Better Gas Millage
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
add more air to the tires,further downtune an edelbrock carb,remove spare tire,jack,tools,annoying passenger,400 watt amp,kicker speakers w/cabinets,spinners(were going to fly off someday anyway)and i'm good to go.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
Overdrive trannies (with lockup function on automatics), fuel injection, and/or computer control of fuel mixture are your best solutions. After that, it's limited to narrower, more highly inflated tires and improving aerodynamics to reduce drag and friction.
Basically, if you want a fuel efficient car, don't own an old, carbed Corvette.
You might want to do a little "financial analysis" of how much that extra gas money actually costs you. For example, if you drive 2500 miles per year and you get an average of 12.5 mpg, that calculates to 200 gallons of gas per year. At $3 per gallon, that $600 per year for fuel--about twice what you pay for insurance. If fuel costs go up to $4 per gallon, that's an extra $200 per year. And what can you do to your car to get a 33% improvement in fuel economy for $200?? Nothing!!
Just enjoy the car and consider the added fuel cost in the "price of having fun".
Basically, if you want a fuel efficient car, don't own an old, carbed Corvette.
You might want to do a little "financial analysis" of how much that extra gas money actually costs you. For example, if you drive 2500 miles per year and you get an average of 12.5 mpg, that calculates to 200 gallons of gas per year. At $3 per gallon, that $600 per year for fuel--about twice what you pay for insurance. If fuel costs go up to $4 per gallon, that's an extra $200 per year. And what can you do to your car to get a 33% improvement in fuel economy for $200?? Nothing!!
Just enjoy the car and consider the added fuel cost in the "price of having fun".
Last edited by 7T1vette; Mar 10, 2011 at 02:13 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 5
From: N.Richland Hills Texas
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I have a 6 speed and fuel injection but it sure was not for mileage. With a 500+ HP 385 ci motor mileage was not a concern. If I was worried about mileage I'd be driving a Volt or a Prius. I could probably squeeze over 20 if I really tried but I probably average about 8 to 10 most of the time. My right foot gets heavy every time I drive it for some reason. 
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Im not driving one of them. That is getting me great gas mileage.
For the others, I drive them only on sunny weekend days, and there have not been many of those in San Jose yet. So gas mileage has not been much of a factor against driving. Yet.
kdf
For the others, I drive them only on sunny weekend days, and there have not been many of those in San Jose yet. So gas mileage has not been much of a factor against driving. Yet.
kdf
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,060
Likes: 101
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
if you won a C3 for the fuel economy, you made a poor choice, lol. it kind of goes with the territory. i did do a 383 stroker with the original engine and switched to a manual trans and 3:36 rear gears. when i want economy, i take my C5 6speed CE convertible out on the road and enjoy getting 30mpg consistantly at just under 80mph cruising.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
I don't understand why people don't drive their cars more often. I try to every chance I can. And at 18 to 20 mpg hwy that is the best milage car I own. Someone earlier stated only driving 2,500 miles per year. Heck we drive more than that on just one road trip. lol So this Corvette is our "economy" vehicle. lol Al
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
I just pulled up my Corvettes on my computer just to see what kind of gas milage I have been getting...
These are my Total average figures from after 1/1/2000... Basically the last 10 full years ...
1964 16.4 mpg Conv.
1972 11.5 Conv.
1976 10.9
1979 9.4
1988 (just purchased never put gas in it yet...)
1998 24.5 Conv.
All except the 79 were Manuel transmission cars...
the 64 is a 327 365 hp car
the 72 has had a '68 327 350 in it the last 20 years
the 76 is a bone stock l48
The 79 is a bone stock l82
the 98 is an LS1 with SLP bolt on mods
BTW...I owned a 95 (also a 6 speed car) that averaged ..again from day one 21.0 MPG during the 4 years I owned it..
Looks to me the best way to improve your gas millage is to buy a C4 C5 or C6 ...
BTW.... Best Mileage I ever got was 32.2 MPG driving my 95 going to Bowling Green on one 400 mile romp down 81 with the cruise control set at 80 ...no stops
SMILES per MILE s a much better way to "measure" your Corvette then Miles per Gallon...
Bob G
These are my Total average figures from after 1/1/2000... Basically the last 10 full years ...
1964 16.4 mpg Conv.
1972 11.5 Conv.
1976 10.9
1979 9.4
1988 (just purchased never put gas in it yet...)
1998 24.5 Conv.
All except the 79 were Manuel transmission cars...
the 64 is a 327 365 hp car
the 72 has had a '68 327 350 in it the last 20 years
the 76 is a bone stock l48
The 79 is a bone stock l82
the 98 is an LS1 with SLP bolt on mods
BTW...I owned a 95 (also a 6 speed car) that averaged ..again from day one 21.0 MPG during the 4 years I owned it..
Looks to me the best way to improve your gas millage is to buy a C4 C5 or C6 ...
BTW.... Best Mileage I ever got was 32.2 MPG driving my 95 going to Bowling Green on one 400 mile romp down 81 with the cruise control set at 80 ...no stops
SMILES per MILE s a much better way to "measure" your Corvette then Miles per Gallon...
Bob G
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
72 454 4-speed Holley 850 double pumper, side pipes. It got about 8 MPG when I first got it.
I did that as well. It really did help.
Then I added a 5-speed TKO600
Then I changed the rear gear from 3.36 to 3.70 (not much of a change either way, really).
Then I added fuel injection.
Now it got 18.6 MPG on the 2010 Hot Rod Power Tour.
I have found by leaving it in the garage, it gets the best fuel efficiency, but the fun factor is drastically reduced.
It is a trad-off.
I did that as well. It really did help.
Then I added a 5-speed TKO600
Then I changed the rear gear from 3.36 to 3.70 (not much of a change either way, really).
Then I added fuel injection.
Now it got 18.6 MPG on the 2010 Hot Rod Power Tour.
I have found by leaving it in the garage, it gets the best fuel efficiency, but the fun factor is drastically reduced.
It is a trad-off.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 1
From: Coconut Creek FL
Overdrive trannies (with lockup function on automatics), fuel injection, and/or computer control of fuel mixture are your best solutions. After that, it's limited to narrower, more highly inflated tires and improving aerodynamics to reduce drag and friction.
Basically, if you want a fuel efficient car, don't own an old, carbed Corvette.
You might want to do a little "financial analysis" of how much that extra gas money actually costs you. For example, if you drive 2500 miles per year and you get an average of 12.5 mpg, that calculates to 200 gallons of gas per year. At $3 per gallon, that $600 per year for fuel--about twice what you pay for insurance. If fuel costs go up to $4 per gallon, that's an extra $200 per year. And what can you do to your car to get a 33% improvement in fuel economy for $200?? Nothing!!
Just enjoy the car and consider the added fuel cost in the "price of having fun".
Basically, if you want a fuel efficient car, don't own an old, carbed Corvette.
You might want to do a little "financial analysis" of how much that extra gas money actually costs you. For example, if you drive 2500 miles per year and you get an average of 12.5 mpg, that calculates to 200 gallons of gas per year. At $3 per gallon, that $600 per year for fuel--about twice what you pay for insurance. If fuel costs go up to $4 per gallon, that's an extra $200 per year. And what can you do to your car to get a 33% improvement in fuel economy for $200?? Nothing!!
Just enjoy the car and consider the added fuel cost in the "price of having fun".
For Improved fuel economy in my C3...Whenever I'm driving around South Florida and I see a hill. I speed up and coast down the other side and yell Weeee! Weeee! just like little piggy in the insurance advertisement! The gas gauge never evens moves at all!