3.9 V6

Why can't a 3.9 be made to get some better mpg?
It's a 318 - 2 cylinders. Is it timing,cam,injection,gearing, or all of the above? I was thinking about taking a pre magnum. Adapt a small
carb to the throttle body manifold. Talk to acam grinder about grinding a cam. And use a standard ignition. In a short box Dakota with a 5 speed, Why couldn't it get upper 20's. Feather Dusters have been known to do better than that with a /6.
Curt

I'm sure it could be made to. it just isn't a fuel miser in stock form. why? not really sure. probably due to the weight of the vehicle it's trying to move.

my club cab dakota weighed 4000 lbs empty with me in the seat, with a 5 spd manual, the best I could get was about 22 mpg on the highway with it.

I had one in my brand new 1990 Ram 150, short box, 5 speed 2x4. I got 24mpg honest out of it everyday. Not too shabby for a full sized truck that weighed in at 2 tons-ish.

What more do you want?

A copy of my 318 should get you real close to 30 mpg with the right gearing. Look up my superdupergas miledge 318 thread.

Use KB167 pistons zero decked and dual 2 inch exhaust and a old stromberg 2bbl should get it done real nice. Get hughes smallest roller cam and go. Geting as much fuel as posible to completly burn in the chamber when it can do work is the key. Factory 3.9s had no quench retarded timing and more fuel than nessacary going through them to keep the cat working.