Hey I was just wondering what kind of mpg you guys get. If, I mean when, I get my ''66 coupe done I will be driving it 40 mile round trip to school. I think we are going to put EFI on it so it will be a little better.

List your year, engine, carb, aprox. city/highway, and anything else you think should be told.

 

I wouldn't even bother calculating the gas milage on this thing.

Nor would I drive a classic Mustang 40 miles round trip to school. Partly because of MPG, partly because of reliability, and partly because I just wouldn't want to do that to the poor old car. If I were you, I would spend the money it would take to put EFI on the car on a good beater. Something small, with a little engine. It's not the fun answer, but it'd pay off in the long run.

 

Yep Blake is right 40 miles is just stupid to do in a classic like that....not only is it costly but the old v8s run alot warmer and therefore more wear and tear....unless u do an oilchange evry month then u should be fine lol...even withEFI ur not gona get 20 mpg lol i think we get 10 mpg in out 65 vert with a 289 HiPO city...

 

Mostly I just want to know what different cars and engines get. I think i'm already set on driving it. If I did get another car, it would be a 87-93 . I'll just have to tough the MPG part.

At first I was worried about putting so many miles on it, but I don't plan on ever selling it, and if properly maintained, it should run forever. I know there is a possibility that I may have to sell it, but I am trying to prepare myself enough so that will never happen.

It shouldn't cost too much to put EFI on it, although I would like to keep it original. My brother put it on his "71. He got everything, including a 302, for $500. He still has it, although it needs restoration and a donor car due to being hit in the rear.

I apreciate your advice, but I don't think I could handle a small engine.

 

Well I agree with Blake,

but to answer your question,

426W with a holley 750HP carb.

Should be right around 6mpg....

 

I get about 15-16 mpg in the city with my 289, holley 4bbl carb, edelbrock intake with dual exhaust. These cars are built to be driven, not sit in a garage.

 

Thank you guys for your advice and information. I know it will be rough using a classic as a daily driver, but at least I only have two years of HS left. Hopefully by then, if not before, I will have a newer daily driver.

I can't find the site again, but when I was researching T-5 swaps I found a guy that did a 65 or 66 GT 350 clone. I believe he had a 289 with dual 4 bbls. If I remember correctly with the T-5 he got 21mpg.
I asked my dad about a T-5 swap, but he didn't seem to like the idea very well.

If nothing else we have a AOD from a police cruiser that will probably go in it.

The trip by the way is all highway. What you get for living in the middle of nowhere.

 

I wish you the best, let me just say that my first car was a 65 coupe that I drove for eight years every stinking day, and Colorado has some severe weather, summer and winter. Just take good care of her and she will run fine for you.
Keep up the maintenance and the fuel mileage will be fine.

 

Thanks. When she is retired to a weekend warrior I plan to go back to a carb and give back the classic feel. First I've got to get her done though.

As I said my brother drove a 71 coupe in HS. My dad was taking it to have it alligned and the guy following him in his truck hammered it in the passenger side 1/4. It buckled up into the roof, thats why we need a donor car.

After that my brother bought a 95 Gt and since he has got a 05 Gt and another 71 fastback. Both 71's and my dads 71 Mach 1 are at our house along with a 35 and 55 pickup. All of which need resored.

 

My '69 302 2bbl stock managed about 11-12 mpg. But I never drove it in a very fuel-efficient manner.

The situation with your brother's '71 getting hit is a warning. Keep in mind that, as a daily driver, you run the same risk with your classic. I'm not saying don't drive it; it is not my place to tell you that. Just be prepared for the potential consequences.

When my '06 vert comes in, I will be driving it daily, you can bet on that!

 

Yeah the guy who hit him was driving my dads truck. I don't know who he was but I guess he was helping my dad, at least up until that point.

 

My car runs at the same temperature as newer cars? :scratch:

66 Modded 306, C4, 3.50 gears, and 26" tire = 10 mpg on 92 octane

Driven daily Ive driven mine 125+ miles in a day and it hasnt blown up yet

You could probably get pretty close to 20 mpg with less gear and an OD tranny.

 

do u have pics of the 71 w/ EFI?

i love 71-73s

lol, my 2.8 V6 with a 2bbl gets ~15MPG (its a II just so you know, so im not sure if you all count that as classic, but i do )

 

Here's some pics of the coupe.

 

The back of the coupe, the fastback, and the 35 pickup in back.

 

Here's my dads Mach 1. Sorry about the pics, I had to resize them using MS Paint.

If you can't tell were Mustang poors. I'm trying to get my mom to give me a long term "loan" to get a 87+ fox. My argument is that it's new enough that it wont need to be restored.

I'm trying to find an old computer to see if I can start my own web server. If I do I'll post more pics on it and some of thy progress on my coupe.

 

Blake, is that really you? :scratch: Either there is a pod in your garage some where or you are getting old buddy. I completely agree with you but I don't recall us necessarily agreeing on this before.

Anyway, FWIW, 69' 3spd 302 4V, 2:73:1 gears with cam, header and dual exhaust upgrade, the basic package. When I drive spirited I average about 8 mpg's but otherwise........lol, who am I kidding.

Actually I did drive like a grandma for one full tank once just to see and I think I got another 2 or maybe 3 mpg's, totally wasn't worth it for the reasons I drive it though.

 

Hahah, maturing? Noooooooo!

I used to fight a harder fight on the daily driver issue, but in a case such as this (long commute, concerns about gas milage) I just don't see it as the way to go. I'll always champion the cause of keeping cool old cars on the road, instead of trailers. That said, it does seem like a shame to beat up yourself and your car if a cheap beater can save a lot of headaches.