An "impossible?" Challenge???

[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

[vitalidle]

Im not sure you will ever see 20mpg but anything is worth a shot. The best I have seen is 19 and that was with the the stock 265's. I think your aerodynamics are your downfall with your rig, as its catching lots of air. Good luck I can't really help ya, or point ya in the right direction other then find yourself a truck and trailer

[Big Tone]

Check into a gear swap, if its 4:88, the 4:30 would be a better choice.

[fishingjred73]

Originally Posted by vitalidle

Im not sure you will ever see 20mpg but anything is worth a shot. The best I have seen is 19 and that was with the the stock 265's. I think your aerodynamics are your downfall with your rig, as its catching lots of air. Good luck I can't really help ya, or point ya in the right direction other then find yourself a truck and trailer

the first thing i would do is get an aerocap that goes from the top of the windshield to the top of the box, if you don't have one. my wife is running a 04 e-350 6.0 w'15 box. It avgs. 12mpg loaded 17mpg empty. I'm going to put a aerocap on to help with the aero because u can definately feel th e wnd resistance hitting the front of the box