<VV> Advice needed: mods for best fuel mileage

[FrankCB at aol.com]

Tom,
    Despite what others may say, I wouldn't recommend  changing to a lower 
compression ratio heads to gain fuel mileage.  Since  premium fuel costs only 
about 8% more than regular, you'll probably lose more  than that in going with 
the lower CR and thereby less  efficient heads.  You should also make sure your 
ignition timing,  especially vacuum advance, is correctly set for your 
engine.  You could  always use water injection to enable you to advance the timing 
for better fuel  mileage. <GGGG>
    The best way of getting better mileage is changing  your driving habits.  
When I back off the throttle because I see a red  light way ahead, I am 
constantly being passed by foolish drivers who then have  to jam on their brakes to 
stop for the light while I just coast up to it.   Show me the driver who gets 
100,000 miles on a set of factory brakes and I'll  show you the driver who's 
getting the best gas mileage.  It's called  "anticipatory driving".
    Frank "frugal" Burkhard
 
In a message dated 4/21/2007 11:05:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time,  
bakwudz at rcn.com writes:

Hi  everyone!

With the current state of affairs regarding fuel prices, I  have decided to 
put my 65 Monza sedan back on the road in an effort to cut  daily driving 
expenses (well, I also miss driving a Corvair!  <g>).  My regular ride is a 
87 Chevy G20 van 305/auto (anybody  want to trade me a Greenbriar? :) that I 
use for my handyman  business.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has any advice regarding  low-buck mods to 
the car to save fuel--I am not concerned with power loss,  just want to make 
the car as economical as possible for a "daily driver",  and also keeping in 
mind long term durability .

Subject car  currently has a fairly healthy 65 110 engine rebuilt ~ 10k ago 
w/ forged  pistons (pretty much stock rebuild otherwise), mated to a 66 4 
speed trans  and 66 3.55 differential.  No A/C.  Otherwise, everything is  
stock except for a Pertronix ignition, Clark's dual 140 style 110 exhaust  
and Seth's wires.  Car also has a S-10 front air dam.  Tires are  185/80R-13.

I have a set of 95 heads to put on the car, if that would  help--I am 
considering this more or less to be able to run regular fuel,  since that is 
also a goal of mine.  If a diff/trans swap is  reccommended, I would be 
willing to swap in just about anything I could  trade for (preferably keeping 
it a 4 speed).

Any ideas?   Advice is mucho appreciated!

Tom Willcox
Allentown, PA  







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