[howardtm]

ok all...here's ther deal (challenge) I have my infamous e550 "beastie" ..a 20' E series cutaway (pics in "my Garage"). With all the expertise, knowledge, skill and experience gathered here, I firmly believe that 20MPG is well within the realm of absolute possibility..not to be had cheaply mind you, but still, I believe, quite possible. Specs on my "beastie" are as follows: 03 E550, 7.3, 4R100 tranny, 4:88 rearend (assumption here on my part),approx EMPTY Wt of13,500, GVWR of 19,000, all stock under the hood except for a 3 pos chip from Jody (40/60 tow, 80 Econ). Full set of guages (EGT, Boost, Trans Temp and tach). Currently, on a good run, fairly lightly loaded, I will see about 11.5 at a gross wt of around 15k lbs.with quite a number of hills to climb. Under hood room?? EXTREMELY tight, same goes for "behind the engine" room as well (we're talking "van" here). Without MAJOR relocations of battery, coolant resvoiour(sp), and Power Steering resv. etc, an aftermarket intake system just won't fit. Same goes for a 4" turbo-back pipe..I just don't see how one will fit in the space available. HOWEVER, I'm willing to try (as funds become available).
This is what I use to earn a living, and with the price of fuel what it is. and we ALL know it ain't gonna get cheaper, the less money I have to put into the tank to do a run, the more I can put into paying off a lot of bills.
I hear of some on here, in 350's and 250's, pulling nearly as much as I do fully loaded at max GVWR, braggin about getting 16-17 MPG doin' 75 and 80 down the freeway. My driving habit are mild and conservative, as a normal rule, I'll average around 60MPH, no hard accells, no hard braking etc..etc. Example..I put new rear tires on at 197k..still good at 270k (about 35% legal tread remaining), brake pads, nearly new when I bought the truck at 198K..still at better than 50% at last inspection (May of this year @ about 265k) so as you can see..I try to go easy on the wear. I am open to just about any and all reasonable suggestions/recommendations. Mind you I bought this Beastie May of last year so I put a lot of miles on her and with the cost of fuel, it wouldn'/shouldn't take very long to re-coup the costs of modifications for improved MPG's.
Thanks Guys (and Gals)
Howard T. McAllister
Owner/ (and only driver) Federated Couriers