Chargers and mileage- the real story

[1974dodgecharger]

man you guys have some efficient 440s and 383s out there....

[Dino]

Mine sure isn't one of them.  Even light cruising with 2.96 gears and a TQ I still can't get much better than 10 mpg.  Maybe with another cam that will change and the 6 speed will surely help but it also means I'll be able to run something beter than 2.96 so there goes mileage again.   

At least the fuel gauge is spot on again!

[toocheaptosmoke]

Fuel economy wasn't the only thing that influenced my build, but it was definitely part of it.  Never wanted to consider NOT driving the car because of horendous gas mileage, currently has a 318 magnum w/ 5 speed, 3.73 gears.   I've been averaging about 16-17 going to work, best so far was almost 19 driving to carlisle.  Carb still needs some tweaking and runs rich at idle/low speed, feel pretty confident I can get into the 20's with some more tuning and conservative driving.

[odcics2]

I had a 68 318 auto with a 2.76 rear end when the "gas crunch" hit in 1973. (fuel prices DOUBLED!)
I advanced the timing, got a hotter coil, put a cold air tube from the air cleaner to thee hole by the battery. Also dropped the front and got a wheel alignment.  Moved the accel. pump link a notch.  Had the choke pulloff tweaked just short of stumbling.

When the nationwide speed limit was 55, I went to the Indy 500 in 1975. Driving ultra conservative because of numerous troopers on the road, I got 27.2 from MoTown to Indy at a steady 55 the entire way. Took 6 hours.  My foot never moved...   I'd normally get low 20s around town in nice weather.

Steady state driving around 75 degrees temp is about the best for mileage.   Heck, in the winter, that old Charger got mid teens!  But that was doing donuts in parking lots on the snow!   Ah... sometimes on the street - unplanned!!    

[69charger2002]

I normally never check, but after going to cruising the coast last week I drove my blue 69 450 miles. I decided to keep up with the mileage at the pump. With mostly interstate driving at 60-65, stock 383 with either 2.76 or 3.23 gears(not sure). It actually got 13.8 mpg. I was pretty impressed. Only other one ive checked in recent years was my dead stock 318 70 coronet coming home 1000 miles from the mopar nats. It averaged almost 19 mpg on the highway, that blew me away too.

[Charger4404spd]

id like to see some numbers from a few that have the FAST Efi , etc.

[RollinThunder]

69 Charger R/T with a 3.23 limited slip (was 3.55), 727 auto, 440 with stock exhaust, thermoquad, Holley SD intk with crossover blocked off, 195 deg stat.  Heavy TRW 6 pack slugs.  xe268.  Manual adj 11" drums all 4 corners.  PS, PB, non ac.  5 blade fan with clutch.
I track my gas mileage and have been doing so since 2006.  Odometer is pretty accurate (275/60R15 rear tire).  This year I have driven 3,200 miles with a cumulative average of 12.61 mpg.  Some years worse, some better.  I do not have any wide band tuning aids, so maybe my results could be better. 

I tried a dual plane eldebrock performer (not the rpm) intake manifold one year, and with the crossover functional, got about 1 more mpg from it.  Consistently got 15.5 mpg on the highway (<65 mph).  But I removed it because I like the extra pwr with the HSD (xover blocked).  Altho I do miss the almost 300 miles range on a tank (highway only).  I get about 14.5 now on the highway if I stay under 65 mph.   
IMHO, a well tuned 440 on todays pump gas will get 10 mpg, a very well tuned 440 will get 12 (cumulative).  When I estimate my fuel usage for a road trip, I'll use 13 mpg.  This thing cost 31 cents a mile, and thats just for coal.  I love every one of them!

[Homerr]

Thanks for the write-up RollinThunder.  And welcome to the site!

[don duick]

consider other running costs like tires. Might as well use them up before their expiry date. hurts throwing away tires with 50% tread left on them.

[lloyd3]

Stock block 375-horse 440, 4-speed (18-spline), 3.54/1 Dana yields 8 mpg if you're very conservative, closer to 6 mpg if you're having any fun.  That's on 14-inch original Magnum 500s w/radials.