Quote:
Originally Posted by rookie
...I have to ask, How much power is possible from a V-8 and still pull down 20+ MPG?
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I'm nowhere near an expert on the subject of fuel efficiency, I'm all ears on
this one. With fuel prices continuing to rise we resort to driving our cars 1/4
mile at a time at about 1/2 to 1 gallon per pass.
I recently prepared a set of heads for a fellow racer that asks the same
question (it's important to realize his idea of fast may be different from
yours). Running a 4000 lb Ford Lightning pickup with a NA FI 351W, the
performance at the drag strip is now in the 13 second range, he's happy for
the time being. The thrill came on the recent hot rod power tour when he
was able to record 20 MPG average on the interstate. Considering
the vehicle weight and lack of aerodynamics, he was thrilled.
Some keys to the achievements:
Good ignition
15:1 A/F ratio on the highway
~12.5:1 A/F ratio on the track
The RPM range of the engine is very low;
this avoids the need for low gears and high stall speed
Camshaft and port design are critical
I suppose you could take a similar engine and fit it into a light weight
aerodynamic chassis and trim time off the ET as well as improve the fuel
efficiency. Personally I would set goals at 25 MPG and 11 second times NA.