Fuel Economy is Too Good ...

[1938 Coupe]

Originally Posted by petehoovie

If you're addicted to and can afford this hobby, it would seem that 'fuel economy' is not a priority....

I would also have to agree on that one.
You don't buy a Harley for the gas mileage...you buy it to ride!

[Kurt in NJ]

Even if you don't care about the mileage because of the fuel costs there is more engine wear with too rich of a mixture

39 with the 60hp
Under 40 about 30 mpg
Under 65 about 25 mpg
Flat out 70-74 would get it down to 20 mpg

46 big truck--- 2 ton load averaged 15mpg on a 4 day ride coast to coast with a stock 49 merc engine

[shoe box Jack]

At $6.00 a gallon good mileage dos not hurt. Jack.

[JSeery]

Good heavens, I thought Canada was an oil exporter! Where is the cost coming from, taxes? I get unhappy when gas gets close to $2.00 (it's under that now). But, in the big picture, when I was in high school gas was in the $.25 to $.35 per gallon and I thought nothing of it. Drove a high performance car that would get less than 10 MPG on a good day. Now figure the pay scale then vs now, or any thing else. It's about a 10 to 1 ratio, a $.15 hamburger is $1.50 (if your lucky) so gas should be around $2.50 to $3.50 at least. In fact, it is one of the best bargains going.

But, if fuel mileage is your thing, go for it. I'm to into the fun factor, I drive my Fusion for the gas mileage! Even racers / Hot Rodders like O'Ron have gone over to the darkside!

[FrankWest]

Fuel economy...I'm just happy my 83 year old car is running.

[Rusty54]

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Originally Posted by petehoovie

If you're addicted to and can afford this hobby, it would seem that 'fuel economy' is not a priority....

It can be a fun game to play with yourself on a long trip though.
On a road trip to Queensland from Victoria here in Australia for the 2012 Early Ford V8 Nationals in Caboolture, we had my parents '35 Ford 4 door and a '54 Ford Crestline Skyliner travel 1075 miles over 3 long days to get there. Same to get back a week later.
That's a pretty good distance to get some real figures with and I kept a log book for fuel and distance for each car.
The '35 has a standard rear axle and 3 speed manual with a slightly more modern '39 Mercury engine, rebuilt to standard specifications with the addition of some original aluminium heads. It has been converted to 12 volt electrics and runs a single 97 carb on the original manifold.
The '54 we bought out of the Utah mountains as a (sort of) restored car a few years back, and while we were told it had a new overdrive behind the 3 speed, it wasn't hooked up right and when it was wired properly it made some horrible noises....
So for all intents and purposes it was a fair match between the two cars with one sporting a flathead and the other its original 239 OHV.
The Skyliner has 4.09 diff gears and I believe the 35 runs a similar ratio, slightly taller.

So, after 2150 miles in each car during a week and a half run, with varying terrain and weather conditions, both cars doing the same speed at all times, it was quite surprising that they both returned an average near enough the same. Both of them hovering around the 17.5 mpg average.......
It should be said that the 239 OHV was consistently pipping the flathead by a couple of points between fuel stations, but that is to be expected.

And we still haven't had that overdrive unit out to have it looked at......too many projects

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by Rusty54

It can be a fun game to play with yourself on a long trip though.

I just couldn't resist . . .

[my4dv8]

Just did a check on an 800 mile run we did this past week and we averaged nearly 21 mpg.
260inch motor ,twins and a .87 5 speed in a 37 coupe. Never bothered to check this before, it is what it is.

[Rusty54]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

I just couldn't resist . . .

This coming from "Bored and Stroked".......
Hahaha, it's fun to be immature at times.

[russcc]

It's still nice to know it's running good like it should.