Cowboy Jim
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2023
- Messages
- 35
- Reaction score
- 35
- Location
- Tylertown Mississippi
- Vehicle Year
- 2000
- Make / Model
- Ford Ranger
- Transmission
- Automatic
My little work truck Ranger that I have been building on....I took it out on a bit of a road trip today and clocked the mileage. The 2.5L motor has 322,000 on it, but still runs great. If I change the oil @ 90 days, its still yellow....IE its still tight. With a fresh transmission, 4.88s in the ass end running a 30" tire I am getting about 12 mpg. So here is my question....I dont really care about having a power house of a motor. I just want enough motor to get decent mileage, and 12mpg aint it. I had an RV cammed 350 small block with a 4bbl, headers and such in an S10 and it was getting almost 20mpg. That motor was basically idling that truck down the highway. So, do I go with a fresh 2.5L motor with a small chip, header and fresh air intake and hope? Or just put something with a bit more meat and taters in it? 1 key thing, I DO NOT WANT AN INTERFERENCE MOTOR. NO WAY!!!
Note: When I went to the larger tires, I figured in all of the math and to go back to OEM gearing would have put me at 4.53. I chose the 4.88 so I would have a bit more bottom end. Also tho, I do not have a tach in the truck and with the Yokohama GeoLander mud terrain tires, not a bloody chance in hell of hearing the motor when driving. So I might just be revving it a bit too much and not know it. I was planning to get a tach on it and then try again before I commit to building a motor/trans for this. What RPM range does that little 2.5L motor like to see @ cruise? 2800-3000rpm?
Would like to see 18-20mpg. I have an older 2.8 Chevy V6 here out of the old square body S10's. Its a Y block AKA a torque monster when given a small 4bbl and they do good on mileage. Could go that route if need be.
Note: When I went to the larger tires, I figured in all of the math and to go back to OEM gearing would have put me at 4.53. I chose the 4.88 so I would have a bit more bottom end. Also tho, I do not have a tach in the truck and with the Yokohama GeoLander mud terrain tires, not a bloody chance in hell of hearing the motor when driving. So I might just be revving it a bit too much and not know it. I was planning to get a tach on it and then try again before I commit to building a motor/trans for this. What RPM range does that little 2.5L motor like to see @ cruise? 2800-3000rpm?
Would like to see 18-20mpg. I have an older 2.8 Chevy V6 here out of the old square body S10's. Its a Y block AKA a torque monster when given a small 4bbl and they do good on mileage. Could go that route if need be.
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