1978 Mustang II 2.3 Fuel economy and Performance mods

77stang2 · 10-09-2007

Hi,
I just bought a 78 Mustang 2 with the 2.3 and auto trans. I wanted to know what I could do to get some better gas mileage, I was thinking a 1 3/4 exhaust with no cat, upgraded wires and plugs, and maybe advance the timing. the theory I am using is if I don't have to beat it up to get it to move it will get better gas mileage. (Carb is less open less fuel better mileage) Obviously if I make it 10:1 compression with a lopey cam and port work Ill get like 8mpg. I'm wondering about a cam upgrade and maybe getting the distributor recurved and hopefully Ill get performance and gas mileage. Id like the most mileage possible. Any advice would be appreciated Ive never tried to build anything this way I always look for the most power now I'm trying to trade.

heavy metal · 10-10-2007

do a good tune up,change exhaust to 2 inch,good free flow muffler,add a K&N air filter.

spencer87 · 10-10-2007

This isn't necessarily true. Yes, if you dog it the mileage will go down, but if you just drive it like a normal car the it should be a bit better. If it is a manual trans then I would get a performance cam designed more for high rpms. You get great highway performance and gas mileage, however if you are wanting to do a burnout with this cam and you have fat tires good luck. Also a Webber 32/36 carb is a good idea, along with: a Pacesetter long tube header, 2.5" catless exhaust, with a Flowmaster (really if you are on some budget then a cheap glass-pack will do), and if you get the Webber through its maker (Peirce Manifolds) then it will come with a K&N. Good luck!

77stang2 · 10-10-2007

Im not looking for it to be a road burner. I actually bought it because I was going away to technical school and going to live there and wanted to get good gas mileage. I happened to like the body style and the fact they are fairly reliable and simple as hell to work on. I just wanted to see what you guys think about my idea of maybe helping the engine run a little more efficiently by increasing horse power and torque so its not working as hard and that will keep me from flooring it or anything like that. Its honestly my first car with under 200 hp and the idea of 80 something hp kinda makes me wonder if its going to be like screaming for death going up hills and things like that and consuming gas like a v8 when it its doing so. So I just wanted to know if there is any mods that I could do to increase gas mileage, also isn't 2.5 to big of an exhaust for a relatively stock 4 banger? I would have thought like 2 or maybe 2 1/4 max? Id appreciate any input I can get.
Thanks
Anthony

Turbosnake · 11-12-2007

Could you get a T5 out of a 5.0 mustang? That would probably get you better mileage because the gears are higher.

SloPony · 12-10-2007

The key to better fuel milage is mostly common sense. Good tune up, clean fuel system, driving style, as well as weight and drag. The later of the two are solved by not loading the car with a lot of un-needed stuff(extra weight). Tires will eat into your MPG's as well. Wider tires will eat more gas as they are harder to turn creating drag. If you do more hiway driving than city, use a little taller tire. More in town driving? Use a shorter tire. And make sure that they have plenty of air in them.
With that said you need to figure out which way YOU need to set up YOUR car, tune it up, and learn to drive it without using gas when not needed.