's old and tired and I'm ready for something new.

I'm looking at 4-cyl Toyota Tacomas right now, they'd serve my purpose but I'd love to drive something I actually like, rather than something I have to tolerate. I want to punch myself in the balls every time I think about the '59 F-250 I sold this summer, but bygones are bygones.

So what I'm wondering is, can an old work truck get 20-25 mpg? I'd love something pre-'65, I'd even consider a wagon or a suburban, as long as I could haul 4x8 sheet goods with it. Maybe an econoline? Other factors are price (I'll have 5-7 grand to work with) and time (I DO NOT need another project).

I need some guidance as to what to look for, what would best suit my needs? Let's hear your ideas, and feel free to share your work vehicles in this post as well. (Especially if you work in construction like me.)

 

its kind of funny you posted this. i was just looking through the internet trying to find a book or some info on building v8's for reliability and mileage. i couldnt find anything either. i want to hear some peoples experience on this also. i know it can make a drastic improvement (especially in old trucks) to install an overdrive tranny, and a better geared rear end. my 50 chevy pickemup is my daily driver, and im always trying to find ways to improve it or other projects.

 

E.F.I, and over-drive tran's.

 

Anything I ever drove from the '60's and 70's personally that was a truck, or van, had a 3 spd/6cyl and was built very lightly. Not as light as the toyota, or as high tech, and yet they could always beat 20 mpg in an honest day's work.
For my area's road net I always liked 'em better ie traffic and snow. Roomier too.
I guess the technical answer is force x distance effort to accelerate mass/decelerate mass = dollars per driver

 

I've debated the same thing i have a cracked up 99 ford ranger,its got a 2.5L 5spd, and gets decent mileage.I compare the weight of the ranger to the weight of my 50 shoebox and the shoebox would be very close (within 50lbs) with the 4cylinder in it.Sure its not traditional and doesn't sound cool or go fast but it'd be economical and a nice cruiser.

 

Corvair Rampside...

 

Thanks guys for the replies. I am thinking about an econoline or maybe an el camino or ranchero. Then there's the late 50's to early 60's ford and chevy trucks, too. I guess the point of this post is that I lack the practical knowledge to compare the different makes and models and was looking for some direction as well as some examples of what others in my situation would drive as far as dailys/work trucks.

I should also add that I need to drive at freeway speeds on a daily basis.

I do have a good running 305 from a 86 Caprice that I could use, I've heard that they can be peppy as well as moderately fuel efficient.

So school me, fellas...what are YOU running for a work truck? How is your mileage? What is your motor/trans combo?

I'd love to get Squirrel's opinion on this...

 

I'm in construction, I drive a 93 F150 FWD, with 160,000 mi. Its got a 302 with overdrive automatic, and I get about 11 mpg.

I carry a lot more than 300 lbs. My ladder rack, ladders and tool boxes are probably 500 lbs. Then my tools supplies etc. add a lot more than that.

My second truck is a 1990 F150 2WD that has about 330,000 mi. on it. It too has a 302 automatic in it, (the engine has about 85,000 mi on it) and it gets about 14mpg.

I've thought about getting a vintage truck, but here in NE Ohio winter salt is hell on any vehicle that's a daily driver. If you're from California or a warm climate, it's probably a more realistic situation for you.

Years ago most tradesmen I knew had six bangers in their trucks with 3 speeds. Can't say I'm too nastalgic for that-no A/C, and my left leg got WAY too tired working that clutch (I drove a Ford back then too). Don't get me wrong, I enjoy driving a clutch for pleasure, it really sucked for around town traffic-especially the '81 Econoline with the balled up column shifter.

Your situation may be more suitable for a vintage truck than mine.

 

I get 20-22 on the hwy in my '65 C-10. If I take it on a hwy trip after the first tank the milage comes up. It doesn't care if I'm loaded or not.

I have no overdrive just a turbo 400, and that's behind a moderatly built small block.

 

Not traditional, but it sounds like you need a minivan.....will do everything you need and be within your budget for a used one. And when you use it up, just throw it away and get another one.......you could paint it flat black with red wheels.

 

I just picked up a '60 f250 i might run as a daily but probably at least use it haul parts and tow a trailer. right now its a 292/4spd (granny low) with a dana 60 rear (im guessing around 4.10? havent touched it yet). It seems like it runs real well and its got a 2bbl on it so gas wont be as crazy im aimin for maybe 12-15 on the street? Then of course if i change the drivetrain i can bring it to almost 20 with any luck. All in due time.

 

My employer supplies most tools, so I don't carry much. Just my bags, and a few boxes of hand tools. Then I also carry a pancake compressor, a couple of saws, a few different nail guns, you get the idea. Just a few things in case I have sidework. Altogether not much more than a well fed passenger.

 

Uh, thanks...I think.

 

Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about! If I could get near 25 mpg it would make just as much sense to get an old truck I'd enjoy as to get a newer one that I'd hate!

Got some pics to post of the old girl? It's only a year OT for here!

 

First, I think that an Econoline or Falcon Ranchero with a 200 should easily pull 17-20mpg . If I didn't need to pull my car trailer, I'd shoot for the Falcon myself.

I live about 40 miles east of you and know about the salt munchies. My '89 F-150 300/C6 gets about 12-13 mpg. If the right deal comes along, I'll buy a '57-'66 F-100 and drive it in the winter anyway. I'm sick of having half of my cars parked for 4 months out of the year and not driving anything enjoyable.. A chassis/floorboards/cab mounts painted with POR 15 and frequent pressure washing should keep her together. If not,, there's always patch panels, welding and bondo.

Jan

 

Before you write it all off only on gas mileage, think about licensing costs. I just sold our minivan today and swapped the plate over to my 66 F250. It was $8 to swap it but when it comes due in June it will be $93. I am NOT paying that kind of money to plate a 1966 beater truck. What I might do is go ahead and get historic or YOM plates. I talked to Safariknut today and he's running YOM plates that are good for 5 or 10 years for like $50. Just not SUPPOSED to run them every day.

Insurance is another thing. You might get away with much cheaper insurance on an oldie. Add those costs, estimate your fuel costs, then divide by the miles per year. You might find out that it will pay you back to drive something with 18 mpg that is 45 years old rather than 25 and 5.

I always liked story problems.

 

A friend of mine had a 65 chev 1/2 ton with a 350hp crate 350, turbo 350 trans, and 2.75 gears in a 9", we got at least 18 mpg and still towed fine, even with the high gears. My aunt had a Elcamino with a clapped out 305 that got 22mpg. 1986-newer suburban 1/2 ton 2wd with the 700r4 seem to get way better millage than they should , 19-25mpg !! in a suburban!! I am lucky if I get 15 out of my '98 3/4 ton 4x4 chev, I had a 87 ford f150 with a 300-6 and a 5 speed that did about 20mpg, just not much for towing a car trailer over the mountains.

 

The 55 in my avatar gets 18 -20 mpg. 235 w 4 speed

 

I'd consider an early Nova wagon, if it would be large enough in the cargo area for your needs. There is one for sale right now in the for sale section that looks pretty clean, still running the ever-so-economical 194 six-banger.

Either that or a '64 -'67 El Camino, a 230-inch six in one of those is a slam-dunk for 20+ highway MPG and even moreso with a manual-trans.

 

another thing to think about is the rear end ratio. if you get an older truck chances are it will have around a 4.10 ratio, not good for highway driving or gas mileage. if you can get something with around a 3.08 ratio you'll improve you fuel mileage alot.

 

my 63 c10 gets 15-18 mpg
350 7oor4
i got the "milage master" crate motor with 315hp

 

What he said!

 

Yeah!

Link to ad for the wagon:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156394&highlight=nova+wagon

Just for comparison, my '64 Tempest (same exact chassis/vehicle weight as the '64-'67 El Camino) originally came with a 215-six (smaller bore than the Chevy 230, otherwise identical). With the stock 2-speed auto trans and 2.56 gears it averaged 20 MPG in 20% city/80% highway driving, I didn't even keep it tuned all that well. Shit, I used the big trunk on that Tempest like it was a pickup half the time!

You still can get parts for these old ultra-reliable and easy to work on engines at the local Kragen these days. Someone even gave me a complete good-running 194 for free, can't beat that.

 

Yeah I got a 1987 Suburban 4x4 350, 4spd (granny low) and it gets about 18-24. Bought the fuckin thing for work ($850) and it gets better gas mileage than my wifes 2000 Mountaineer (12-16). So yeah a decent gas mileage traditional truck is not unreasonable.

 

This Suburban Carryall is what I drove daily two years ago. 250/6 3 on the tree, got in the low 20's with it in daily use. Probably could get more on a long trip. Still got it, thinkin' about patching it up and making it all one color.

Find yourself a 63-72 Chevy halfton truck with a 6/stick and bolt in an up-to-87 rearend and front frame crossmember for disk brakes and 5 lug (that's what mine has). You should be able to buy a nice truck like that for around 3K

As an example, this blue '69 I sold at Iola about 3 or 4 years ago for $2400. It was as nice as it looks. I miss it since it looked nice and was really solid and reliable.

It had a stock later model 350 with dual exhaust and a 3 on the tree and probably got around 18.

 

there are so many options that come to my mind for a small engine with a broad enough torque curve to use and nice overdrive or tall final drive gear. for the smaller stuff I kinda like the inline 6 idea. I'm a little biased towards ford's gas inlines, chevy's small blocks and cummins' diesels.
I know you said you didn't want a project but a cool old light work truck, IMO, would have a cummins 4bt 3.9L inline 4. it's the same idea as the chevy 4.3 v6 is to the 350...the 4bt is to the 6bt 5.9L that all the industrial applications and dodge trucks use. a friend of mine has a 4bt in a '93 chevy truck, chevy 5 speed, gets 35 mpg average.
whatever you decide to go with the biggest things are going to be the trans gears and final drive ratio.
I have a TPI 305 in front of a 700r-4 in my '56 210, with 3.41 gears and pretty small, about 26" diameter tires; I average roughly 17-19mpg.

bone stock 96 gmc 1500 4x4 I had got 16-19mpg commuting.

my 7,000 lb 96 ram 2500 turbodiesel with 33" mud tires gets 15-22mpg. that varies with whether I tow, hot rod or drive normal. at 45psi boost, it's a lot of fun to drive!
they've all got the same thing in common, an OD trans. a stick can get you a little more if you don't mind rowing.

and a small v6 or 4 cylinder doesn't necessarily mean good mileage. several of my friends have newer tacomas and 'runners; 4 cyl, 6 cyl and factory supercharged v6. the supercharged v6 gets better than the N/A v6 because it's a little more efficient and is able to stay in higher gears. the 4 cyl did marginal until a size larger tires were put on. then again, with a forced induction engine, you have to drive it nicely to see the mileage, something I'm still trying to figure out how to do in my turbodiesel!


if you're thinking an el camino, look for one of the smaller sbc's (265/283/305) and a 200-4r or 700r-4. that would be really inexpensive. I'll probably get a bunch of flack for suggesting a 305 as it has a bad rep in the 'performance world'. it's nearly the same bore/stroke ratio as a stroker 350(383). it makes a fantastic low rpm mileage cruiser/commuter. especially with a TPI on it but even carb'd they're great with a simple carb, intake and free flowing exhaust/intake, all of the smog and vacuum BS aside. I'm extremely happy with mine. the TPI and tiny crane 2010 compucam make that thing lug along up any grade, converter locked up. plus it's quick enough to embarass the typical wannabe rice rocket.
worst thing about the 305 are the early 80's factory heads, pretty restrictive. ideally, the factory Vortec heads are really good, the TBI truck/camaro heads are good enough.

 

I get around that in my '98 S-10 with a 2.2 four-banger. Sad thing is that I could get about the same with a 305.

And you could put any old cab on it you wanted (within reason).

~Jason

 

I drive a 98 ram 2500 with a Cummins 12v. She's 4wd and has an automatic. I have gotten 17mpg but 15 is more the norm. The good news is I have a waste vegetable oil system installed. I have a 100 gallon tank in the bed and can go quite a way between fill-ups of free cooking oil. I would consider selling it, because I want to convert an Excursion.

 

Ditto what Greasel and superjunkman said. I have an old mercedes diesel with well over 300k on it, still runs like a top and my wife's car is a VW golf TDI, it gets 45mpg. Diesels are definitely your best bet for durability and mileage.

 

My 57 Chevy truck has a 350 crate motor with a stock Quadrajet, a 700R4, and a 350 rear gear. I got right at 28 mpg going to the HCPU and back