Miles per gallon

[BigBrother-84]

Hey!  Post the pict here!  Wanna see the Deux Chevaux too!

[66gtk]

This?

[Gary Lewis]

That's the one!

When we lived in the UK I test-drove a couple of those thinking I might buy one for driving to/from the train station.  But, since it was only a bit over a mile to the station I didn't.  But I still have a soft spot in my heart for them.

A few years ago I was sitting in traffic with the windows down and heard a familiar sound, sorta like a lawnmower approaching.  Sure enough, a 2CV drove past.  

But those things are few, and far between over here.

[Machspeed]

Absolutely love that truck....one of my favorites on our website here. Wouldn't change a thing on it either.

[BigBrother-84]

Gary Lewis wrote

When we lived in the UK I test-drove a couple of those

Was you, Gary?

[Gary Lewis]

LOL!  Well, that isn't very representative of what I found.  First, the suspension is so soft that even pot holes don't bounce you.  It felt like rubber bands were used for springs, and what I read said the suspension was designed for traversing plowed fields.  

Second, the brakes couldn't possibly cause you to hit your head.  They are probably adequate for the speeds they designed the vehicle to hit, which isn't very fast.

But, with the shift lever coming out of the dash and having a bizarre pattern I guess it is possible that the driver hit Reverse?  

[BigBrother-84]

Gary Lewis wrote

with the shift lever coming out of the dash and having a bizarre pattern I guess it is possible that the driver hit Reverse?

[BigBrother-84]

Gary Lewis wrote

Dad said his truck, a 4wd F150 w/a 351M/C6 and 3.50 gears always got 10, or 10, and sometimes 10.  

Gary, these are of words of wisdom, for sure.  Your dad was a sage.
That was Big Brother's usual score.

Anyway, this spring I swapped the original carb for a new Holly one.
The OEM one was working bad, idle problems, choke issue, stuck adjustments.

And I was secretly hoping that I could get better mpg ratings...


Today was the first real long ride for Big Bro, since the beginning of its restoration in December 2019.  I forgot my laptop at our chalet last weekend, so I decided to give our farm boy a ride, 250 miles of highway, country roads and some city driving.

Big Bro was really happy.
And me too, of course.




Got 12,6 mpg.  I am satisfied.

But honestly, I remain deeply perplexed about old days Ford ads, claiming that these aerodynamically designed beauties - they can even fly  - could do between 18-23 mpg epa and 24-33 hwy.






I know, I know, they offered a fuel economy package, and I have to admit that Big Brother has a lot in common with a tank, weights 9300lb, has a 351W 4V, is 4x4 geared 4,10 with manual T18 four speeds.

Frankly, is it enough to explain these huge differences?

[Gary Lewis]

Big Brother actually weighs 9300?  Or, more likely, he has a 9300 GVWR?

Big Blue has an 8600 GVWR and weighs about 6600 lbs with fuel, recovery gear, and all the trimmings but no passengers or luggage.  So I’m doubting that your truck actually weighs 9300.

The point is that some of these trucks weigh as low as 3800 lbs, and that can make a tremendous difference in the amount of fuel required to propel them. Plus some of the engines are known for economy, like the 300 six, and some are known for the opposite, like the 460. And there are transmissions that are known for economy, like the ones with OD, and those that are the opposite, like the C6.

So if you take all of those things together, meaning a very light truck with the 300 six and OD transmission you can get the MPG shown in those adverts. David/1986F150Six routinely got 20+ with his.

[BigBrother-84]

Oooooops!

My memory was much too enthusiastic, LOL!

Gary you're absolutely right, this is the GVWR.

Big Brothers weights 5300lb, so we weight bit more than 5500lb.

Around 6000lb when fully fueled.

Let's edit and say that BigBrother is simply heavy.

[1986F150Six]

BigBrother-84 wrote

Oooooops!


Let's edit and say that BigBrother is simply heavy.

This jogged my memory and I thought some of you older guys would enjoy this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl5vi9ir49g

[BigBrother-84]

1986F150Six wrote

This jogged my memory and I thought some of you older guys would enjoy this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl5vi9ir49g

OMG!


Holly, Big Brother, heavy...  All there!

[rcarlisle]

I was getting 10 with 302, M5OD, guessing 3.55 gears.  AC was terrible noisy and shaking all over.  Thought the compressor was going bad.  Took it to my guy.  He kept it a half hour, called me and said there were 3 bolts missing from under side of compressor and he replaced those.  

Now I get 11.  Go figure.  Belts not fighting the pulleys, I guess?

[1986F150Six]

rcarlisle wrote

I was getting 10 with 302, M5OD, guessing 3.55 gears.  AC was terrible noisy and shaking all over.  Thought the compressor was going bad.  Took it to my guy.  He kept it a half hour, called me and said there were 3 bolts missing from under side of compressor and he replaced those.  

Now I get 11.  Go figure.  Belts not fighting the pulleys, I guess?

That is a 10% improvement!

[JimJam300]

Gary Lewis wrote

The point is that some of these trucks weigh as low as 3800 lbs

Same weight as the 1990 Ranger 4x4 I used to have

[BigBrother-84]

tcbaklash wrote

Gary Lewis wrote

The point is that some of these trucks weigh as low as 3800 lbs

Same weight as the 1990 Ranger 4x4 I used to have

For that weight, I suppose there is a lot of optional items for a Bullnose...  The interior panels? The seats? The bed?  Maybe the cabin too?
Sure it has a super good mpg score.

[rcarlisle]

And seems to indicate that there may be some free extra mileage by just getting everything working properly?  

1986F150Six wrote

That is a 10% improvement!

[mat in tn]

randy i thought about you yesterday while driving through "mayberry". i had not seen you post in a while. how is the truck coming along aside from the missing bolts?

[rcarlisle]

Hey Mat, and everyone else, too.  Since I lost my job back in April, I don't have computer access like I did.  And I've been so much busier, I don't have as much time to look around any of my forums.  Crazy, eh?  Lol

I have to use my phone or tablet, which are more aggravating to me.

I'm remodeling my step dad's house.  That has been a 2 month project, with probably another month to go.  And I want to build a deck at home before it gets too cold.  So, yeah, I'm busier that when I had a "real" job.

And my truck has become a real work truck.  It is handling that just fine of course.

[BigBrother-84]

Gary Lewis wrote

Big Brother actually weighs 9300?  Or, more likely, he has a 9300 GVWR?

Gary, my local junk yard has a weighing station.  Today (while buying a radiator) the owner accepted to freely weight Big Brother.

Empty truck, fully fueled (curb weight) = 5533 lbs.

Note that Big Bro doesn't carry accessories, no A/C, no electrical windows, just one 19 gallons tank, very basic truck.