What drivetrain would you put in for 30 mpg?

[oldsmobile joe]

My buddy's regal gets over 30mpg regularly. Its his daily driver in the summer. He puts about 20,000 kms on it a year.

just to clarify, is your friend getting 30mpg or 30kpg?

 

[online170]

Sorry i tend not to realize that i mix units, cuz im fluent in both.

30mpg is correct. Approximately 7-8 L/100km depending on driving conditions, load etc..

 

[UNGN]

I was just in the junkyard today and I saw an '87 fwd Grand Am 2Dr (I was thinking it might be an Olds with Quad 4 so I popped the hood) It had the multiport 3.0L (destroked/ low deck 3.8L). The intake manifold was like an '86-87 GN motor, only cuter. The manifold was backwards on the motor so it would need to be flipped, but the motor should bolt up to a BOP 2004R,- Driver side exhaust manifold could be a TTA piece (I have a set in my garage), passenger side might be able to mod the factory manifold.

These have the same heads as a '89 Turbo trans am and the flow way better than a 3.8L head. It could be a cheap way to get 30mpg.

 

[oldsmobile joe]

should bolt up to a BOP 2004R

i thought all of gm's front wheel drive bell housing were the small metric style like what you would find on a 2.8l chevy motor?

 

[UNGN]

i thought all of gm's front wheel drive bell housing were the small metric style like what you would find on a 2.8l chevy motor?

Maybe and I thought so too, but the small metric guys seem to disown it... maybe because it was only rated at 125 hp.

If it has a small metric bolt pattern, it makes sense why there aren't any out there. It's like a trial balloon for a Series 1 3800.

 

[axisg]

Sorry i tend not to realize that i mix units, cuz im fluent in both.

30mpg is correct. Approximately 7-8 L/100km depending on driving conditions, load etc..

I wonder what the set up is in the regal ? Is that combined driving or highway only. I get excited at anything over 15 mpg in my monte running a fairly lean AF Mixture

 

[jiho]

It takes a certain amount of power to move a certain amount of tonnage down the road at a certain speed. The power can come from less throttle at higher rpm, or more throttle at lower rpm. There are efficiency factors that can improve or worsen the result, but relatively minor, typically on the order of 1 or 2 mpg total. You can exaggerate the difference by stomping on it at every opportunity. You can tune to dump raw fuel out the tailpipe. A V8 weighs more than a V6, like an extra passenger worth. Just trying to help. 😀

 

[jiho]

30mpg is correct.

And that's Imperial gallons, right? 30 Imperial = 25 US. I've seen this so many times.

 

[oldsmobile joe]

It takes a certain amount of power to move a certain amount of tonnage down the road at a certain speed. The power can come from less throttle at higher rpm, or more throttle at lower rpm. There are efficiency factors that can improve or worsen the result, but relatively minor, typically on the order of 1 or 2 mpg total. You can exaggerate the difference by stomping on it at every opportunity. You can tune to dump raw fuel out the tailpipe. A V8 weighs more than a V6, like an extra passenger worth. Just trying to help. 😀

so true.
wind resistance plays into it also. our cars were designed when the top legal speed was 55mph. the feds chose this speed in the 70's because it was compromise between travel time and fuel economy. new car cafe (mpg) numbers for hwy are tested at 48mph. yes, 48mph. not the 70+ we all drive today. simple physics, the faster you go, the more wind resistance there is, there for, the more power it takes.
joe

 

[pontiacgp]

Find a way to put in an 8 speed automatic transmission and tailgate a transport truck