Building A New to Me Pete

30000 pounds of freight is not top heavy but not lightweight either.
The test was done on hwy 289, I figure it has a few hills and a couple of traffic lights.
Also the truck in question looks really solid, I don't think even a macho like you would get embarrassed driving it

 

I'd say you hit the nail on the head!

 

I really don't understand why you are even on this thread. It is about a man rebuilding a truck, not about fuel mileage or any other such crap. Probably 90% of us reading this thread drive the same kind of truck. In other words, it is of interest to us. Your replies, however, are not of interest to us. I like my truck, I like other trucks like my truck, and at my age I probably would die of shame to drive one like yours. So, please do us a favor and find another thread to go to.

 

C'mon guys, let's all sell our hoods and buy slope nosed trucks and make a ton less money so we can brag about the fuel we've saved!!

 

Um. No thanks.

 

I would rather see my sister work in a cathouse as my brother drive a Volvo. My ol truck ain't the slickest, true enough it's a standard hood not extended. It can still show it's tail lights to most any one that wants to see them, headed north on 65 toward Branson at 80000 lbs. 5.7 is what she avgerages total miles. With a Pott and hopper loaded like a freight train all the time I will take that. Especially the way I drive it. I don't drive like an egg is under the throttle. The good lord gave me a right foot I use it

 

Ok, ok. Its a free country, I mean used to be. But if you insist good luck in all your endeavors, I'm sure you will all miss me.

 

I keep track of my fuel on fuel gauges, same user name. I drive a 99. 379, 390 rears and 24.5 tall rubber. I pull a flat about 80% oversize and almost always over 74000 lbs. the lifetime mpg's of my truck is 6.35 and my 30 day average is 6.89 (just had my motor rebuilt). There are many people on fuel gauges with hundreds of fill ups and 9 is no where near routine. In fact what I get seems to be about the average, even for the new sleek aerodynamic trucks. I have known and seen several trucks that pull flats get mid 7s. By the time you take into account that new truck payment and all the time it will spend in the shop after the 400,000 mile mark (if you make it that far)then your fuel savings just went to your mechanic. My truck has 1,800,000 miles on it and even though I have done a lot of repairs on the truck itself, from the first rebuild to this rebuild 800,000 miles, it has needed no motor work other than running the overhead. I needed two injectors and had a lot of blow by, and was burning a gallon of oil every 4000 miles so opted to just go ahead and do a platinum overhaul when I was planning on taking a couple of weeks off anyway. I could have replaced the injectors and kept driving and feeding it oil until something gave.
I say build that new to you Pete. Build it right and it will be better than one of these plastic throw aways that's only good for a half a million.

 

To each there own. One of the few good things still left in this business is the ability to operate it with your own individual style. I think a happy median can be found between fuel mileage and old iron and will be even more so in the future with more advanced developments for older trucks. I think the non emissions computerized motors would be the way to go like a 6NZ or similar for your project IMO although I know your looking at mechanical. I was ecstatic when my most recent average was 5.8mpg. With that being said I pull a conestoga with a flat top classic and usually cruise around 71mph. The motor has some work done and an ecm tune, pretty much walk most hills grossed out like its empty. I can live with that. I tried the cruise set at 62 mph thing and it lasted about a half hour and the thought of jumping out of the truck rolling down the road crossed my mind a couple of times. Just cant do it. The comment about the $1/mile plus fuel surcharge hit the nail on the head. I think its what alot of these new breed guys are basing there model on and banking on there truck getting 9 mpg. These guys think this business is about making just enough to get by for some reason.