New member ,new project ,new direction.

[PHAT TONY]

700r4 needs 3:42's or higher gears,I'm putting 350/700r4 from 1989 'burban in my '67 shorty. '89 suburban is the same as 1987 pick-up;TBI injection is like an add-on from the factory-stand alone engine and trans harness(almost) makes an easy swap and has to be good for 20++ mpg.

[R.L.]

Originally Posted by Putter

Hey man, I am half-way-up in Puckett, MS. If you ever make it up here, give me a shout and we can go junkyard hopping!!!

Thanks Man ,thats what I'm all about.

[R.L.]

And the rest Thanks for the welcome ,it realy feels good ,now I had been told years ago that a V-8 would not necessarily get worse MPG than a 6 becouse it did not have to work as hard getting up to speed but once it got their a 6 would run down the open road cheaper than a 8 .But after talking to you fellas I can see that theirs not a clear "this is Better" then that so yes it would be cheaper/practical to keep it the way it is.I'm at work right now so I will have to get back to this later but the tpi addons is something I did not know about and PHAT TONY thanks for the info and let us know how that turns out ,I wont to be able to drive this when I get trough with it and not rob from my family doing it.

[Gray Ghost]

Originally Posted by R.L.

No it looks like I'm around the 14 mpg range.

Still better than my 11 mpg average. Course, I am carrying around at least 250lbs more than normal and I have lumber in the back everyday.

I figure realistically I'll be getting 16 average until the big change comes in my work. Without lumber in the back all the time, I am hoping for 18+.

I am getting a TPI system from a '89 Camaro, harness and all and am looking forward to the swap....should happen in the next 90 days. The 700 and a new rear gear will happen in the spring if I get my way.

[R.L.]

I've been looking at the new Silverados to day ( on line )and I don't know what the six speed trans will do for milage but the new ones "std cab V-6 and the 5.3s only get 15 city 20 hi way.Really were not doing all that bad I guess all things considered ,looks like we'd have to go to S-10s with 4 bangers to really do much better. That is if you're already geting 15 mpg unloaded.

[R.L.]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I agree. Run the V8 combo you got for now and enjoy it. You are not going to see enough increase in gas mileage going to warrant the money you will invest to get that maybe 1 or 2 MPG. Heck it may get worse.

BTW welcome from another Gulf coaster. I'm in Gulfport, waaaaaay over in the other county

Hopefully, we can hook up sometime, maybe during Cruising the Coast. Lot of us LA and MS folks meet up then. We sometimes even let the folks from Puckett show up

Also, going late model may get you a bit more MPG, but again lot of expense swapping over the electronics and all. Plus our trucks our not as aerodynamic as the newer ones and that will also cut back on the MPG the others mentioned you get on a later model truck..

That sounds real good ,The next time I'm in town I'll look ya'll up.

[highwaymiles]

i spend 70 bucks a week in gas to and from work in my 04 chevy shortbed 4by4 so i was looking on craigslist for a cheap car to take to work,lmao,ended up buying a 69 shortstep instead,It gets 12 ,atleast the 04 gets 19,so i still take it to work.the ole lady was upset all the way up till she saw the truck and then she understood

[R.L.]

Originally Posted by highwaymiles

i spend 70 bucks a week in gas to and from work in my 04 chevy shortbed 4by4 so i was looking on craigslist for a cheap car to take to work,lmao,ended up buying a 69 shortstep instead,It gets 12 ,atleast the 04 gets 19,so i still take it to work.the ole lady was upset all the way up till she saw the truck and then she understood

Does she have a sister ? Mine doesn't get it at all.Post a pic of your trucks.Your 4x4 gets 19 thats pretty good ,I read the GM specs on their vehicles and as always I'm a little dubious of any manufacturers clamed MPG. Glad to hear your getting it.Mabey I can feel a little better about the rest of them.(EMPGs)

[tdave00]

If you really wanna slap an inline 6 in it then you need to put one of the new 4.2 liter inline 6's in it that GM starting putting in the Trailblazers and Envoys - all aluminum block and near 300hp.

[R.L.]

Thanks everybody after all the responses and reading some new truck revues ,the gas milage isn't realy all that bad .I think I will keep the small block and focus on restoration , but if the right donor vehicle comes along after restoration .....TPI sounds like the way to go.

[Gray Ghost]

Smart move....keeping the V8 will retain the value of the truck and save you some cash. Keep us posted if you convert to TPI!

[R.L.]

Been meaning to do this for a long time and since I'm off work today I thought I'd repost some of the pics photobucket deleted.

[R.L.]

These are some taken while shorting the frame. Had a rusty bed and I found a good short bed step side and they were the only type I've ever had in a project truck it was kind of like bringing all those other trucks back, in a since.

[R.L.]

If ya'll like pics here are some taken as I moved forward with the project.

[R.L.]

Hears a couple.

[R.L.]

A couple more.

[R.L.]

And now some paint.

[R.L.]

Looks like I'm having connectivity problems, if the above pics don't download I'll repost.

[R.L.]

Transmission swap.
Well there it is just a little driver, hope ya'll enjoyed the pictures. I've got a lot of info from this site and I'm not done with it, I'll be upgrading the fit and finish as time goes on but it is road worthy at this time and I love it.
Thanks everybody.

[LockDoc]

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Pictures came through just fine... WOW! What a great transformation. I see you did go with the I6, did it improve your mileage? I'm betting not much, if any. I have both I6's and V-8's and I don't see a lot of difference in mileage.

LockDoc

[R.L.]

No it really didn't but dad had one with a six and I might pick up a 8 if I find a deal on a good one and make a swap later; I've had several old 50s models with 6s and they just seem right to me besides I have a cool old 63 Chevy ll with a 8, I'll get by somehow. LOL.
I'm painting the o'l girl now I can't do too much to one with out the other getting jealous.