Gas Mileage

[<Cullar>]

Found a Clipper through the website. Now I'm wondering about gas mileage. Have a 78 440 Dodge and getting anywhere from 6 to 6.5 miles to gallon. Just wondering if this typical and if anyone out there has some tips on better mileage.

[cat]

Providing the engine is in tune, ie; carb., distributor, plugs etc. and the tires inflated to the right amount, AND it's driven at a reasonable speed, 55/60 m.p.h., it's possible to get 6 to 7 1/2 m.p.g.  Some people have claimed greater m.p.g. but this has not been my experience.

[Horst]

There is a BIG difference in gas mileage between 55mph and 65mph - in your case (440 Clipper) probably at least one mile per gallon difference.

Slow down, make sure your engine is tuned properly, and you can get closer to 7.5mpg - maybe a bit better.

As noted - some 440 owner's have claimed to get 8 - might be possible, depending on road, wind, how loaded you are, how fast you drive, etc., etc.

[cdall]

quote:Originally posted by <Cullar>:
Found a Clipper through the website. Now I'm wondering about gas mileage. Have a 78 440 Dodge and getting anywhere from 6 to 6.5 miles to gallon. Just wondering if this typical and if anyone out there has some tips on better mileage.

[CanadianClipper]

Maiden Voyage....I stayed close by worried about the engine or elctronics going on the fritzs....but to my suprise before leaving I found a vacumm hose off the front of the carb that was disconected and I fiddled with the distributor settings...with this inappropriate setting I got seven miles to the gallon...Canadian...about 5 american I suspect. On the way home I stopped in at my brother in law a registered mech with an eye that seconds as a timing light and a mind that can calculate the slight variance of chain stretch, he tightened everything down snug and adjusted the idle screws and tada 9 miles per gallon Canadian...about 6 to 7.5 US. He use to have a 440 magnum in a beautiful metalic copper charger 1969... He was impressed  and felt the engine was in really sound shape. So all tuned up she seems to be a good deal. My  brother has a similar RV with a 360 and gets less milege per gallon than the clipper. pictures of the maiden voyage will soon be posted on my website http://cndclipper.topcities.com/

[Horst]

A tired 360, loaded heavily, with an equally tired 2 barrel Carter can easily get  6 mpg, especially when driving too fast.

A nicely tuned, rebuilt 360 Clipper with an RV cam, an Edelbrock 4 barrel carb, Edlebrock intake manifold and air cleaner  -  can get well over 9mpg.

I even got over 10 once on a midnight run to So. Cal - think I had a bit of a tailwind though      

[Larry Lund]

I too have a 78 clipper with a 440.  If I am making a run up the Ca coast cruising at 55-60 I can get up to 7.8mpg. When I take a trip loaded up and go up to the High Sierras, pulling up those hills my mileage suffers to about 5.5-6.0 over all.  My coach seems to be somewhat labor intensive.  There are frequently little things which need repairing.  When I stay on top of it though, it has always been reliable on the road.  The engine always purrs like a kitten.