Mileage Monster Build

[mountaineergreen]

I got a gauge pod from a 93 Explorer today- Free

Thanks! Saved me $80 vs. buying an aftermarket tach and this looks much better to me anyway.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Cool, glad you're happy! Me and my dad did the same swap with a 2nd gen B2 cluster into his 2ng gen ranger and it worked seamlessly.

 

[mountaineergreen]

Well, with the tach in, I can see my highway RPM's-

2300 in OD at 60 MPH. Its nearer to 3000 at 60 in 4th, but the engine seems to be racing.

Is it possible I could get better mileage at 3k?

 

[Kdawg532]

yeah 6 k is plenty, it redlines at 5750

 

[Dave]

Who makes/where do I get underdrive pulleys for a 3.0?

I want to put a tach in my '92 Ranger....What year/model instrument cluster will fit? It's a direct swap, the tach signal is already in the instrument cluster wiring harness, right? Does the donor vehicle have to be a V6?

Thanks for the help.
Dave

 

[mountaineergreen]

I ordered my pulleys from stuffforyourranger.com - Crank underdrive and alternator overdrive for $119 shipped. They have a "kit" with a belt and water pump pulley, but the belt can be had for less elsewhere and the water pump pulley is stock diameter, just aluminum. The loss in rotating mass on the water pump pulley is marginal, especially for the extra money.

The gauge clusters are mostly interchangeable, the plugs just snap right in, I believe all trucks were wired for all functions, regardless of what equipment went in them. Engine shouldn't make any difference.

My 90' Ranger had gages exactly the same as the ones I changed out on this 93. I don't know exactly what years interchange though.

Pulleys will be here tomorrow.

Oh, and I ordered a Fram Airhog filter from Amazon.com for $17 shipped and Fram has a $20 mail in rebate, so I'll make $3 and get a filter.

 

[mountaineergreen]

Pulleys in and installed. I can really feel a difference in the power- hope it translates to mileage.

 

[mountaineergreen]

One tank down, got 24.8 MPG on a mostly highway trip through the hill country- I didn't drive particularly easy or slow either. I'd bet on flat ground and stay out of it, it could do better than that.

I'll be driving my back and forth to work for the next tank, I was getting 21.5-22 MPG on that before, I'll see if the gain is there also.

This is only the underdrive pulleys, after I finish the next tank, I will swap in the AirHog filter which is a K&N knockoff. I got both of them the same day, but didn't want to install both for testing purposes.

 

[Bankrupt]

keep us updated. Im really curious how much of a difference the filter makes

 

[dburton07]

is 19mpg pretty decent for an extended cab 4x4 with 255-60-16s?

 

[hihoslvr]

is 19mpg pretty decent for an extended cab 4x4 with 255-60-16s?

yeah, I'd say that's okay.
I wanted to add another comment, about cruising in 5th gear: I'm at about 2500rpms, and holding about 70mph. I have the 4:10 rear axle, and I average about 20mpg, mostly highway. My topper eats up about a mile per gallon, I'd say.
Anyway, I also wanted to ask the OP: are those steel rims? Anybody else suggest finding some alloys to help lighten things up? That, and maybe ditching the bed cover and tailgate, at least for the summer...

 

[mountaineergreen]

Had a setback- Gas has been evaporating from my tank

I got that fixed as of now, but this tank's mileage won't be that good.

 

[dburton07]

Had a setback- Gas has been evaporating from my tank

I got that fixed as of now, but this tank's mileage won't be that good.

shitty

 

[Mutant Pony]

You should get a set of roller rockers. They are fairly easy to install and make good gains in mileage, oil longevity, and they lower the Rpm at which the 3.0 can make good torque.

 

[mountaineergreen]

Humm.... I may give that a whirl for my next mod- any specific ones I should get?

Got my filler neck patched today with silicone, another piece of hose and two clamps. It holds and beats the crap out of $100+ for Ford hoses.