Experts Enter Here
I'm getting 27-28mpg now on the stock long block, I don't want to give up much, but I would sacrifice maybe a mpg or 2 (hwy), but this needs to be a DD friendly setup. I see alot of guys claiming huge power numbers, yet saying it drives like a kittten, getting massive mpg claims. So give me a lower price point recommendation (using a stock casting head design/LS6 intake) and a higher price point combo (aftermarket head casting/FAST combo)...and give me a power/mpg est on both.
I have my thoughts on things, but there are many of you that have already done similar builds, either being a shop or a customer, and I'd like to hear your input. To add another wrinkle, I also have a LS2 Shortblock that may be stroked to 402 at some point, so it would be cool, if I could interchange the heads without giving up too much, but if not, no big deal, just a thought though.
I appreciate any comments on this, especially those that can share dyno graphs, and ET/mph's from their results.
Not to be lazy, but I know in the past I have posted some dyno graphs and one or two ET's up here in 9000'+ DA land. A lot of time the thread then diverts.
Best I can say is that going from stock to headers, H/C I picked up ~1 mph on highway. The altitude is helping me..I get 26.5 mpg on highway. I know you want specific details from everyone..it is all subjective. I was just trying to suggest the tuning aspect in many cases plays the greatest role in determining that balance of HP and decent highway gas mileage.
Good luck.
..WeathermanShawn..
My old 346 H/C full bolt on including asp ud pully and Meziere EWP got over 30 mpg routinely on long expressway runs. 34.xx mpg on a Dallas to Detroit run. My current 402 did 27 mpg from Atlanta to Detroit and has repeated similar results on shorter runs from SE michigan to Central Michigan. See sig for details.
Highway gas mileage is great/nearly unbelievable for the amount of N/a power, and city gas mileage not so good. LOL.
These gas mileage claims were acheived by driving 70-75 mpg in 6th gear with the cruise control set.
Headers; catless; HIGH performance mufflers(i.e.Borla stingers); LS6 intake or fast; 90mm TB; Medium cam; 5.3L heads. This should get you to about 28MPG or so in MY OPINION...
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-LS6 heads
-LS6 cam or something slightly larger w/good springs.
-Deck the heads and get the compression up. Depending on the cam you might add later, 11.5-12:1.
--this way you can add a large cam later to bleed off some cylinder pressure. you can run a mixture of race gas when you are serious and turn the spark down when not. Any descent tuner can get around this. In fact, upgrades like this make tuning software mandatory.
Your car will make really good power compared to now, run like stock, and get good gas mileage.
Another good alternative is, get some gears.
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