Is it possible to build a 327 or 350 that gets 13-15 mpg?

I have a 66 Chevelle, I don't know what gears I have but when I used to drive it, it didn't rev very high. I am guessing the ratio is not greater than 3.36:1.

I don't want it to be totally stock, but I don't want to build a race car either.

I was thinking about the Edelbrock Performer RPM combo with a 750 carb with smaller jets. That is because I have 2 750s and I don't have a 600.

I will buy a stock short block from a local shop, but then I will probably change the cam, depending on the heads and intake I get.

Does anyone have any suggestions for combos that would help me obtain my mpg goal and not have a bone stock motor?

Heck, my Mom's new '65 300 Chevelle four door three on the tree, El-cheapo, 195hp/283 two barrel ran like the wind and would knock down about 22 on the road at say 60 mph if I woulda kept my foot outta her!!!

So a 327 will do close to the same if you keep her stock like a 210hp or 250hp/327 and keep your foot outta her!!

And that old 3.36 gear is a dandy too for the road..

pdq67

If you're really interested in getting good mileage, put an overdrive trans in. I always got about 10-11 mpg regardless of conditions. With the 200-4R I got 15.88 while towing my bracket car on a 465 mile trip. I have 3.36 gears.

I recommend not using the RPM cam. It is a very old design with lots of overlap and doesn't make much power below 3000 rpm. I called Edelbrock about compression and stall when I had one. They replied that 11:1 CR and a 3000 stall is what it wants. While a high CR will help mileage, a high stall will not. Plus the cam has a bunch of overlap so mileage will suck badly at lower rpm.

I think if you build a 9.5:1 engine and select a cam that gives you about 8:1 DCR you will get very good mileage and have an engine that is much more fun to drive than a RPM cammed engine would be. A Q-Jet will help mileage, if you keep the secondaries closed.

Originally posted by flhhc:
Is it possible to build a 327 or 350 that gets 13-15 mpg? The short answer to your question is yes, absolutely.

I have a 66 Chevelle, I don't know what gears I have but when I used to drive it, it didn't rev very high. I am guessing the ratio is not greater than 3.36:1.

I don't want it to be totally stock, but I don't want to build a race car either.....

Does anyone have any suggestions for combos that would help me obtain my mpg goal and not have a bone stock motor? Check out my the engine in my sig. I ran a Holley -vs- Quadrajet comparison with this very engine. Using a non-overdrive transmission, I was able to get 12 mpg with the worst out of the box stock carb, and 15.5 mpg with the best. That's on a daily back and forth to work route - not long extended highway cruise! A couple of months later I tweaked one of the Qj's and was able to pull off 17 m.p.g's over the same course!

Here is the link if you want more info:
http://www.chevelles.com/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=29;t=003044

Mike

fl, (name ??)
Build a nice flat top piston 350. Around 9.5 to 1 compression. Forget about the Performer RPM...use the performer package, or a mild hydraulic roller cam. Sell the 2 750 Edelbrocks and buy a nice Q-jet. Same basic package in my 5000 lb 1985 4wd Blazer would get 21mpg on the road but still "bark" the tires if needed with a 3.23 gear and 30" tires. 700r4 tranny.

I appreciate all of the replies. Especially the ones warning against the Performer RPM.