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E-Bodies Cuda & Challenger (sponsor: ROSEVILLE MOPARTS) => Cuda & Challenger General Discussion (ROSEVILLE MOPARTS) => Topic started by: 7212Mopar on April 01, 2019, 12:48:26 PM

Title: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: 7212Mopar on April 01, 2019, 12:48:26 PM
Not that many of us care about gas mileage because most of us don't drive our cars on a daily basis or just don't care as long as having fun. However, it would be a nice piece of information for planning long trips or cruises. I just got my car running and fuel gauge is not reading right but it is burning gas quicker than my 2012 Challenger. I will fill in my share once info is available. So please share your info.

Engine size
Transmission
Rear gear ratio
Carburetor or EFI
Horsepower
City MPG
Highway MPG
Combined MPG
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: Shane Kelley on April 01, 2019, 01:33:03 PM
71 Cuda
340 with ported aluminum heads-11.0-1 compression
Real lumpy cam
750 mechanical secondary carb on a RPM Air Gap intake
400 hp
4 speed manual trans
3.91 rear gears with 26" tall tires
average 8 mpg
Real gas hog
Fixing to put a 6 barrel on this motor. Curious to see what that does for MPG. I'm thinking I will pick up some with a smaller 350 cfm center carb.

71 Road Runner
340 un-ported Edlebrock aluminum heads-10.5-1 compression
Pretty lumpy cam
650 Vacuum Secondary carb on a RPM Air Gap intake
300+ hp guesstimate.
Auto trans
3.55 rear gears with 27" tall rear tires
average 12 mpg
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: Brads70 on April 01, 2019, 02:21:10 PM
451 stroker,Lunati hyd roller cam Mopar Stage 6 heads
4L60 auto OD
4:10 Dana rear end 27.2" tall rear tires
850 Double pumper
550ish? guessing never dyno'd

City..... never kept track , too busy playing with the loud pedal ( likely not good)
Hwy best was 17 MPG on the way to Carlisle  (Was slightly better with 3:55 rear gears)
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: anlauto on April 01, 2019, 02:23:29 PM
$40 per cruise night :haha:
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: ledphoot on April 01, 2019, 02:26:44 PM
Last time I kept track my Challenger with ~400HP 340 with .510 lift cam and ported X heads would average 12MPG and get as high as 15 mpg when I had the 3.23's in it.. It went down a little when I switched to 3.55's, but it still averaged about the same. Hoping for similar in the Cuda if I can keep my foot out of it.
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: MEK-Dangerous on April 01, 2019, 03:00:19 PM
I would think, even with a stock 318, you would be hard pressed to get more than 16 MPG on the highway with a carburated engine.
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: chargerdon on April 01, 2019, 03:15:32 PM
74 challenger 360 9.75 compression, Edelbrock air gap intake, 600 cfm eddy carb, 3.23 gears, 26" tires.   Average between 12-14 when i drive it like a daily driver.

around 8 when im having fun which is most of the time..   
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: Fern on April 01, 2019, 03:43:27 PM
It all depends on how heavy your foot is on the pedal.
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: 70/6chall on April 01, 2019, 05:55:04 PM
1970 Dodge Challenger,
A daily driver (over 100 miles day, for 7 yrs) then about 45 miles a day for the next 25 yrs. 40k in 1972 to 522k miles in 2008 (retired from daily service in that rear). A very reliable and great running car. Just the usual mechanical fixes during that time.
   1.) 225 cu. in. Slant6, 3.7L
   2.) A904 w/ B&M shift improver kit
   3.) factory Super Six mods 2 barrel Carter BBD carb, cast iron intake, 14" open element K&N 14x3 filter
   4.) Mopar elect. ign. (Orange box)
   5.) Hooker 3into1 headers, real dual exhaust 2 1/4" aluminized pipe w/ "H" pipe, 2-26" Glass Pack mufflers to the back w/ bright tips (Cuda Style)
   6.) 8 3/4, 742 drop out 3.23 single track gear set, 11" brakes
   7.) factory 14" Rallyes on 60 series tires
   8.) 175-180 Hp about w/ mods
   9.) City MPG 18-19 on 87 pump gas no additives
   10.) Highway MPG 23-24 average
   11.) combined, not sure maybe 20-21, pretty good for carrying around 2800 lbs
No power steering, no power brakes, 11" all around.    Thanks,   Al
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: GoodysGotaCuda on April 01, 2019, 06:19:53 PM
Engine size - 5.7L
Transmission - T56 magnum, 0.63 6th
Rear gear ratio - 3.73, 28.5" tire
Carburetor or EFI - EFI
Horsepower - 360whp
City MPG - 18
Highway MPG - 23-25 (70mph)
Combined MPG - 20.5

I have very good highway range if I can keep it below 70. It really likes to cruise at about 83mph or so.
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: 7212Mopar on April 01, 2019, 11:32:32 PM
Quote from: Brads70 on April 01, 2019, 02:21:10 PM
451 stroker,Lunati hyd roller cam Mopar Stage 6 heads
4L60 auto OD
4:10 Dana rear end 27.2" tall rear tires
850 Double pumper
550ish? guessing never dyno'd

City..... never kept track , too busy playing with the loud pedal ( likely not good)
Hwy best was 17 MPG on the way to Carlisle  (Was slightly better with 3:55 rear gears)
[/quodte]

17 mpg big block is very impressive. I bet the OD helps a lot. I will see if I can fill up the tank this weekend if the rain stops. I got a funny feeling mine is going to be less than 10.
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: Brads70 on April 02, 2019, 03:42:51 AM
Quote from: 7212Mopar on April 01, 2019, 11:32:32 PM
Quote from: Brads70 on April 01, 2019, 02:21:10 PM
451 stroker,Lunati hyd roller cam Mopar Stage 6 heads
4L60 auto OD
4:10 Dana rear end 27.2" tall rear tires
850 Double pumper
550ish? guessing never dyno'd

City..... never kept track , too busy playing with the loud pedal ( likely not good)
Hwy best was 17 MPG on the way to Carlisle  (Was slightly better with 3:55 rear gears)
[/quodte]

17 mpg big block is very impressive. I bet the OD helps a lot. I will see if I can fill up the tank this weekend if the rain stops. I got a funny feeling mine is going to be less than 10.
Neil has built engines with same or more power that get better fuel mileage.  Maybe he will chime in on this.

Sent from my SGH-I317M using Tapatalk

Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: b5cuda on April 02, 2019, 05:17:12 AM
That's impressive Goody - did you keep or disable the MDS feature on your 5.7?
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: blown motor on April 02, 2019, 05:25:14 AM
340/904
Lumpy cam
650 Eddy
3.23 gears
Guess about 325hp
13-14 mpg
Fill it every 200 miles
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: js27 on April 02, 2019, 06:17:18 AM
440 punched .30 over
Auto
Lunati 507 lift cam
Edlebrock RPM manifold
Holly 750 dual feed -double pumper
Around 450 HP
3000 stall converter
410 gears
27" Radials
Hooker headers
MSD pro Billit Dist. and Blaster Coil with MSD 6A box
10 MPG city-highway.
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: Chryco Psycho on April 02, 2019, 08:11:05 AM
Quote from: Brads70 on April 02, 2019, 03:42:51 AM


Neil has built engines with same or more power that get better fuel mileage.  Maybe he will chime in on this.

Sent from my SGH-I317M using Tapatalk
[/quote]

I don't bother with these threads as no one believes me anyway  :stop:
If you build & plan the combo correctly you can achieve awesome MPG from any engine , but it is all about careful parts matching , modification in the engine & serious tuning , I believe the best I have done is 26mpg from a 440 Chall
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: GoodysGotaCuda on April 02, 2019, 09:48:25 AM
Quote from: b5cuda on April 02, 2019, 05:17:12 AM
That's impressive Goody - did you keep or disable the MDS feature on your 5.7?

It's disabled. It does cut fuel completely when engine braking/decel, which helps a bit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: Flatdad on April 02, 2019, 10:52:43 AM
73 E-body
360-low compression
600cfm avs edelbrock
2.94 open diff
727 auto
probably stock cam
27"? radials
Best Highway was 18mpg

70 B-body, weighed 3680 lbs
528 Hemi, 10:1 CR
2 x 750cfm afb edelbrocks
3.23 suregrip
727 auto
tiny cam, lots of vacuum
26.5" polyglas gt's
Best Highway was 13mpg

switching the progressive linkage to 1:1 took it down to 11mpg
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: ledphoot on April 02, 2019, 10:54:30 AM
I am very jealous of that modern Hemi with it's good street manners and fuel economy, it's very impressive... Maybe some day I will join that club...
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: superdave on April 02, 2019, 12:06:34 PM
 '71 Challenger convertible
318
904 auto extra transmission cooler
Stock everything with a Rochester carb
Not sure in town but I did get just over 21 mpg hwy pulling a boat (about 3000lbs.) Back in the day
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: 7212Mopar on April 03, 2019, 07:39:12 AM
So far seems like only Goody is running EFI but on a modern HEMI. Anyone running EFI like Fitech or Holly Sniper?
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: Cudamike on April 03, 2019, 07:55:53 AM

          440
          800 Carb
          4 speed
          355 gears
          500HP
          10 mpg average
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: dave73 on April 03, 2019, 09:42:21 AM
440 stroked to 512
850 double pumper
3.23 gears
4 speed
HP / TQ around 550
MPG high of around 14
But if I punch it, I can basically watch the gauge go down.

Nothing like the sound and look of a big block in a classic  :wowzers:
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: 7212Mopar on April 03, 2019, 12:56:57 PM
I think I add the info on my 2012 first before I get a chance to fill up the 73.

2012 SRT8 Challenger
392 HEMI fuel injected
6 speed manual (I think about 1600 RPM or so in 6th gear at 65 mph)
Dodge advertised EPA 14 City and 23 HWY if I recall correctly.
The HWY mileage is doable if you don't go crazy. city mileage is too optimistic.
Average I never get more than 18 mpg combined with mostly HWY driving but I don't drive at 65 mph and seldom put it in 6th gear.

I am eager to find out the 73 mileage. The May cruise with fellow Ebodies members will need to include fuel stops for refilling since I estimated round trip to be closed to 200 miles for me. Their cars are HEMI or 440 powered so theoretically they will need to fill up before I do.
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: 71383bee on April 03, 2019, 01:20:44 PM
340 Stock 73 8.5:1 Compression
625 Holley
3.55 Gears
4 Speed
HP per factory is 240
HWY/CITY  is 14's / 10's
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: BIGSHCLUNK on April 03, 2019, 03:01:59 PM
70 R/T 'vert........

426 HEMI

Single 750 DP

727 trans

3.23

Actually maybe 12 ish on light footed days... but usually less  :burnout:
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: Todd489 on April 03, 2019, 06:32:03 PM
383/489 stroker, 10.5-1, ported 440 sorce heads,solid comp cam 571 lift,. 244/248@.050. 114lsa  rpm intake, 950 Holley street hp. 580hp-610tq. 355s and a 4 speed gets 16mpg!!
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: jordan on April 06, 2019, 07:52:36 AM

Engine size            520 cu in 440 stroker  11:1 Big cam Ported heads
Transmission          4L60e auto OD
Rear gear ratio       3:23
Carburetor or EFI   6BBl holley with Jet plates 
Horsepower           550hp/640 tq
City MPG               6.5
Highway MPG        Best is 11
Combined MPG      8+

                            My right foot is pretty heavy all the time.  Hwy driving is slower than most.  It really drops if I cruise over 70.  It gets       
                            expensive to put miles on!!
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: 7212Mopar on April 08, 2019, 12:34:01 PM
I filled up the car yesterday to check mileage and filled it to the top like last time. I don't think my fuel gauge is accurate so not relying on that. With about 56 driven miles and quite a bit of idling in the garage I needed 7.8 gallons. This translate to 7.2 mpg with 3/5 city and around 2/5 HWY. Also sort of babying it mostly. I am thinking engine and drive line still needs some more time and miles to "loosen up". It is what it is. My major concern is the limited range when I go on trip. There are going to be lots of fuel stops.

73 Challenger
416 stroker by IMMengines
727 AT by CRT
3.23 LSD by Dr Diff
Dyno at 491 HP and 528 ft-lbs
Fitech EFI 600 HP version. AFR hoover around 14.5 to as low as 13.
7.2 mpg (hoping to get a lot better)
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: chargerdon on April 09, 2019, 08:49:46 AM
Steady 60-75 mph driving on an interstate, gas mileage will be highly dependent on the RPM's the engine i turning and of course how efficient the engine is.  The more cubes, the more internal surface area for friction and again the worse the gas mileage.   

Around town driving to and from car shows, one thing i know for sure, it takes gas to make HP and the more you put your foot into it to make HP the more gas your going to use !!   If you enjoy that surge pushing in the back feeling (and i do) your gas mileage is going to suffer.   This is true of the new cars (thou they are more efficient with their 8-10 speed transmissions to keep revs real low on the highway, and variable valve timing when driving calmly in city traffic, or older cars !   
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: chargerdon on April 09, 2019, 08:51:47 AM
I was talking with the owner of a new 2019 Challenger Red-eye hellcat, and he says that on the highway he has seen as much as 25 MPG, but around town, jumping on it as low as 5 MPG.   Overall he says he averages around 12.   
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: Brads70 on April 09, 2019, 09:03:41 AM
Quote from: jordan on April 06, 2019, 07:52:36 AM

Engine size            520 cu in 440 stroker  11:1 Big cam Ported heads
Transmission          4L60e auto OD
Rear gear ratio       3:23
Carburetor or EFI   6BBl holley with Jet plates 
Horsepower           550hp/640 tq
City MPG               6.5
Highway MPG        Best is 11
Combined MPG      8+

                            My right foot is pretty heavy all the time.  Hwy driving is slower than most.  It really drops if I cruise over 70.  It gets       
                            expensive to put miles on!!

I'm suspecting if you went to a higher rear gear ratio numerically your economy would improve? You should be getting better mileage than that on the hwy? Mine felt like it was lugging at hwy speeds while in OD that's why I went from 3:54 to 4:10
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: 7212Mopar on April 11, 2019, 05:40:03 PM
I found this site

https://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/dodge/challenger_1gen/challenger_1gen_base_2-door_hardtop/1973.html

Below is for a 73 Challenger 340

extra-urban / city / highway / average combined:
l/100km: 14.3-17.2 / 24.1-28.9 / 16.6-19.9 / 19.7

mpg (imp.): 16.5-19.8 / 9.8-11.7 / 14.2-17 / 14.3

mpg (U.S.): 13.7-16.4 / 8.1-9.8 / 11.8-14.2 / 11.9

km/l: 5.8-7 / 3.5-4.1 / 5-6 / 5.1

Now I don't feel too bad with the 416 gas mileage.
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: Mark_B on April 12, 2019, 10:55:27 AM
1970 340
727
4 barrel Edelbrock Performer
Stock everything
Urban 10mpg
Highway 14mpg
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: kawahonda on April 12, 2019, 11:06:10 AM
Hi Mark!

Do you have the Performer, Performer RPM, or the Air Gap?

Do you happen to be running the stock air cleaner?
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: worthywads on April 12, 2019, 08:59:22 PM
Engine size = 360 0.020 over
Transmission = 727
Rear gear ratio = 3.23
Carburetor = Holley 670 Street Avenger
Horsepower = 320 guess
City = 10
Highway 15, best 18
Combined  11.9 over the last 5000 miles
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: Mark_B on April 13, 2019, 02:59:02 AM
Quote from: kawahonda on April 12, 2019, 11:06:10 AM
Hi Mark!

Do you have the Performer, Performer RPM, or the Air Gap?

Do you happen to be running the stock air cleaner?

I'm running a performer with a stock air cleaner. Is your A66 getting a similar figure?
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: JH27N0B on April 13, 2019, 07:33:30 AM
I don't have exact mpg numbers on my Challengers, as I don't take them on road trips that often.
However, there is a big Mopar show in Belvidere IL around 60 miles from my house, mostly tollway for me.  I've driven my stock  '70 383 Challenger w/auto and 3.23 rear to the show many times.  Top off on my way home as gas is cheaper when you get away from Chicago.
My educated guesstimate is it gets around 11-12 mpg highway.
I've driven my '71 V code Challenger 4 speed 4:10 rear out there, plus driven it down to a cruise and a show in Morris IL a few times, 65 miles one way, all highway/tollway, and been pleasantly surprised how little gas it used.  My educated guesstimate is 14-15 mpg.  Seems unlikely I know, but I've heard others with stiff rar V codes tell similar stories on highway mpg.  Running on just the center 2 barrel and with the high rpm, the engine is really loafing at 60 mph.
I can't say it's any fun though driving on the highway with the rpms somewhere between 3500 and 4000 rpm.  My factory tach is quirky so I don't know what it's really spinning at doing 60 mph.
I remember getting decent highway mpg with my 4 speed 3:91 rar T/A back in the day.  In fact, I recall back in the early 80s when there were some gas shortages happening, there were SIAC members in the newsletter bragging about their T/A and AARs getting really good highway mpg.  Some claimed as much as 20 mpgs!!!
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: chargerdon on April 15, 2019, 02:48:25 PM
Quote from: Mark_B on April 12, 2019, 10:55:27 AM
1970 340
727
4 barrel Edelbrock Performer
Stock everything
Urban 10mpg
Highway 14mpg

This is the best honest answer in my opinion...10-14 stock 340.   Some of these answers claiming 18-26 highway are hnmnmmn well...hmmm suspect truth stretchers.   

Again, my 360 challenger with RPM Air gap, edelbrock 600cfm carb, Lunati voodoo 703 cam and 3.23 gears with 14" wheels gets between 8-11 in short trips, and about 12 on longer trips..   It used to get better (around 14 over all) when i had the stock 2.76 rear axle.   I have an A518 overdrive sitting in my garage, i'm going to take the time to overhaul it and install to get some of that gas mileage back.
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: BillR1212 on July 05, 2019, 02:14:10 PM
440 - 505 stroker
Eddy RPM Heads
Sniper EFI
3:23 gears
Single plane intake
480hp-640tq at the tire

Usually 6-8MPG depending on how many burnouts I'm doing. I picked up a gear vendors overdrive but smoked my transmission shortly after install, so really didn't get a chance to see how it helped. Hopefully back on the road in Mid August.
Title: Re: E Bodies Gas Mileage
Post by: 1 Wild R/T on July 05, 2019, 02:48:28 PM
383 with 915 heads true 9.5 C/R 268 cam FiTech & 3.23 gear...  typically 12-13 MPG on the highway.... My all time high mileage was 15.5 but that was the most boring drive ever & I won't be repeating it.... I'll buy more fuel & have more fun...