Hi! I have read several posts about you guy's getting 8+ mpg. When I bought the 345 I was getting 6mpg with toad and genset running. New plugs, wires and tune up and still get 6mpg at 2800 rpm without toad and without genset.
This unit has the Banks system and from what I have read I should do better than 6 mph. New carb maybe? any suggestions ...at today's gas prices I spend a lot of time just looking at it rather than using it.
Pete
we get 6-6.5 with our carberated 454, 89 345, but it gets much better on long downgrades,haha. Seriously though we have owned our 345 less than a year, did major tune up shortly after purchase, put about 12,000 miles on it so far and the more i'm learning how to "drive" it the better the gas mileage seems to be getting.
6 mpg is what I get on the Interstate...almost exactly.
Mostly because I can't keep it under 75mph.
Thats without pulling anything, and no gen, I think. (was October)
If dropped down to a max of 65, it gets 7.3 mpg.
(Sure was more fun at 75)
On two lanes, with a max of 55mph, it gives me 8.6 mpg.
This was all from a long road trip, with many fill ups, so I trust these numbers.
I don't have Banks.
Regular duals all the way back.
__________________ Your opinion is valued, please not your opinion of someones else's opinion.
All: I posted this earlier, and copied it here as more germaine.
Over Christmas, we visited Virginia Beach, VA, driving from there to Southern Maryland with wife, dogs, and full tanks of fuel but no water or sewage. Between Virginia Beach and the fuel stop just short of the VA-MD line on US 301 we used exactly 11 gallons of fuel, covering 165 miles--which I make to be 15 MPG, @ $2.79 per gal. Averaged about 50 mph--heavy traffic in places.
We stayed over an additional day while a fresh storm with 40 mph winds blew through--QED
91 350 LE
454
MSD ignition
Gearvendors
Headmans
Driving mostly by cruise control, mostly flatland.
We have a 87 345 w/reman 454, Edelbrock Performer intake, ceramic coated headers, 700r trans/w GearVendors, tow a 240D Mercedes and cruise 65/70, 2500 rpm, dash air running get 6.5. Using the stock carb unmodified as the engine runs like a watch haven't changed it. Doubt there would be much improvement with a different carb. The mufflers are round reverse flow, don't know what kind. The geezer I bought the coach from took exceptional care of it, until the engine blew up and it cost him 8 grand to repower it.
He claims it always got over 8 with the old engine, but he talked about cruising it at 75 mph too. As I installed all the transmission upgrades, he was a buzzing the rascal, and I suspect he was as he suffered a valve train failure that necessitated the engine replacement. I have towed over a quarter million miles with big block powered Chevrolets of various chassis combinations, always got around 6. I suspect if one really tries to drive like there is an egg under the gas pedal, better mileage is possible.
I ditched the air pump, tubes and the basket of snakes vaccum lines, really cleaned up the engine room, rewired the 12v with a bunch of new circuit breakers, added a race car starter cause I like the sound they make. I wonder if I hurt the mileage a little, cause it's got great power now, that I like to use. I think that's what happens when one buys a Banks. Never hear about anyone getting better mileage with them.
I should mention the IPD sway bar and urathane bushing kits really took care of the handling issues. A great investment.
TNX for the info on bushings - I'm ordering a full set of replacements for my IPD bars today. BTW I actually get 10-12 mpg towing ('84 310 with the 6-banger Isuzu diesel towing '07 Toyota Yaris) but I seldom drive over 60 mph.
73, Jamie
I guess I'm getting old but I usually drive at 55 to 60. My old bus seems to have a sweet spot just below 3000rpm so I try to keep it there. My mileage has been up to 11 per imperial gallon and as low as 4 through the mountains. It is usually just under 10 per imperial gallon (about 9 per U.S.)
Quick Links
Linear Mode
