improving emissions and fuel economy

I'm new, and I need a car | PriusChat

I drive a 1970 Superior coach, which boasts a 500 cubic inch (8.2 liter) V8.

(not my actual car)
when I first got it, it got a stellar 2 mpg. two. that is more that $1.50 per mile to drive this thing.

today me and a group of friends rebuilt basically everything on the drivetrain.

upgrades include:
race cam
pre-smog era heads, with head job
new intake manifold
fuel injection and engine management system.
removed smog pump
4 inch cat-delete dual exhaust system, with custom headers
700R4 trans (4 speed) 2 more speeds then when I got it.
went from 4.33 (lower then low) to 2.10 (very high) gears in the diff.

it has a 45 gallon tank that I have to use premium with octane booster and lead additive (158.90 a tank)

vehicle weighs 6000 lbs curb weight, but with my custom casket-tool box, loaded with tools, it should clock in at 7k, and I have to tow pumps and generators for my job, 4-6000 lbs.

any of you that have been to west Texas know, lots of long flat roads at 80 miles per... and my job (pump/generator technician for Oil rigs) requires lots of driving.

any guesses on what kind of gas mileage I will make? and what can I do to make more MPG's? emissions are second to gas mileage, and catalysts just hurt MPGs too much to be worth it to me, but if you have any ideas for this-feel free to post

 

did you read my intro thread? I had 3500 dollars to buy an efficient car that could tow.

interior space? seating for 6, plus a professional tool box (now a modified casket)

miles per year? well more than 100k, its usually about 1700 a week, plus trips north and a few other contingencies.

I would need some HUGE turbos for this thing, originally it came with an 850 CFM quadrojet, but could take up to 1700 CFM in its stock form (I'm currently running approx. 1300, and its well more than my injectors can handle) and to get any considerable boost I would need something like a TT set up with turbos off of something 4+liters (nothing comes to mind)

it is geared, and its alittle on the high side, I plan on graduating to a OD system, or maybe a transfer case.

the Cadillac industrial chassis (extended B chassis) was the same one used for ambulances, it is very strong and durable...I have been using it for a day, and so far its an abominable tank of a car.

impressions so far:
need new rear suspension. now.
need disc brakes all the way around
transfer case or high/low diff
parking cams
bigger injectors (runs lean arount 75% throttle, engine ECU throttles me back here)
tach

I haven't towed anything yet, but I'm willing to bet that it can do it. it will break the tires loose in third.
before this I had a '92 F250 with a 7.3 TD in it, I loved it, but the the second trans was dying, and at 647k on it, the rest of the car wasn't so happy. I needed something that wasn't a truck, it wasn't uncomfortable to drive.

will report back later with more findings, when I get to the next job site I will try to tow something to find out if it can do it or not.

this thing is a hit with the oil workers, they oh so love it

 

I asked to confirm I had no other options in efficiency...plus I don't want to drive some egg-shaped plastic car with no soul around. hybrid SUVs are a small fortune, and when you consider I paid 800 for this (compared to like 65k for a tahoe hybrid) that leaves me 64,200 for gas-it will take me a long time to break even, and this thing is strait up badass, not just another SUV

just bought some injectors for a TT supercharged LS9 set up, should get me close to my 1300 CFM guess...might move up to a double injector set up eventually, with custom intake mani.

a worker told me he had a weiland supercharger for a dual-quad style intake like I have, that he would sell me...this would bring me up to 700 hp with god only knows how much torque. he wants a grand for it, so that might be a ways off.

compression is probably 11.5 to one, its quite high.

it is a stage 2 cam, with the machined/ported heads, this classifieds as a stage 2 motor, street/strip. nice lopey idle, with the headers and 4 inch dual exhaust it sound evil.

the problem with revving american big-blocks was always the valve train, my second car, a '78 cutlass with a olds 350 in it kicked a lifter at 4800 RPM. with my head job, I trust this engine to 6k.

update on today:
filled it up with gas, it went further and was cheaper then the F250...maybe 12 MPG or so-I was driving quite aggressively.

friend at salvage yard has a 2 speed transfer case he will give me, which solves my no-low-end-power problem, and opens the possibility for 4WD (thats rat-rod territory right there) will install tomorrow night.

towed a ~4200 lb generator a few miles, once I got up to speed it didn't have a problem. rear suspension practically slammed itself, so I need to replace it-probably going to airbag it.

plans for next weekend-
FIX RADIO
pull engine, check everything, including 100k service (water pump, oil pump, the like)
pop trans open, check wear. (rebuilt when put in yesterday)
get some craigslist craiger rims
address fuel delivery issues
rear suspension, even if temp. fix

tomorrow when I go to the yard to get the transfer case, I will ask my friend what he has to say about turbos...for now, I am going to put in these injectors. car has currently cost me $2500.

 

at the salvage yard now.

there isn't a transfer case that will fit on this, so we are going to put on a hi/low diff, 2.10/3.73

last night I upgraded to some MASSIVE injectors, and now my injector pump can't keep up. my ECU and injection system was off of an LM7 engine (327 cubic inch LS type engine) which just can't keep up. we just put on a pump off of an LS2 (supercharged 6.2 liter) which should have enough pressure. my ECU would kick codes at 87% throttle on surges, and couldn't maintain it above 64%.

my friend has 2 turbos that *could* work, but they both need rebuilds, bearings, blow off valves and many more expensive parts. if I do any forced induction, it would be after a bottom end rebuild. still going to buy these today.

an air dam would look hidious on this thing.

I have a house payment and student loans, I do NOT want a bill for a $30k car as well...plus this was $800, so it will be a very long time before I break even. and 'modern amenities?' I have AC, FM, and power locks/windows, I'm happy. plus these leather seats are to DIE for...there are no other comfort items I want/need. as for safety, the lackage of airbags and crumple zones probably don't help, but its so heavy, and with such a stiff frame, it would probably win in a fight against anything I would encounter.

have you ever force inducted an engine? you need to completely modify the fuel system, turbocharging an engine does not make it more efficient, it makes it have more power in its most efficient RPMs (if that makes any sense) and I can't think of anything with larger injectors to stick on here without getting drag racing parts ($$$), or moving up to a twin injector set up (custom intake needed). also my compression ratio is astronomical for any form of forced induction, and I do NOT want to do another head job, or run race fuel/av gas (~5.95 gallon)

that would be in the future.

on another note, my old F250 (traded for all the free parts I got here) is completely gone, in just 2 days. there is literally, nothing left. the rear passenger door and driver front qtr. are all that is left, amazingly fast destruction.

just learned a 200R4 transmission has less operating loss than a 700R4, but can't handle as much torque. apparently a DL80E or some race 5 speed is my best bet. the 700 we put in there was out of an '89 delta 98, and, although rebuilt, is temporary. its just not meant for this amount of power and abuse.

and 'plastic egg shaped car with no soul' was a broad generalization of every modern car I have driven, no steering or brake communication, suspension is too stiff, the FWD is unpredictable and doesn't feel like you are in control.

but the hearse feels...right. the brakes are vacuum assist, but still have feedback. the power steering is nice and responsive, you can tell exactly how much grip you have left, and the interior, oh god the interior, what isn't steel or wood is leather, I know it has practically no miles, but there are no rattles, nothing feels funny or loose, it gives you a 'solid' feel that only a few modern car manufacturers have been able to keep (looking at YOU Germany). its also incredibly smooth, I hit a speed bump I didn't see at 25, and (although it made a lot of noise) didn't shake me around. its also very commanding to drive, not to the point where you and the car are one (you need some high-dollar european sports cars for that) but it feels like the car wants to do what you tell it, and its pretty peppy about it. its probably the RWD that causes most of this...

city MPG is about 7 at the moment.

 

^I don't have anything for a down payment, plus its just another bland F150...not a badass custom hearse

and I am under their thumb for 72 months, this thing will be long killed and gone in 6 years...I would be paying for like 3 trucks if I financed everything I bought. I am on a 'cash only' basis with everything now.
2012 Ford F-150 Options | View Available Trim Levels | Ford.com


new rear diff solves low end problem.

also city MPGs are better, don't know how much better, but its noticeable. maybe 9-10? highway mpgs should stay the same. got new engine computer along with the injector pump, which allows for one O2 sensor per cylinder, instead of one per side of engine-should boost performance, MPGs, and durability. will install tonight, along with larger rear drums and moving up to Royal Purple oil all around, which should give me a considerable boost.

 

aww come on dude, I already bought turbos...maybe in the distant future I will do it.

used ecoboosts here are ~$40k
2011 FORD F150 ECOBOOST SPECIAL EDITION ONLY 10,000 MILES WITH NAVI!!!
2011 Ford F150 SuperCrew Lariat 4x4 ~ Ecoboost ~ 8K miles! Beige 22598861R D 141
2011 FORD F150 LARIAT ECOBOOST LOADED

also the ship has sailed, I have a Cadillac now..its going to be a while before I get any money.

an LT1 B chassis would be a sweet ride, but-
1993 Cadillac Fleetwood
1994 IMPALA SS ON 22s LAMBO DOORS

there aren't many of them, the few that there are are abused/molested, and people just want too much for them.

and Texas inspection is easy...this car passed on sunday first shot, after sitting for 4 years...

besides, with all I have in my trunk now, I should be able to raise MPG's some tonight. will report back with findings

 

tonight I installed:
Royal purple full synthetic fluids, trans, diff, and engine, along with new oil filter.
new ECU, O2 sensors, and fuel rail. (new injector pump earlier today)


I also pulled the valve cover just to have a look around, still a new engine. (it was rebuilt on sunday, of course it is, lol)

picked up (AT MINIMUM) 50 horsepower.

it was inspected before overhaul.

as far as transmissions go, I think the casting for the 500 motors didn't allow for a clutch...I don't know though. and I would like to move up to a DL80E, but remember-the 700R4 in it has less than 500 miles on it.

brakes.
I bled everything last night, and it all seems to work good enough. it has some HUGE drums on the back, and GM discs in the front, it can stop. +the trailer brake set up, so other then ABS or rear discs, I don't see anything worth upgrading.

alignment was done on Sunday during overhaul.
a carbon fiber drive shaft is a...different idea, but it sounds expensive.

my friend has an ecoboost, he says he hates it, but I will go take a look at it, just to satisfy you all, okay?

probably will get a good 2 mpg out of the fluids and better ECU. have some driving to do tomorrow, so I can tell you.

 

^methanol injection on non-force-inducted engines is pretty pointless...plus, with my dual-quadrojet style intake (dual throttle bodies) would require more modification to the kit. but, for $300, it might be worth it just to experiment with.

I would also need some pretty serious nozzles for the amount of air that goes through my engine.

today I had to go back to the rigs again, and am racking up some pretty serious miles. I have been trying to feather-foot it as much as possible. the new ECU and fluids make a noticeable difference in how the engine/drivetrain 'feels', its much smoother, and takes less throttle to cruise at 80. plus it makes more power, and that is always a plus.

I have ~$500 left in my car fund, and I am thinking of updating the AC to R-134A, and getting some radiator fans, along with backup cams and some form of an air-ride suspension. I'm not going to call it quits after I run out, but its probably going to slow down.