New Truck, New Project, 94 SCLB DRW

ahale2772

ahale2772

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Joined
Oct 27, 2011
Messages
2,442
Hey all,

Retiring the 89 to hotrod duty, just picked up this beauty as a daily driver rig.

199K on the clock, trans is back in the truck after a full rebuild, shiftkit, billet converter, redclutches ect...

Looking to go for the best fuel economy possible.. mid 20's is my goal.

never owned a second gen, so Im looking for advice. I also need to do a bunch of body work, and eventually a re-paint. Needs fenders, cab corners, and rockers. but everything else is surprisingly clean, looks like the PO took great care of the truck, you could eat lunch off the engine:rockwoot:

what should be area's that I should check? I know these rigs have some common issues, but what shoul be the first to address? as of now, it feels tight going down the road, but pulls a little to the right (barely) and MIGHT have a clunk when it hits bumps (IDK if its just me being parinoid)

How about tuning for fuel econ? what should I do? timing? afc/fuel adjustments?

here she is...
ae1e7981.jpg

15800 derale cooler for the trans (deleated both stock coolers)
2373a51f.jpg


BIG MOFUKA filter for the trans, 10micron
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little dusty but UBER clean
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am I an idiot for wanting to level it? will it screw up all the suspension components that have been living happy in their zone for 200K miles? I really like this truck, and this will essentially be a restoration. No power goals other than the best possible MPG's.
 
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That is a very clean truck! :rockwoot:

x2 on keeping it low. Dropping the rear to match the front would be better for mileage than raising the front. Converting to single rear wheel before you do the body work would also help in the mpg area. Mild mods and tuning would help.
There's a thread about the search for 30+mpgs that might give you some ideas.

Do you know about stuff like the KDP, shut-off solenoid, and starter contacts? Those and the front ends are usually the problem areas on these trucks. And the dash cracking.
 
My best mpg mods have been stock fueling, big air filter, big exhaust, slightly advanced timing. Its hard driving a truck with stock fuel settings though.
 
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When i got my 97 i had a 62/65/12 turbo 4 in exhaust no fuel plate and 3k springs. If i would keep out of it i got 22-23 usually with the fuel plate in i could imagine getting a few more mpg.
 
trans filter is plummed in line, out of the trans there are 1/4 pipe fittings drilled out to 3/8 inside diameter, the fittings are 1/2 hose barb, then its a stainless 1/2 hardline to the filter, more 1/2 hose barb, then from filter to the cooler and a harline back to the trans.

its worked flawless so far, no leaks.

What kind of improved air filer could I use?
What timing would be good? 18 degrees?

I want to keep it a dually, not opposed to lowing the rear a bit. I need to see what its got for blocks out back.



Any one ever made a homemade track bar? Im thinking of making a home made, adjustable track bar with cyryro treated heims from Ruffstuff specialties. I dont have the cash to buy the premade kit


I'm loving the way it rides, sofar its gone 177miles on 1/4 of a tank... I think thats somewhere around 20mpg:ft:
 
my buddies 95 has 370marine injectors,timing advanced,full cut delivery valves,4in exhaust and bigger turbo,he's doing wide load escort service with it and getting 22-24mpg and that truck is fast.i'm building my 89 basically the same way.right now i'm looking for a 47rh trans to build for it once i it the injectors and timing done i should be in the mid to upper 20mpg range because my truck is lighter and i have the 307 gears.isn't it fun.
 
I personally would say 18. I ran 18.5 and the truck never had problems starting in the western Pennsylvania weather. If it was really gold i just hit the glow plugs twice and it fired right up.
 
Hey guys, couple questions,

so far, over 900 miles, with a bad air filter, and a plugged cat (least i could not see thru it when held up to the sun, ive registered about 16.5 mpg.

thats probably 60%highway, 20%city 20% backroads.

not happy with that, ive since replaced oil,fuel, air filter, removed the cat (left the muffler)

Replaced all steering components, including the track bar

So now Im looking to start tuning it, what should I do first?
will I gain any MPG's by giving it a bit more fuel? should I change any AFC settings?
gona set the timing at 18, should I just do that then run a tank of fuel thru it? what should the timing be at stock?
 
Timing should be between 11-13 stock, but don't be overly surprised if its less. My 12v was 7 when I picked it up. Plate position won't affect mileage. AFC would affect it more for city driving, depending how aggressive you set it. Once on the highway at steady cruising, the AFC won't change anything.

Might want to have your injectors cleaned and reset, or just upgrade. Old dirty injectors don't help mileage.
 
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