What drivetrain would you put in for 30 mpg?

[UNGN]

My 2+2 is more "aerodynamic" than a new Z06/Z07 corvette. At 165 mph I'm using at least 150 less HP than one because it has 650 Hp and I have 500Hp and our distance from a standing start to 165 mph (a little more than a mile) is roughly the same, yet its still rated at 23mpg highway(with 650 HP) - because it has torque and can pull a high gear. All of the downforce the Z06/Z07 generates comes at huge aero cost. The new ZR1 should be even more draggy... way more draggy than any G-body. Low and looking fast doesn't always translate into "low drag".

Having a motor with torque that can pull a high gear is key to fuel efficiency above all else. It's why Diesels get good mileage.

My 5.9 cummins quad cab got 20+ mpg on the highway @ 70 mph and it was a 6,500lb, tall, wide brick with a huge motor, because it had torque and could pull a high gear.

The little Ecotech 2.0L turbo's could probably knock down 30mph and would be fun in a light weight A/G body.

 

[online170]

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

Still hung up in the units i see. 30 mpg is not as magical as you guys are making it seem.
7 L/100kms is 33 mpg (US).

My buddy's cottage is 510kms from his house. He puts 65L into the gas tank, loads up the trunk with stuff, and drives there then back on the same tank. Thats around 6 L/100 and more than 33 mpg (US). Thats the best the car will do. Commuting to work with mix of highway and city sees a worse result. He doesnt do pure city driving so its hard to tell, but its never been worse than about 22 USmpg.


355 with 9:1 compression. AFR 180cc heads, TPI from a camaro, T56, 4.11 gears and 26" tire. Runs mid 14's in the 1/4 at about 98mph. Its optimized for low end torque and has enough gears to use it. Thats the secret to MPG.

 

[jiho]

Still hung up in the units i see. 30 mpg is not as magical as you guys are making it seem.

Just checking, I have seen it so many times. 😀

How your friend drives would make a big difference, of course. But what he puts in the tank might also make a difference. Does he run 100% gasoline, or is it E10 or some such?

Some years ago here in California the state instituted what they call "Reformulated Gasoline." But for a while they didn't check on whether the companies were in compliance. Just before they finally started cracking down, I happened on some gas that gave my fuel economy a big boost, like from about 18 mpg to more like 22 or better, both in the same mixed driving. Then the state started cracking down, and the company ran an ad saying they had a new "cleaner" formula. Right after that, I started getting about 18 mpg again just like the old days. Never had a chance to test that gas freeway-only.

 

[jiho]

30 mpg is not as magical as you guys are making it seem.

And what kind of mileage do you yourself get, by the way? 😵

Stories people find hard to swallow always seem to be about someone other than the person telling the story.

I'll double-check your calculations later. 😛

 

[UNGN]

A 350 chevy with TPI pulling a 2.05 rear gear (.5 O/D T56) @ 60mph could get 30mpg. A 350 chevy with AFR heads and 4.11 gears that only runs 98 in the 1/4 mile is not making a lot of upper end HP, which means if could be making a lot of torque at 1500 Rpm.

 

[pontiacgp]

You'll get better fuel mileage on second 1/2 of the tank than the first 1/2

 

[UNGN]

You'll get better fuel mileage on second 1/2 of the tank than the first 1/2

But the gas gage will never let you know that 🙂 Mine stays FULL forever, then 1/2 a tank, then I better start looking for a gas station.

 

[pontiacgp]

But the gas gage will never let you know that 🙂 Mine stays FULL forever, then 1/2 a tank, then I better start looking for a gas station.

you always get better fuel mileage on the last gallon of gas in the tank than the first gallon of gas in the tank in any car

 

[TURNA]

you always get better fuel mileage on the last gallon of gas in the tank than the first gallon of gas in the tank in any car

Especially if going down hill!!!

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

A Monte SS has a drag coefficient of .37.
A Aerocoupe has a drag coefficient of .36.
Regal has a dc of .38.
Model T has a dc of .7-.8
A Prius has a dc of .26.

Don't know about a current Corvette, but the 2002 vettes have a dc of .29 which is better than a g body.