Average MPG

[p24-1953]

so what does every one get? what should i expect? 53 w/ overdrive

i filled up last sunday and have put 80 miles on it and the guage is showing a little above 1/2. it seems a that either the guage is off or im getting really poor mileage.

[Young Ed]

I've got 18-19 on long trips with a stock 218 no OD and a 3.73 rear end. Thats going 50-55 with the group. If I'm going faster like 60-65 there is a big decrease.

[greg g]

17 to 19

[hkestes41]

I made a 800+ mile round trip to the HAMB Drags last year in my 48 Plymouth coupe. 218 dual intake, Carter-Webber carbs, Headers, Duals and OD. Running 70 on the highway plus about 125 miles or so of in town driving and over the trip I averaged 19.9 mpg.

[p24-1953]

i guess i should fill it back up to see how many gallons it takes, what could cause such poor mileage of 10mpg?

it runs good. no stumble or hesitations, bogs. nothin.. it does have the tendency to be a little rough at idle when its in gear, but if i bump up the throttle, then it runs to high at idle when out of gear.

[Young Ed]

Fill it up first and check your actual MPG. could just be your fuel gauge is funky

[bearheart]

My '49 2dr with a 230/fluid drive (no OD) is only getting about 14/15mpg. Runs great though??? Has a 373 rear.

[greg g]

Makesure your choke butterfly is completely open at normal operating temp. If you have an automatic choke, It may not be opening completely causing a rich mixture.

What do your plugs look like, What kind of driving are you doing, is your odometer accuate? Are your tires the correct diameter. Is your float set correctly, is there evidence of raw gas near the throttle butterfly pivot? Where is your timng set, are your points and plugs gapped correctly.

[FiredomeVorhese]

53 Desoto Firedome:

7-9 city

12-15 highway

Engine is a little tired.

[thrashingcows]

No idea yet, still waiting for the paperwork to get sorted out on Fernando. But usually I don't care what my mileage is, if I did I'd buy a crappy commuter car.

I build and drive these cars for the enjoyment, and love of the hobby, not for the fuel mileage. If I can maximize my fuel mileage then that's a bonus , but not a deal breaker.

[LAKOTA169]

I get about 14.5 in my '52 engined '37 coupe. That's all stop and go driving around town (short trips). I have the stock 3.9 rear.

[blueskies]

My full race flatty with overdrive gets about 19 on the highway, a bit less around town.

Pete

[Don Coatney]

I have a Desoto long block flathead 6 in my P-15. Engine has dual everything (carburetors, exhaust, ignition points, etc). I have never checked my fuel mileage as I really dont care to know. If I wanted to check fuel mileage I would be driving one of those dumb looking smart cars. I built my car to drive and have fun with. If gas goes to the perdicted seven presedential bucks a gallon I will still drive my car but maybe not as much. So my offical answer is I dont care what fuel mileage my P-15 gets.

[Lou Earle]

Back and forth to Macon from Dublin 120 miles round trip I average 21 mpg at 65 70 w oveerdrive. Hopped up engines or regular stock

Odd but my 60 383 ci Desoto 4 door with auto gets 20 mpg on same trip!!!!

Maybe a 393 rear has a bit to do with it

Lou

are u going to city park sat for car show??

[1949P17BC]

21-22 in my 49 BC duals, OD

[Niel Hoback]

Don't know, don't care.

[p24-1953]

we may go look but i wont be entering. how about you and tim

[Plymouthy Adams]

show..not going..but I will be at the swap meet in Perry on the the 2/3 April..then I have two 4 day passes in my hot little hands for Charlotte the week after Perry.

[Lou Earle]

I will be there for a while in the am will let you know more as it develops

also I said 20 with 393 rear end I meant 293 rear- that yacht has some trorque!!!

[BobT-47P15]

On our trip to Tulsa couple summers ago, I thought I was getting

about 17 per gallon. Then I discovered my odometer is wrong and

I got some less when we figured the miles against the Mrs.' P T Cruiser.

Of course, I have a 4.2-1 rear end from a 39 Dodge which doesn't

help matters any. Probably got more like 14 in reality. Driving about

55 to 60 mph.

Just a 1957 model 230 bored 30 over, stock carb, no overdrive.

[41/53dodges]

anybody know what a 53' B4B truck should get?

[bob_amos]

My '53 Cranbrook gets around 17 - 19. Mostly highway with a little city included. I'd imagine it to be 12 - 14 city stop and go driving. But I avoid that if I can.

[Lou Earle]

Drove my 49 to Macon GA to car show- beautiful mustangs- got 17 mpg at 65 mph However burned about 1.5 qus of oil- going to now chack next 100 or so miles under 55 mph and see about oil burning.

I remember that these old gals burned oil even new at speeds above 60 mph- old article in Mechanix illustrated by tom Mcall about a 50 wagon that the tested and burned oil.

Any other experiences??

Lou