Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => Lounge => Topic started by: DVP on May 07, 2007, 12:50:00 PM

Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: DVP on May 07, 2007, 12:50:00 PM
so im just throwin the idea around but i wonder what i would have to do to swap a 2.3 in an pull the 5.0.  with gas at 3.09-3.20 I cant do it. i realize that it might cost a little much to do the swap but if im getting 20 something mpg ill be happy. right now im at 15-17 around town an i dont do a lot of highway driving so it really doesn't  help that i get better on the highway. So i need computer, harness, motor mounts, motor, tranny, new front suspension,and....? if i did a carbed 2.3 would it be an easier swap? not familair with the 2.3’s at all so i really dont know much on what i need to make it run right.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: bhazard on May 07, 2007, 12:53:43 PM
I think it would be cheaper and easier just to find a small beater car to drive around in.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: Chuck W on May 07, 2007, 12:54:11 PM
Around town the 2.3T doesn't do much better than the 5.0.  It's on the interstate that it makes it up.  28-30mpg isn't unheard of for a 2.3T at freeway speeds. 
An NA 2.3 would be worse...especially carbed.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: DVP on May 07, 2007, 01:05:21 PM
Quote from: Chuck W;145441
Around town the 2.3T doesn't do much better than the 5.0.  It's on the interstate that it makes it up.  28-30mpg isn't unheard of for a 2.3T at freeway speeds. 
An NA 2.3 would be worse...especially carbed.


is that because of the work to move all of the cars weight? an can't i Turbo a carbed 2.3?
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: DVP on May 07, 2007, 01:06:41 PM
Quote from: bhazard;145440
I think it would be cheaper and easier just to find a small beater car to drive around in.


insurance on two cars. no thanks. im 17 they dont like me driving anyways, stereotypes
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: Ether947 on May 07, 2007, 01:07:08 PM
Quote from: Chuck W;145441
Around town the 2.3T doesn't do much better than the 5.0.  It's on the interstate that it makes it up.  28-30mpg isn't unheard of for a 2.3T at freeway speeds. 
An NA 2.3 would be worse...especially carbed.

Especially if you can't lay off the boost. It's like a drug.

And just about anything carb'd isn't going to get phenomenal MPG's.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: DVP on May 07, 2007, 01:12:21 PM
Quote from: Ether947;145448
Especially if you can't lay off the boost. It's like a drug.

And just about anything carb'd isn't going to get phenomenal MPG's.


yeah figured the carb wasnt going to help any, but i wouldn't do a carb if I could pull off a FI swap. just need something to get better mpg. there is a FOR SALE sign in the window right now. just testing the waters
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: 84 Fila on May 07, 2007, 01:50:25 PM
Curious only, but what u askin for it?
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: Dogcharmer on May 07, 2007, 02:27:26 PM
I got between 19 and 21 around town with my 2.3T. With my stock HO conversion I consistently get between 17 and 19.

With my modified 5.0 I get 14 mpg... But it sure is fun to drive:)
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: 20th anny 5.o on May 07, 2007, 02:43:25 PM
Quote from: cougar86_89;145446
insurance on two cars. no thanks. im 17 they dont like me driving anyways, stereotypes


Im 21 with around 3 or 4 tickets under my belt, i have the 87 on storage and the 99 on full and all together that costs me 221 a month. Yeah im getting raped but i can keep both of my cats. im sure since you most likley dont have as many tickets as i  then your insurance should be more reasonable.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: slamedcat on May 07, 2007, 02:48:47 PM
My 96 Bird with a 4.6 gets right around 21-22 in town and 22-24 on the highway.

The Cougar with 5.0 and some mods gets 18 around town and 22-23 on the high way.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: Thunder Chicken on May 07, 2007, 02:50:20 PM
3.09 to 3.20? Poor things. We're paying about $4.11 ($1.19 CDN/liter, 3.8 liters to the gallon, 91 cents to the US dollar).

I've said it a million times: The only way to spend less on fuel is to burn less. Get a more efficient car, don't drive over the speed limit, carpool, plan your trips so that instead of several short errands you make one big one. You might think gas is expensive, but as long as you can still afford to use too much of it, it ain't really expensive.

Cougar86_89 seems to be getting to that point, but until there's a huge shift in that direction for the general population don't expect any miracles...
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: crystal on May 07, 2007, 04:27:09 PM
Uh, my 5.0 with 5 speed swap and harder then necessary driving gets me about 23 mpg.

My Turbo coupe gets me about 19...

These are my general weekly averages. Highway I can do  well in either. I just make a point to not drive my 12 mpg 79 ranchero any more than necessary. I need to fix my 5.0 car ;)
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: bhazard on May 07, 2007, 04:47:40 PM
I dunno how anyone can get less than 25 mpg on a well running 2.3T being driven fairly civilized at least 50% of the time.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: kingcars on May 07, 2007, 06:08:08 PM
My 5.0 HO knocks down mid 20s all day long, highway or city (probably high 20s with just highway).  I dont see a 2.3 saving you enough (if any) on gas to pay for the expenses of the swap.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: HAVI on May 07, 2007, 06:45:52 PM
buy a bike.  Get certified, and ride a Honda or something that gets 50+ mpg.  I pay $15 a day, so I just suffer.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: daboss351 on May 07, 2007, 07:39:33 PM
+1 on the bike.
I bought a 1973 honda cl350 for 30 bucks 2 yeasr ago, 150 later i have a bad ass bike, that only  has 4700 miles on it!
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: kingcars on May 07, 2007, 07:40:19 PM
A bike?  Have fun when it rains, storms, etc.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: Tbird232ci on May 07, 2007, 07:42:28 PM
Quote from: bhazard;145486
I dunno how anyone can get less than 25 mpg on a well running 2.3T being driven fairly civilized at least 50% of the time.

I get about 20mpg with my TC. It runs well, but its modded beyond your list. Before i modded mine, i was getting 26mpg average.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: daboss351 on May 07, 2007, 07:55:05 PM
well hes still gonna have the car
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: amooset on May 07, 2007, 08:52:34 PM
Quote from: HAVI;145533
buy a bike.  Get certified, and ride a Honda or something that gets 50+ mpg.  I pay $15 a day, so I just suffer.

Ditto on that.  When I had the exhaust system off my car rendering it almost undriveable, I took my bike everywhere and saved a pile of money on gas.  What cost me 6 bucks in fuel for the bike would cost 20-30 for the car.  50-60 mpg AND you zip around town a lot faster.  The money i've saved thus far in gas has pretty much paid for the payments on the bike
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: Thunder Chicken on May 07, 2007, 10:08:47 PM
I haven't driven the car since the 3.55 gears were installed, but before then high 20's on the highway (normally 28-29 MPG at a steady 70-75 MPH) were the norm. The car actually gets better mileage than the Volvo, which only has a 2.4 liter turbocharged 5-cylinder. That Swedish pig is lucky to hit 25MPG on the highway. I imagine the AWD hardware and barn door aerodynamics contribute to its appetite. Still, it's got the interior room and all-weather capability of an SUV, so I guess 20-25MPG isn't too bad...
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on May 07, 2007, 10:43:28 PM
do a gear swap, i went from 2.79's to 3.73's in my old 5.0 and picked up a couple mpg around town and still got 26-28 on the freeway
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: 1WLD BRD on May 07, 2007, 11:45:49 PM
you wanna improve your around town fuel mileage?  Put 4.10 gears in the ass.  TRUST me.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: kingcars on May 08, 2007, 12:50:36 AM
I have 3.27s in the garage haha
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: Carpimp1987 on May 08, 2007, 03:07:49 AM
FORD ESCORT ZX-2 gets 30+ i think maybe even mid 30s might be a idea.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: DVP on May 08, 2007, 11:20:54 AM
Im asking 3200 for it, which is more than any of use would pay but ppl round here will put 2500 on a beat up G body. I  want to throw 3.73 in there. I am taking the 8.8 out of the ’88 an keeping that so I might rebuild it and put it in my car if I keep it. My axle seals are leaking now an the rear brakes  an hardware need replaced as does the front brakes an all the suspension . it has problems but in the market around here it will go for 3000 at least it might just take some time an i might just keep it then.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: DVP on May 08, 2007, 11:36:19 AM
been driving like a grandma everyday now an i hate it. but i save gas so it helps ive been counting change for gas money now so it will only get worse. summer is coming soon so i can work 40+ hours a week and im looking for a better job with less BS, then i can afford gas again.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: Red_LX on May 08, 2007, 11:39:18 AM
Hm. I filled up last night and according to my calculations, I got about 23 on mostly city driving.

Funny thing is that that's really not any worse than my Tempo was getting around town.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: 84 Fila on May 08, 2007, 11:55:52 AM
Anyone got a guess of the MPG I'll get once the fila is on the road again?
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: DVP on May 08, 2007, 11:59:30 AM
Quote from: 84 Fila;145704
Anyone got a guess of the MPG I'll get once the fila is on the road again?


ima say not good. iguess its just how i drive that i get such horrible mpgs or yall drive super slow all the time
and i want a bike but i might kill myself.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: Ether947 on May 08, 2007, 12:40:47 PM
darkthunder averaged about 14mpg. 17 on a good day. That was with a 2bbl C4 setup though. You should get a little better with OD.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: cougar1car on May 08, 2007, 04:29:23 PM
None of thats too bad I get between 10.5 and 12 mpg with my expedition. and probably about 20's with my mark vii. LAst fill up on the expo cost me about 90.00 from empty
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: DVP on May 08, 2007, 04:32:33 PM
Quote from: cougar1car;145778
None of thats too bad I get between 10.5 and 12 mpg with my expedition. and probably about 20's with my mark vii. LAst fill up on the expo cost me about 90.00 from empty


yeah the clerks laugh at me at the gas station across from school cause i go in an get a hand full of change of gas after school now. Got to do what you got to do
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: cougar1car on May 08, 2007, 05:08:25 PM
Yeah i remember those days. Taking up collections from all my friends to get gas to drive us around. Those were the days
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: DVP on May 08, 2007, 05:10:27 PM
Quote from: cougar1car;145785
Yeah i remember those days. Taking up collections from all my friends to get gas to drive us around. Those were the days


yeah but now if you dont have 20 bucks you cant cruise around for more than an hour not all night
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: DVP on May 09, 2007, 11:44:34 AM
Problem Solved! guy at work just offered me his TC for 500. no swap needed, an i get to have the alternetive of the 5.0 when needed.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: xr7cat on May 09, 2007, 01:35:05 PM
Wonderful find! I wish I could find a TC for sale in my area. Also wishing I never sold my wagon. It got like 20 mpg, with a busted engine.
Title: Gas Prices! 5.0 to 2.3?
Post by: DVP on May 10, 2007, 09:14:18 AM
It just kind of fel in my lap. i wanted a TC for a while now but didnt think i could buy one. with summer time coming up i should have the money to get it in about a month.