Wimimc

iTrader: (2)

ok i have a 3rd gen Camaro, carb'd 305 with a 700R4 and 3.23 gears. car weighs ~3300

what engine/trans/rear combo would get me ~22-24 mpg city and ~30 or more highway.

^^ or as close to that as possible

i'm open to any GM engine (minus the iron duke). turbo a 4.3L? turbo the 5.0L? a turbo'd ecotec motor from a cobalt?

i'd probably swap in a M6 whichever route i take.

Fahrenschnell

iTrader: (1)

Stock LS1 and a T56 in my 98' got me 34mpg with 3.25 gears

Wimimc

iTrader: (2)

thats highway? what was city driving like? that will probably be most of my tank.

welldonecj7

iTrader: (13)

My stock 02 ss gets about that in town but not that high on highway only about 26-28

Empatho

iTrader: (16)

+1
swap in an ls1/T56 and you should achieve your gas mileage goals. You can also take some weight out of the car, that will help with gas mileage as well. Other mods that should help you is full exhaust, intake, underdrive pulley, and a good tune. Your car should be allot lighter then a 4th gen after an ls1 swap.

Black&White

How about a 5.3 with Active Fuel Management and an a6 behind it? If I can average >20 mpg on a trip to Los Angeles and back in my Silverado you should get killer mileage with it. Never heard of anyone using it in a swap though, don't know how difficult it is for programming and all that.

Wimimc

iTrader: (2)

are those A6s common to come by? i dont know if i've ever seen one for sale


the Active Fuel Management, is that the flex fuel? or what the L99s have?

and stock vs stock, or each with equal bolt ons, which would net better mileage a 5.3L or an LS1?

34 in town??

edit: the other thing i have been thinking about was getting a 67-72 C series pick up and doing a swap with mileage in mind. i'd have something for the winter, and also a truck to haul around parts and anything else i need. Although with the truck's weight, i don't know if any build would get me what i want mileagewise, even a few miles per gallon under my goal.

Jeff Smith

iTrader: (44)

My Camaro has stock ls1 and still average 20 mpg around town..
5.3L stock on Camaro would be more mpg? Good Idea?

46Coupe

iTrader: (5)

For the cost of a swap, you could probably keep your Camaro and buy a used cobalt, civic, etc etc. I love swaps and all, but it's going to take you a long time to get the money you spend back in savings at the pump.

Summerwolf

iTrader: (3)

Just buy a 2.2 S-10 since you specifically talked about a winter truck, lol. I don't think a turbocharged anything in a third gen would be a mileage machine....and it would most likely just turn in to a broken project clusterfark.

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

If you're looking for milage, you're probably cost concious. In that respect a 5.3 LM7 would be a cheap swap and would work with your 700R4. Easier if you get one with cable TB.
DOD (active fuel management) drops 4 cylinders, typically on highway use, but I'm not sure how well it would work with a non ecu controlled trans.

gofastwclass

iTrader: (2)

I agree it will take a while to make a return on the investment, however I seriously doubt someone could buy a good running and reliable used vehicle of the type you mention that also meets the fuel mileage requirements for the money spent on the swap. If you pay attention to cash flow and do all the work yourself, the biggest expense is the physical engine and transmission. I built my Thunderbird for less than half of what an Autotrader 500 mile search just told me the cheapest 05 Cobalt was selling for with 140K on the clock.

Having said that, I think the city mileage goals are a bit lofty with a V8 and a car that heavy but I'm not going to say it can't be done. I have a heavy foot and my Thunderbird (3700 without me) does pretty good if I stay out of it.

I agree with Gary on the DOD 5.3. Go for it and good luck!

Bo185

The AFM (DOD) is a waste of money and time for a small 1-2% increase in MPG. It only works on the hwy at speed and with that high of a rear ratio it may drop out of 4 mode most times although you can tune it as well.

Just get a Gen III 4.8l and T56 and stay out of the pedal. Reduce weight and it should do OK MPG wise and not break the bank.

LS1GMCTruck

iTrader: (2)

In the early 80's Camaro's, the Iron Duke 4-cylinder engine was an option. It was rated at 50 mpg in the Camaro. If memory serves, this was with a manuel transmission. As you can imagine, hardly any dealers ordered them. The Duke would be an interesting engine to perform a modern single turbo install on, for even better performance & mileage. I'm sure its been done somewhere/somehow, already.

71ANTICARB

iTrader: (23)

I think a little more info on your goals would be nice. If you your only goals are are mileage and cost of the swap is not a factor, I've heard of guy guys doing duramax swaps in chevelles and other heavier cars and gettin around 30 hwy mpg and close to 600hp,but that's a pricy swap. Most for the money I would agree 5.3/t56 and a diet would be best. I did have a buddy with a 97 z28 lt1/a4 that was able to average 35+mpg over bout three tanks but that was really REALLY trying (then he couldn't take it anymore and drove the living dog **** out of it).

Wimimc

iTrader: (2)

i've been thinking about that lol, Though i've been iffy on it whether or not it'd have enough bed space for me. I haven't completely ruled it out though

thats what i was thinking, lets say the swap runs me about $4,000 at the most (not building for power or bells and whistles). yes i know there are vehicles out there for that much, but many are high mileage and would require some TLC. besides that, there arent that many that catch my eye, (hmm a fiero?) plus the Camaro would be a nice cruiser.


i've actually been driving fairly concervatively, and as said the car isnt that heavy, plus i could easily take off another 100 pounds or so.

i've thought about it, but i was thinking an ecotec would be better, and have more power than the 90 hp Duke. The crossfires actually had amazing highway mileage (32) but lacked it in city (14-16)

all in all, i'd like a vehicle i could drive for the darker months.

i would like to get good gas mileage. at least 22 city, and hopefully over 30 highway.

it would probably be 70-80 percent city. slowest is 25 MPH. it can go up to 60MPH (max) generally 50-55 on the larger roads.

i would like to keep the swap under 5,000, probably more than i need, but for the sake of argument i'll go with that.


though now from the above post, i'm now considering a 5 speed S10 lol.

Pocket

iTrader: (22)

My stock 5.3/4L60E/2.73 got 27mpg highway with me driving like I stole it. LS1/T56 with a stock/mild cam commonly break 30MPG highway in 3rd gens

FWIW, a good running 305 TBI gets excellent economy and came stock in 88-92 3rd gens. My old LO3/4L60/2.73 hit a peak of 32mpg highway and averaged 25 city/hwy mix

Wimimc

iTrader: (2)

i was waiting for you lol, hows the supercharger going?

and i was thinking about that as well, or swapping it to TPI. and again, i'm mostly interested with city mileage

Bo185

The only way you will see a large city MPG increase is with a small diesel motor or a electric hybrid type. The truck hybrids get 20 mpg city and that's in a large truck with a 6.0L.

Pocket

iTrader: (22)

M90 is rocking hard as always, M122 is about ready to go in. Only getting about 23mpg hwy with the SC though, oh well

Id pick up a 88-92 TBI 3rd gen in decent condition. LO3 kills the value so you can pick up a NICE one for under $2k. The cost of the swap will greatly offset any fuel gains for the next several years and since 3rd gens are disposably cheap, why not stick to a stock one