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| | | Re: Building high MPG Motor for a 93 Vhevy Van | Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,189 old hand | old hand Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,189 | that was quite a while ago. no longer have that. most all small block chevy front accessories will swap over except the LT1-4 stuff. even 4.3 v6 stuff will swap over. even if you;re converting from an old multi-belt system to a factory serpentine system. this is the llast pic i took of the car motor before i got rid of all that stuff.. swapped over to vortec heads. note the vertical intake bolts. when it comes to front end parts, I generally make my own mounts and usually will use a serpentine or multi groove belt. i just get everything in place and then measure for the belt size. NAPA will sell you belts based on length. This car here, I had small alternator, remote resevoir power steering and all the brackets were done for an under mounted mini AC compressor.. one that you find on all the newer GM cars. For what it's worth, I used to run this motor at 12.92 in the 1/4 mile. car weighed 3100 lbs. It was a flat topped piston, std. bore cylinder and the stock 97 vortec truck cam. L31 was the OEM number for the cam. was the cheapest 450 hp I ever built. vortec heads, headers, edelbrock intake, holleey 750 and speed-pro flat top pistons.
Last edited by swimmster; September 15th 2009 7:27 am.
Yeah..... I know I know.... It's NOT a van... But if you squint, It could be a REALLY long van? | | | Re: Building high MPG Motor for a 93 Vhevy Van | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 33 newbie | OP newbie Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 33 | The Van is a special problem as the Alternator and A/C have to be mounted high on top of the engine right on top of the valve covers...
I am only eyeballing it but worry that the belt tensor will be in the way.
I was hoping to see how and what belt set up you had used on that Van.
A normal car has a lot more room and I could rerig it. (I did a Cleaven 350 Ford into a 67 Cougar XR7 and a 350 olds into a 78 Van.)
Rich | | | Re: Building high MPG Motor for a 93 Vhevy Van | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 33 newbie | OP newbie Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 33 | Also I talked with a couple of people about using a 305 heads on a 350.
They say NO WAY!!!
So question is have you done this with a swirl intake early Vortec type of heads say a 87 on a 93 350??
Sorry to bug you on this but I can not afford the costs nor the time to do this engine a couple of times... so I like NASA really need to be sure before I lunch it.
I take it cutting the 305 heads out to match the 350 gaskets will cure any sharp edges and open the chamber a little as well lowering the compression ratio too.
RIch | | | Re: Building high MPG Motor for a 93 Vhevy Van | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 7,662 Likes: 2 carpal tunnel | carpal tunnel Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 7,662 Likes: 2 | I am running a 203/212 duration cam in the stock 350 "crate" engine in my Early Chevy right now. I put close to 70,000 mile on this engine with the stock cam in this engine. It only got 9 miles to the gallon. With this cam not only did the performance of the engine "wake up". The gas milage increased signifacantly. 11 around town 16 on the hiway. On the cheap stuff.Driving the van like i stole it......
I have been watching this thread.I have an 89GMC with a 350/700R4 trans TBI injected. It only gets 11 MPG. I have a H.O. 350 crate engine setting here waiting to go in the GMC. I am on the fence weather to run a carb or fuel injection. I just feel like the puter will not allow the egine to wind out as tight (5 grand first gear shifts)as the carb HEI set lets the engine do......
This low end torque cam made this egine/van really nasty light to light
.........Wookee
Last edited by wookee; September 15th 2009 11:38 am. Reason: added more BS
Its a "Van Thing" A life style you have to LIVE to understand! Vintage Chevy Van Club
| | | Re: Building high MPG Motor for a 93 Vhevy Van | Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 12,898 Vanner | Vanner Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 12,898 | I guess I am doing good with my 78, stock 305 2BBL with 2:73 gears..stock exhaust with the pizze platter sized original Cat.
I am getting around 17 per gallon @ 55 mph pulling the trailer, about 15 at 70 MPH
I don't need to be honoured by Vanning, I am honoured to be Vanning ! Supporting Vanning, by going Vanning In A Van ! I hate it, when real life interferes with Vanning ! Van Clan Plus One, Vanning since 1977 ! Ontario Federation Of Truckers (Vanner's) Ottawa Valley Vans I.B.O.B. Founder,Mixed Bag Truckers | | | Re: Building high MPG Motor for a 93 Vhevy Van | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 33 newbie | OP newbie Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 33 | Well I am being a bit piggy, my van does get 17.73 MPG at 70 MPH.
I want more....
I think the computer controled FI either TBI or TPI is the best way to go...and will give it to me.
I am getting a Romulator that with my Laptop will let me tweak and fine tune the Van like a $3000.00 dyno tune and blueprint job...and I can do it over and over again and again...
The problem with carbs is the get messed up at low RPMs and will dump fuel with you get low vacuun...
And timing control...all machanial..very limited range I have seen a computer controled system go from 40 BTDC to 40 ATDC in a split second, and knock sensors will and can save your motor...
Add in that the average life of Carb motors was 100,000... but I have seen FI motor easly do 200/400,000 miles... My friend Jon has 2004 Ford F250 Van with 400,000 on it, and it still runs good.
I think because of the delay in starting which allow oil pressure to get up and no shot of gas pumped in my the accurator pump every start up...
I would not go back to a carb and spark system unless a Nuke was air bursted and burned out the clips...until then give me FI.
My 2 cents worth.. as a 61 year old car nut...
Rich | | | Re: Building high MPG Motor for a 93 Vhevy Van | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 33 newbie | OP newbie Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 33 | Sadly I fell out of love with computer controled cars with the 96 and newer models, those OBDII system are much harder to tweak...
Rich | | | Re: Building high MPG Motor for a 93 Vhevy Van | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 28,125 Madman! | Madman! Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 28,125 | So all of this is to improve from almost 18 MPG? Question for you, and please don't take this the wrong way. What is your projected rate of return on this whole endeavor? Yes, you may be able to get it up to 20 or 25 MPG, but at what cost. So far all the stuff you have been talking about seems rather expensive, unless of coarse, you already have it all, but with the 2 to 7 MPG increase, will it ever pay for itself? The only reason, I'm asking is because it seems like a big expense, and a lot of work without much return. | | | Re: Building high MPG Motor for a 93 Vhevy Van | Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 12,898 Vanner | Vanner Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 12,898 | You can get almost 10 percent increase by making the rear tire 2 sizes bigger or there abouts...
All you have to do is wait until the rears wear out
I don't need to be honoured by Vanning, I am honoured to be Vanning ! Supporting Vanning, by going Vanning In A Van ! I hate it, when real life interferes with Vanning ! Van Clan Plus One, Vanning since 1977 ! Ontario Federation Of Truckers (Vanner's) Ottawa Valley Vans I.B.O.B. Founder,Mixed Bag Truckers | | |
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