What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
#2125647
08/05/16 12:47 PM
08/05/16 12:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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feets
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I'm looking at dropping my 518 in the Imp and wondered what kind of mpg increase you guys have seen.
The primary concern is to drop the engine rpm because I've become accustomed to the lower engine speeds in newer vehicles. Any mpg increase would be a bonus.
My old beast tips the scales at 5100 lbs empty and runs a 29" tire on a 3.23 rear gear. The 518 would drop the rpm nicely and make for a better driving experience. The 440 should have ample torque to pull the car at the new rpm.
I've had the transmission and Ultrabell sitting around for the better part of 10 years. Might as well do something with them.
We are brothers and sisters doing time on the planet for better or worse. I'll take the better, if you don't mind. - Stu Harmon
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2126059
08/05/16 08:32 PM
08/05/16 08:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,789 Hamilton, Ontario Canada
Magnum
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I had no change but I did it backwards. Went from OD to no Od.
87 Ram D100 reg cab shortie. Swapped in a 5.9L Magnum and a 518. With 3.55 gear and a 28" tire.
I did not drive for mileage. I did much of my driving at a comfortable 120km/hr.
I lost overdrive but continued to drive the truck in 3rd gear. Except now 120 km/hr was too much rpm so I cruised the right lane at 105 which was a little high in the rpm but with the reduced speed I was still getting 18-19mpg.
After losing all confidence in the 518, I swapped in a NV3500 5 speed. Then I was finally had a mileage improvement.
69 Super Bee, 93 Mustang LX, 04 Allure Super
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: dezduster]
#2126081
08/05/16 09:11 PM
08/05/16 09:11 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
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DAYCLONA
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Milage increase I don't know. However in my 422 ci duster 3500#with manual 5 speed od it would get up to 22 23 mpg on the highyway at 70 75 mph. This is with 34 ° maechanical and 12° vacuum for total of 46° Total timing. This all being very conscious of milage! But even when driving spirited and careful of the law 18 19mpg was the norm. Gears are same as yours and tires are very close 275 60 15 BFG drag T/As. Rpms at 70 is 1700 in OD I can't give any prior results, as I stuff an OD into the build from the start, but my Daytona 440/6 pack with a Keisler TKO 600 5spd .064 OD, 4:10 Dana 60, 27" tires, will do 20-22 MPG highway on long cross country cruises at 70-75 MPH, on the street where I have a hard time keeping my foot out of the throttle, it'll suck it down to 8-10 MPG On the HEMI cars with a Keisler TKO 5 spd .64 OD, 3:54 and 4:10 rear gears, avg highway at 70-80 MPH cruising would be 16-18 MPG, again on the street blasting it, mileage could get sucked down to 5-8 MPG Played around in the past with various OD's in the .80- .70 range, results were often minimal for the effort, you really need to step into the .64-.50 range for the cost of adding an OD to "pay off"
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: DAYCLONA]
#2126278
08/06/16 01:09 AM
08/06/16 01:09 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,653 Cut and Shoot, TX
kentj340
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top fuel
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Played around in the past with various OD's in the .80- .70 range, results were often minimal for the effort, you really need to step into the .64-.50 range for the cost of adding an OD to "pay off" Exactly. I have a Tremec 6-speed in a 2005 GTO, 400 hp, 3.90 rear, 25" dia tires. Sixth gear 0.50:1 is super - runs about 1800 rpm at highway speeds. But 5th gear 0.75:1 pretty much never gets used - it's a waste, not enough reduction. You really need the 0.50:1.
If you don't see two dolphins, you need a vacation.
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2126279
08/06/16 01:12 AM
08/06/16 01:12 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346 Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
Penguin-hating Ginger
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I'm looking at dropping my 518 in the Imp and wondered what kind of mpg increase you guys have seen.
The primary concern is to drop the engine rpm because I've become accustomed to the lower engine speeds in newer vehicles. Any mpg increase would be a bonus.
My old beast tips the scales at 5100 lbs empty and runs a 29" tire on a 3.23 rear gear. The 518 would drop the rpm nicely and make for a better driving experience. The 440 should have ample torque to pull the car at the new rpm.
I've had the transmission and Ultrabell sitting around for the better part of 10 years. Might as well do something with them. If he doesn't see this thread, ask Stu...he has an OD (4L60E I think) in his Road Runner...and it gets driven a bunch of course..
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2126332
08/06/16 03:25 AM
08/06/16 03:25 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,853 Pattison Texas
CSK
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I can't speak for mileage improvement, but I get 15 average in my 68 Charger 512cid,a518 w/lock up & 3.23 gear 28" tire.
1968 Charger COLD A/C Hilborn EFI 512ci 9.7 compression, Stealth heads, 4.10 gear A518 ODtrans 4100lb,10.93 full street car trim 2020 T/A 392 Stock 11.79 @ 114.5
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2126370
08/06/16 08:50 AM
08/06/16 08:50 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,575 The Netherlands
BigBlockMopar
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2-bbl 318 / 904 & 7-1/4" 3.23 rear axle. lousy, neglected engine tune / very lean @ highway speeds / worn timing chain; 6-7mpg daily / 17mpg highway
4-bbl 318 / A518 & 8-3/4" 3.55 rear axle. AFR tuned engine / new timingchain / recurved distributor / better ignition ; 11-12mpg daily / 15mpg highway
65mph = 2200 rpm @ 20" engine vacuum A518 = OD only, no lockup Fuel = LPG
IMO, the heavier internals and friction of the A518, and the absense of convertor lockup and lack of cr and strong torque in the engine, dampened my highway mileage, compared to the 904 at least.
But, over the years the car has become much more fun to drive with the 4-speed auto.
At one time I had a 518 with OD and LU installed, which was even more fun, where the Lockup pretty much felt as a short 5th gear.
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: Jwilli500]
#2126446
08/06/16 11:44 AM
08/06/16 11:44 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,067 Irving, TX
feets
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I've wondered the same thing, so I'll be watching this one. Are you going with a lockup or non-lockup converter? My transmission is set up for a lock up converter.
We are brothers and sisters doing time on the planet for better or worse. I'll take the better, if you don't mind. - Stu Harmon
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: moparx]
#2126493
08/06/16 12:34 PM
08/06/16 12:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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feets
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feets, what carb are you using ? have you tailored your distributor curve, including vacuum advance, for mileage now, or will you be doing that once you get the o.d. installed ? are you going to something deeper than 3.23 gears to get the mass rolling easier, then using the o.d. to lower the highway rpm's to acceptable levels ? Right now the engine is in pieces. I plan on dropping a FiTech system on the car and setting the distributor for best torque/mpg. A proper Imperial is not a performance car.
We are brothers and sisters doing time on the planet for better or worse. I'll take the better, if you don't mind. - Stu Harmon
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2126555
08/06/16 02:33 PM
08/06/16 02:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 704 USA
rftroy
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super stock
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I have done this twice.
First was with a 69 Barracuda fastback. 318 with 360 1.88 heads; hyd cam w/specs midway between stock 318 and 340 cams. 3.23 axle. With standard 4 speed: 17-18 mpg highway With OD4: 24 mpg highway.
Second was 69 Barracuda conv. Slant 6, stock cam, Holley Economaster 1920 1 bbl. 2.76 axle With standard 4 speed: 19-20 mpg highway With OD4: 27.5-29 mpg highway.
Now have 2.94 axle (2.76 was just too low with OD). Haven't done a long range highway test yet, but around town stayed about the same at 22-23 mpg.
Robert
AAR 4-speed 3.91, Tor-Red; 70 440 6 pack Roadrunner 4-speed 3.54, Plum Crazy; 68 Formula S conv 383 4-speed 3.23, Electric Blue; 69 Barracuda conv Slant 6 OD4 2.94, 71 B5 Blue; 78 Lil' Red Truck, Red; 70 Challenger S/E. 505 6 pack, Passon 5-speed, 3.55, B7 Blue
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2126609
08/06/16 04:33 PM
08/06/16 04:33 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
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DrCharles
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I am also amazed... my slightly warmed-over '70 Valiant (stock 383 rebuild, .484 purple shaft, 750 vac sec, dual-plane, A833, 3.23 rear) got about 15 mpg on the highway at 65 mph, around 12 mpg mixed city/hwy and my lowest tank was 8.3 mpg since it was all going to the store for a quart of milk 1/4 mile away And my '76 Valiant with stock /6 and OD A-833 (don't know the rear) would get about 23-24 mpg at a steady highway cruise. Maybe they're talking Imperial gallons?
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2131936
08/13/16 02:08 PM
08/13/16 02:08 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,999 Salem
Grizzly
Moparts Proctologist
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+ 5.5 mpg going from regular 833 to an 833od on a small block. There's no sense grumbling about putting overdrive in and not getting any fuel mileage returns because you're doing 75, 80mph. You want fuel mileage? Try 55 to 60mph, it works and that's all there is to it. Who's ridculous idea it was to put 3.91's and 4.10's in these cars should be slapped upside the head. 400hp First-Gen Vipers with 3.07's beat the pants off a stock muscle car with 4.10's.
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2132296
08/13/16 10:45 PM
08/13/16 10:45 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,999 Salem
Grizzly
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At 400-ish HP, first gear doesn't win a race: Second, third and fourth does.
Is a fair comparison with competent Drivers.
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: Kern Dog]
#2132693
08/14/16 03:14 PM
08/14/16 03:14 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,999 Salem
Grizzly
Moparts Proctologist
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"It's about mileage not racing" The 3.07 was coupled to a trans with a deeper 1st gear and a much taller OD. Not a fair comparison. Then, what did you post this for? I took this comment as some sort of excuse why a Viper is faster. I merely made an example of performance and mileage of a newer car that can be equaled in an old car by throwing a 727 and 3.91's in the dumpster is all I was saying. Called a win/win is it not? You've done it, right? Must you argue? Nevermind. Another misunderstanding. Dammit, I knew I should have used an '85 5.0 Mustang with a 5 speed as an example.
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: Kern Dog]
#2132706
08/14/16 03:33 PM
08/14/16 03:33 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 817 Eugene, Oregon
Secret Chimp
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super stock
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Hey, just for fun...CHECK OUT THE TOPIC THAT THIS THREAD IS ABOUT. It is about mileage, not racing. I've stopped asking questions here as much because 75% of respondents don't read the whole original post and give irrelevant or already-done advice, or ask other questions... I spend more time re-explaining than I do learning anything.
Last edited by Secret Chimp; 08/14/16 03:33 PM.
1967 Dodge Coronet Deluxe station wagon
1.03" T-bars, QA1 arms/rods, Cordoba/GM Metric/Volare brake & knuckle, XHDs, Hellwig rear sway, 318 Magnum w/ air gap, 727, 3.23s
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2132791
08/14/16 06:03 PM
08/14/16 06:03 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
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herkamer
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pro stock
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In the W350 with the 727, it would never get better than about 12-13 no matter how or where you drove it. When I added the 518 with lock up and going to TBI, it has got 18 going up the 2 big mountain passes here. I'd suspect flat land at 65 could get it up to 20. That's with 4.10 in the front/rear also.
Matt 69 Dart Swinger 340 83 W350, Megasquirted with 46RH Old news: 72 Demon street/race mobile Latest: 70 Duster backhalf car and even more
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2133782
08/15/16 08:02 PM
08/15/16 08:02 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 619 nj
JAMESDART
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mopar
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It wasn't just an od swap, but my trail jeep, 78 wagoneer I was getting 16mpg highway after put a 700r4 in With 4.10s on 33s. I thought that was pretty good. Same deal with my 74 duster, it wasnt just an od swap. I put in a Re ringed mild smogger 400 and a viper t56, ford 8.8 with 3.73s and 25.5" tires I was getting 20 mpg highway. Mpg has dwindled away though after 10,000 miles.the re ring was just to get the car all setup. Part of me thinks 4.10s would make 6th gear a little more useable. In the end, they both cost me about the same to do. I can't say it was worth it just for mpg but I drove them both farther and more often after the over drive. If you can afford to waste the cash to do it properly, then yeah you should do it.
Last edited by JAMESDART; 08/15/16 08:06 PM.
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2134617
08/16/16 08:21 PM
08/16/16 08:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Supercuda
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About to go away
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Weren't teh late Feather Dusters and Dart Lites rated at 36mpg highway with the /6 and A833OD?
That would be a considerable jump above what my 72 Swinger with a /6 and A904 got, about double. I know there was a bit more than just the trans swap invovled, but even half that improvement would put me int eh mid-upper 20's.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: Kern Dog]
#2134654
08/16/16 08:55 PM
08/16/16 08:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 36,840 South San Francisco, Californi...
MidPenMopar
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Hey Stu, did you get your trans through Kiesler or the guys that took over that company? I'd like to hear from you about the swap. I got the trans conversion via Kiesler many moons ago. The whole install was not too bad BUT the controller box for the trans was no good from the start which took forever to get them to send a replacement box as they would not believe it. Also the trans leaked from the get go so i had to have it fixed by a transmission shop. Which i had to pay to have removed after the install and fixed and re-installed. In the end i got it all squared away but i sure hope the new owners of the company do a better job. Stu
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: Supercuda]
#2134937
08/17/16 05:18 AM
08/17/16 05:18 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
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dangina
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Weren't teh late Feather Dusters and Dart Lites rated at 36mpg highway with the /6 and A833OD?
That would be a considerable jump above what my 72 Swinger with a /6 and A904 got, about double. I know there was a bit more than just the trans swap invovled, but even half that improvement would put me int eh mid-upper 20's. hmmm I'd be cuious to know this as well
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2135199
08/17/16 04:16 PM
08/17/16 04:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,419 Kalispell Mt.
HotRodDave
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The feather also had a very lean carb and only got driven 55 mph in the test. Modern cars would probably get 5 more mpg if they only had to do 55 mph.
I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2135585
08/18/16 01:07 AM
08/18/16 01:07 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Grizzly
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I'd believe the Feather Duster EPA numbers, if the drive train was in an Omni. I am so glad this thread still exists, but "dmerc" has proven what can be done with overdrive in an old car: 25 mpg 408 small block If I remember right, a follow up post he hit 27mpg
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: HotRodDave]
#2137833
08/21/16 01:01 PM
08/21/16 01:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
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The feather also had a very lean carb and only got driven 55 mph in the test. Modern cars would probably get 5 more mpg if they only had to do 55 mph. Whoa, now you sound like Jimmy Carter... It was proven the national 55MPH speed limit did NOT use less fuel, that was why the Government changed the sheeples "mindset" to "saves lives".... Lets not ever bring this HORRIBLE ( 55 mph ) thing back.. I had to live ALL of the years it was in existence while I was in outside sales driving....
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: minivan]
#2137859
08/21/16 01:32 PM
08/21/16 01:32 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
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1mean340
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Driving at a slower speed absolutely can save you fuel, at least on every vehicle with active gas mileage calculating that I've driven it did. Is there not more wind resistance against a car the faster it moves? If it uses more power to sustain a cars movement at a higher speed, it'll use more gas. The only factor that messes with this a bit is where your engines optimum cruising RPM is. For example, if you have a big cam with a lot of overlap and low gearing, you may be lugging the hell out of your motor at 55mph which isn't very efficient.
FYI, for those criticizing the Gear Vendors OD units .78 OD, I completely agree that I wish they made a unit with a numerically lower OD ratio, but remember with many muscle cars/hot rods running higher overlap cams and non lockup converters, it may not be a good thing to drop the RPM's so low.
As far as 400 hp viper smoking muscle cars despite the gearing, or any modern car for that matter, it has NOTHING to do with 4:10's being a poor choice for racing: modern fuel injected motors have very broad power curves, are making more power from a given HP rating than a muscle car with the same rating and the power to weight ratio as well as aerodynamics probably destroys most muscle cars you'd put it up against. I can guarantee you that if you took that viper and set it up with 4:10's, if it hooked, it would be faster through the 1/4 mile than the viper with 3:07's.
Simply put, unless you are talking about a turbo car which benefits from the load, the more gear you have the faster the car will accellerate up until the point where you run out of gear. That's just the way mechanical advantage works.
Motors that make more broad power curves may not benefit as much though, as a numerically lower gear will give them more average time in places where they are making good power versus a less technologically advanced small block that really only starts to build steam in the the high RPM- the idea is you need to get there quickly.
Look at the difference between some of these late model motors versus an old school small block. To make 500hp, my 340 needs a huge overlap cam that shifts the power band way up and won't make for the greatest street manners at low RPM's. 500hp late model motors are doing it with cams that barely make a chop in the idle and the engine still makes great power/torque off idle.
You really can't compare ideal rear gearing or OD gearing for a muscle car motor to a late model, fuel injected one.
As far as the O/P's discussion goes, I have alway seen about a 2 maybe 3 tops MPG increase on cars I have installed OD's in, but there are a ton of variables here. With our older cars, typically being MODDED cars, the biggest variable is the cam profile/converter. A car running a big cam with lots of overlap and a high stall speed to make efficient use of that cam off idle may not benefit from an OD at all, depending on what rear gearing you have. You don't want to be cruising the car so far below your cam's power band or at a range where you are burning up your converter.
Last edited by 1mean340; 08/21/16 01:41 PM.
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Re: What kind of MPG increase did you get from adding OD?
[Re: feets]
#2138116
08/21/16 08:10 PM
08/21/16 08:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
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HotRodDave
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I never said we should go back to driving 55, just stated the fact that it was tested at 55 instead of the higher speeds of today. It is a very simple fact of physics that it takes less energy to move the air around at slower speeds. My super duper mpg 318 cuda would get over 35 mpg easily at a 55 mph cruise speed, it dropped to around 29 when I tried to more closely simulate the actual, current EPA test.
I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!
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