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stock, refreshed Y Block...8MPG?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Eagletucky, Oct 11, 2012.

  1. Eagletucky
    Joined: Feb 21, 2005
    Posts: 735

    Eagletucky
    Member

    Gents,

    I have a 1962 Ford Ranch Wagon that I picked up 6 months ago. When I bought it, the motor had sat since 1983. While the motor ran, it burned oil at an alarming rate. So, I decided to open the motor up and see what was needed to help in this regard.

    After a thorough inspection, I made the decision to replace all the bearings, rings, oil pump, gaskets. I had to grind the crank and install 0.30 bearings, as there was some damage there. NOTE: i did not do any work to the heads, other than a simple cleanup.

    After the motor was put back together, I started tracking my gas mileage. With nearly 1000 miles on the engine, I am only getting 8 to 10 miles per gallon. At this time, that is a huge hit on my budget and ability to drive this thing. The motor runs great, idles well, has good throttle response. and burns no oil.

    Other info:

    The car runs the stock 3 speed manual, no overdrive.
    Stock rear end, I believe the ratio is 3:71 (I know its in the 3:70's, dont have the car with me)
    Stock 2 barrel ford carb.
    Running 215/75/15 tires.

    Basically, this car is completely stock. I feel as if it is properly tuned and runs well. The MPG number is killing me.

    Any usefull suggestions would be appreciated.
     
  2. Ole don
    Joined: Dec 16, 2005
    Posts: 2,915

    Ole don
    Member

    First, pull the distributor and have it checked on a machine. Second, find a fuel mixer that works. I cant imagine how that much fuel can run through a 292 and it still runs right. Are there leaks in the fuel line that only show up while driving? I have run two different 312's in the past few years, 15 to 19 MPG at 70, with wild cams and compression. My stock 272 did 21.5
     
  3. Jimmy2car
    Joined: Nov 26, 2003
    Posts: 1,707

    Jimmy2car
    Member
    from No. Cal

    As you mentioned that you did nothing to the heads, you may have badly worn valve guides
     
  4. Its a Y block,. Don't expect good mileage..:)
     

  5. Moedog07
    Joined: Apr 11, 2011
    Posts: 506

    Moedog07
    Member

    Check Heads and fuel line / fuel tank. You could do a leak down test on the heads. I bought new 3/8 fuel line and a new gas tank on my '55. I did not trust the old stuff.

    . I would think your milage should be in the teens, 12-15 mpg. You might consider a 4bbl carb like an Edelbrock and free flowing exhaust. What do you have manifolds? Headers?
     
  6. Are you just enjoying the new throttle response, runs great, etc. a little too much? Look at your driving habits since the rebuild. A '62 Ranch wagon is an awful heavy car for a 292 to do much without using a lot of fuel.
     
  7. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,092

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    Yep, that sounds about right. My fresh 272 in a fenderless 34 coupe with 3:1 rear end gear gets about 16... That's about the best mileage I've ever got with a Y block car/truck...
     
  8. Corn Fed
    Joined: May 16, 2002
    Posts: 3,278

    Corn Fed
    Member

    I'd guess I get about 16-18 MPG out of the 312 I have in my Model A PU. It has a progressive 3x2 (97's), 4spd, Mallory dual pt, and 3.50 out back. You have quite a bit heavier car than I do so you should expect worse mileage.
    Even with a small 8 gallon tank, I need to get out to stretch more than I need to stop to refill.
     
  9. mastergun1980
    Joined: Oct 18, 2010
    Posts: 1,094

    mastergun1980
    Member
    from Alva OK

    Dude, I get 10- mpg in a 56 f-600 ( thats right 2 ton ) truck even doing 65 and driving the piss outta it. i think you have problems... oh my rear end is a 2 speed which is 5.83 - 8.11 so Its pretty much low and ultra low
     
  10. afaulk
    Joined: Jul 20, 2011
    Posts: 1,194

    afaulk
    Member

    When I was as John Wayne called it "a yonker" my buddy's mom let us take the car to the theater on Sat. nights. It was a 57 Ford, 4 door, with a 312/2 barrel/automatic. Now my bud was a responsible young man (nerd) and was very careful (and slow) always drove the speed limit. We could drive to town and back, almost 30 miles each way, on 3 gallons of gas. That was $.50 each for gas. We're talking 1967 here. There's something amiss with your gas mileage pard. My 73 model 3/4 ton pickup with a 454 got 12mpg towing a car and open trailer. If your engine and tune up are ok, start with changing your gear ratio to a 2.70.
     
  11. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    From contemporary road tests your car should get 16 - 18 MPG in normal driving. Maybe a bit more, being a standard trans.

    If you do a lot of stop and go, traffic driving that will kill your mileage.

    If compression is good it's time for a careful tuneup (valve adjust, ignition and carb in that order).

    Maybe even a different carb, I have heard certain Motorcraft 2 barrel carbs from the 80s will really boost mileage, some of the Ford guys may know which one.
     
  12. Check your oil for fuel dilution, either unburned fuel getting past the rings or a faulty fuel pump that's allowing gas to find it's way into the crankcase.

    Check the choke for proper operation. Make sure that after running a few minutes the choke valve is fully open.

    Get after the tune-up. As mentioned already, check the distributor for bushing wear, make sure the mechanical advance works freely and that the vacuum advance still holds vacuum. If it isn't already, try connecting the vacuum advance to a source of manifold vacuum, not ported vacuum.

    Consider rebuilding the carb or if you're not up to it find someone else who's done it before.

    Get yourself a vacuum gauge, connect it to manifold vacuum and strap it to your steering column. As much as possible try driving it while keeping the vacuum as high as possible. This alone could be good for an extra 1.5 MPG.

    You said this has a manual transmission? You don't have a clutch slipping, do you? :rolleyes:
     
  13. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    take out that slug and put in a 400 Pontiac. I used to get only 10 mpg in my old Pontiac, but I could burn rubber for blocks.
     
  14. I have a 56 T-Bird, 312 Y Block all stock except for headers and dual exhaust. It also has the dreaded T Pot 4 barrel and Load A Matic distributor with an automatic. It gets 16-18 MPG driven fairly hard - and it has 100,000 miles on the motor
     
  15. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,213

    sunbeam
    Member

    I"M sure it got an autolite or a holley check the power valve. Bad power valves makes them thursty.
     
  16. I got 8 mpg in my 56 Victoria back in '68. I never got any better than that.

    That was to school and to the mill for work.

    I did drive it hard though. Sometimes I didn't get 8 miles to a transmission...
     
  17. Mattilac
    Joined: Oct 27, 2007
    Posts: 1,156

    Mattilac
    Member

    I regularly got 16-18mpg in my shortbed F100... and that was BEFORE I rebuilt it.
     
  18. anteek
    Joined: Feb 27, 2009
    Posts: 394

    anteek
    Member

    Get a dist. for a '60's pickup. The older ones didn't work by advancing the timing but retarding it.easier to tune.
     
  19. rob lee
    Joined: Jul 30, 2006
    Posts: 1,331

    rob lee
    Member
    from omaha,ne

     
  20. RayJarvis
    Joined: Oct 11, 2010
    Posts: 209

    RayJarvis
    Member

    check plugs to see if your running rich. as the guys have mentioned check ignition system and fuel system. also look for a couple of reversed plug wires.
     
  21. SimonSez
    Joined: Jul 1, 2001
    Posts: 1,637

    SimonSez
    Member

    Y-blocks changed to centrifugal advance in 57, so as long as you still have the original '62 distributor it should be the right one.

    It wouldn't hurt to make sure the advance is working properly though, as running retarded will kill the power which will hurt the mileage.


     
  22. TERPU
    Joined: Jan 2, 2004
    Posts: 2,372

    TERPU
    Member

    Check your plugs first, read them and that'll tell you if its rich. I suspect it is. But if they are looking right then check your timing. It is not the most efficient engine, but should give at least 12MPG. I don't know about the other guys but mine always liked 2500-2800 RPM and seemed to get the best mileage there. Gear ratio will be your friend here, and if I lugged it the gas mileage seemed to go way down, if I over revved it it wanted to heat up. So me and it developed an understanding and never had any more problems. They are great engines and very dependable.

    Tim
     
  23. I think I remember some Ford sixes laid out that way but I hadn't recalled the V8s being like that. There was even some models that had vacuum ports on both sides of the diaphragm to provide both vacuum advance and retard. Not even sure if was on a Ford or not. Might have been an early smog motor set-up.
     
  24. S.F.
    Joined: Oct 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,895

    S.F.
    Member

    yep, sounds like she's running perfect. Ive had alot of Y block powered full size cars. They all got shitty gas mileage. 10-12 mpg...or less.
     
  25. Randy in Oklahoma
    Joined: Sep 18, 2008
    Posts: 301

    Randy in Oklahoma
    Member
    from Oklahoma

    If you want some help, call Ted at Eaton Balancing. He has been machining and assembling Y block Fords since the 1960's.

    http://www.eatonbalancing.com/
     
  26. lippy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 6,825

    lippy
    Member
    from Ks

    It amazes me how guys take an engine thats tired, put a crank and bearings in it (whatever it needs) and expect it to be a new engine. Am I off base here? :D
     
  27. Tim,
    I would start with having Bubba put the distributor on his machine and ensure the vacumm advance is working properly. Take a look at the power valve in the carb and ensure it is not blown.
    On reinstallation, double check to make sure the distributor is clocked properly and the timing is set correctly.
    All of this should at least get you into the low teens on mileage.
     
  28. Henry VIII
    Joined: Mar 30, 2009
    Posts: 272

    Henry VIII
    Member
    from Tulsa OK

    Clean and rebuild the carburetor.
    Clean and rebuild the distributor. Make sure the advance is working right. Advance the initial timing but not so much as to cause pre-ignition (gas knock). Set the point dwell at 29.
     
  29. old soul
    Joined: Jan 15, 2011
    Posts: 1,093

    old soul
    Member
    from oswego NY

    Maybe you just suck at math
     
  30. suede57ford
    Joined: May 18, 2009
    Posts: 33

    suede57ford
    Member

    Make sure your motor has the later model dist. Make sure the mechanical advance is working. Check the points, weak points kill the mileage. The Vacuum Advance can add some mileage as well. Set you initial timing higher, maybe 12-16 degrees.

    The sugestions of checking the powervalve as it could be the problem too.

    The modern composite head gaskets are much thicker than the original steel shim, which lowers your compression, which affect efficency.

    I would expect you can easily get 16-19 mpg if the motor is tuned properly.

    My '57 Ford Cutom Tudor Sedan with a 312 Y-Block got 18+mpg with a 2-4's set-up on Power Tour a few years ago.
    I changed it to an original VR57 Ford Supercharger set-up with a single four and it got 20mpg on a following Power Tour. Not only did the mileage go up with the blower, but its much faster too.

    The '57 has a tremec tko 5spd and 4:11's. I'm sure the OD helps my mileage as well.
     

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