$4.45 and 14 mpg Argh!!

[ttoldcarbuff7]

Okay, I know gasoline was cheap in 30, but not now. What is anyone doing to eek out another few mpg's on the old four banger. I would like to tour this summer but the budget says "very short tour!" I am looking to hear what others have done. Carbs? manifolds? Heads? Water injectors What say you.

[48Ratfink]

327??? J/k

[Gerard]

Let' go back to ww2 period

[Gerard]

Lets go back to the ww 2 period

[Kevin in NJ]

If your Model A is running to factory specs then you should expect 20 or more MPG.

If that is not what you are seeing then ask what is not operating to factory specs.

[MrTube]

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Never thought I would see someone say they wanted to go back to WWII.....

[Model A Man]

I did a 120 mile trip and it was almost all freeway. I kept it at 50/55 with overdrive and I used 10 gallons of gas. So I guess that means I only got 12 miles per gallon. and my a is tuned really well. I do have a BF head. but I really think the bad fuel mileage has more to do with E fuel than anything else

[Special Coupe Frank]

I finally checked the mileage on my well-worn '28 ,and I am getting about 12-14 mpg, but that's combined city and "highway" driving, including a pretty hard run at WOT (50-55MPH) this past weekend.

You'll probably get your best MPG in the 30-40 MPH range....

[Richard Wilson]

Buy a Weber carb conversion. Several guys that I used to tour with had them and got almost double the mileage (25 to 30MPG ) that I get with my stock Model A's. On the other hand I can buy a lot of gas for the $500 price of the Weber carb.

[John Stone]

Just completed a run to the Kansas City regional meet with the 400A. Made right at 20 mpg for the 600 miles.

[foxfire42]

Went on a 130 mile Club tour Saturday. It took 5 gal. I too am running with a Weber. Also a Mallory and 4 spd Bronco Tranny.

[gweilbaker]

Don't forget today's gas is a cocktail of alcohol and special bended chemicals dependent upon region to increase your consumption whilst jacking your wallet.

It ain't your Daddy's gas anymore sonny boy!

[peters180a/170b]

what you should do you ask??? Pray in the morning for a tailwind.

[ken ct]

Try 10 mpg on a 2000 F-150. Full tune up 2,000 mi ago.ken ct.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Higher compression generally helps efficiency too, ...especially with ethenol.

The payback on installing a $1500 overdrive transmission is a lotta $4.45 gallons of gas!!

.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Model A Man

I did a 120 mile trip and it was almost all freeway. I kept it at 50/55 with overdrive and I used 10 gallons of gas. So I guess that means I only got 12 miles per gallon. and my a is tuned really well. I do have a BF head. but I really think the bad fuel mileage has more to do with E fuel than anything else

I filled mine up with "real" gas (no ethanol), went 120 miles with a 2-hour parade in the middle of it, still shows 1/2 tank. Highway was 50mph, no overdrive, 5.5 Snyder head, Weber carb.

[1931 flamingo]

Where are you that gas is $4.45 gal?? Why won't people fill out the profile? At least what state you're in/ JMO
Paul in CT

[Kevin in NJ]

My brothers 31 coupe with a standard compression head, factory carb (original jets), and used B cam averaged in the low twenties on the trip to the world meet in 1986.

The car was run 55 to 65 MPH. No overdrive!

The mileage was calculated with mileage verified by the motorhome my father drove and checking odometer distances with the mile post signs.

[Special Coupe Frank]

Originally Posted by Kevin in NJ

My brothers 31 coupe with a standard compression head, factory carb (original jets), and used B cam averaged in the low twenties on the trip to the world meet in 1986.

The car was run 55 to 65 MPH. No overdrive!

The mileage was calculated with mileage verified by the motorhome my father drove and checking odometer distances with the mile post signs.

I wonder how it would do on today's ethanated garbage ?

[Kurt in NJ]

Even with the ethanol (10%) I am still around 20 mpg, I don't count the MPG, I think of it as miles per $ and on the A I don't really worry, the last 20$ I put in --I think it was March --so far--a 42 mile round trip, 5 mile joyride, then work and back--10 miles, a parade-with a ride --5 miles and still more than 1/4 tank --it was empty( the gauge was at 0 and didn't move on bumps) like about to run out when I put in the 20 ---I blame my poor mileage on neglect, havn't done much more than adjust the points and shake the dirt out of the carb for many years.

For the parade it was about 80, I still have the March winter gas, and the ex man is cracked and puffing on the fuel bowl --yet still no vapor lock during the during the idle speed in 1st parade.

[gweilbaker]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Where are you that gas is $4.45 gal?? Why won't people fill out the profile? At least what state you're in/ JMO
Paul in CT

Around the Chicago area easily, although it has come down a little the past week.

[Clydes 31 P/U]

Don't know about the rest of you, but in the A, MPG= Miles per Grin, whether its 4 or 40 its all good. My opinion and I'm stickin with it.

[Terry Longest]

When you ask yourself "Would I pay someone $4.45 not to have to walk 14 miles?" It puts it in a new perspective!

[Dave72dt]

Originally Posted by ken ct

Try 10 mpg on a 2000 F-150. Full tune up 2,000 mi ago.ken ct.

I get 11mpg on a '93 F-250 extended, 4wd with a 460. I think I changed the plugs once in the last 10 years.

[Gary Karr]

I've got to agree with Clydes 31 P/U. It is the price we pay for the enjoyment of touring in a Model A. Some of my best memories are of touring to new and different places in the A. That's worth the price, even in today's costs (San Diego currently $3.75/gal)

[Special Coupe Frank]

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I like the Miles-per-Grin analogy !

I've been doing some hauling with the '61 Willys pick-up this last week.... 4.88 gears and about 9 MPG.

Ouchie.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Special Coupe Frank

I like the Miles-per-Grin analogy !

I've been doing some hauling with the '61 Willys pick-up this last week.... 4.88 gears and about 9 MPG.

Ouchie.

With 4.88 rear gears that engine must really scream at 55 MPH, or will it go that fast?

My 1929 Chevy 1 1/2 ton truck has a 4.88 ring and pinion and it sounds good at 25 MPH.

I bought a FIAT 850 engine at a junkyard auction for $21, and just won a transaxle for it on ebay. The seller said it was also 4.88, which is a bummer because I'd like to make a small econo car or trike out of this. No way to add an overdrive to a FIAT transaxle.

[JoeWay]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

...No way to add an overdrive to a FIAT transaxle.

...Just put REALLY BIG tires on it!!!

[Special Coupe Frank]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

With 4.88 rear gears that engine must really scream at 55 MPH, or will it go that fast?

My 1929 Chevy 1 1/2 ton truck has a 4.88 ring and pinion and it sounds good at 25 MPH.

I bought a FIAT 850 engine at a junkyard auction for $21, and just won a transaxle for it on ebay. The seller said it was also 4.88, which is a bummer because I'd like to make a small econo car or trike out of this. No way to add an overdrive to a FIAT transaxle.

Tom,

I think she'll do about 60 mph flat-out, but that's really screamin'.

For while, I had a Warn OD in it ( the kind that bolts to rear of the Spicer 18 transfer case), and that would get it up to about 70 MPH on flat road, but believe me - it was a Hell-ride at that speed; with 7.50-16 mud-grips front & rear, it just wasn't designed to "handle" at those kind of speeds !

It's a lot happier at 45 MPH or less.

Of course it was designed and built for a time when trucks were supposed to haul stuff; not to look pretty and go fast...

The best joke of all is when the knuckle-heads try dropping a small-block Ford or Chevy V-8 into a Willys that originally had a four-cylinder and the 5.38 Timken "split-rear", and they still can't get the doggone thing to do more than 45 MPH....

As of today ( Flag Day), gas is hovering between $ 3.55 and $ 3.65 / gal for "regular"...

Frank

[MrTube]

For many many years my dad had a 1970 chevy C-20 with a 4.56 ratio and a TH400 transmission with a buick 3.8 V6 in it. After the engine had over just over 100k it died from oil pump failure. When he put another engine in the truck he installed a tach and found out he was cruising at around 4000rpm.

Guess under the circumstances the buick 3.8 held up pretty well.

In the end he sold the truck with something like 450,000 miles on it.

[SANTA Ray]

I'm traveling from GA to AK and getting roughly 20 to 22 mpg. That's crossing the rockies etc. We are trying to maintain 50 mph. Stock 31 coupe with 5.5 Snyder head, 3:54 rear. My partned with a similar car and 3:27 gears is only getting around 16 to 18 mpg. We had the cars weighed at a truck stop he is only 240 lbs heavier than I am, Both cars tuned the same.

Go Figure???

[Uncle Bob]

A model A cost approximately $500 in 1930.
A new typical sedan today would be an easy $20,000.
That's 40 times more money.
Divide even the price noted on this thread by 40 and your get about 11 cents...............which is about what a gallon of gasoline cost in 1930.

[barron]

I'm getting ready to run a fish carb on a stock intake, I'm sure to get around 98mpg.... I'll let you guys know

[Louis]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

A model A cost approximately $500 in 1930.
A new typical sedan today would be an easy $20,000.
That's 40 times more money.
Divide even the price noted on this thread by 40 and your get about 11 cents...............which is about what a gallon of gasoline cost in 1930.

A great way to look at it Uncle Bob,
The way I do it with my "A" is I drive it untill it gets low on gas then I fill it up agin, And I dont care what gas cost a gal. and I have never checked how many MPG it gets, And could care less.
I bought my "A" model and spent a lot of time and money fixing it up to enjoy it, And if it gets 10, 15, or only 5 MPG Im going to keep on driving it.

Uncle Bob, A model "A" may have cost $500 in 1930 but that same Model A today will cost closer to $20,000 .
All in fun.