• Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-

gears and mpg

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cobain03
  • Start date Start date Sep 30, 2004

Cobain03

Active Member
Aug 27, 2003
996
0
36
Lexington, Ky
Sep 30, 2004
#1
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #1
currently i get 14 miles to the gallon (mods in sig) and well i jsut ordered someheaders so im thinking that would put me down to about 13..well i have 2.8 gears also and was wonderin if i went with like a 3.5 ratio, how bad the mileage would suffer
 

Max Power

Active Member
Jul 31, 2003
1,774
1
36
St Paul
Sep 30, 2004
#2
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #2
Well gears will hurt the mileage, but headers won't, neccesarily. Quite often there is an improvement with headers.
 

Cobain03

Active Member
Aug 27, 2003
996
0
36
Lexington, Ky
Sep 30, 2004
#3
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #3
more power means less mpg from what i have seen...but i gues si'll trust ya
 

NorCal66

New Member
Aug 12, 2003
334
0
0
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA HOME
Sep 30, 2004
#4
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #4
Well more power from better flowing heads or something which requires more fuel is one thing, but creating a less restrictive exhaust shouldn't hurt the mpg.

From what I know higher gears can actually help your gas milage if you do majority of your driving in town. It takes less to get you going from a stop apparantly, which saves gas. Take it on the freeway and it'll be a different story.
 

69fb00GT

New Member
May 26, 2004
117
0
0
Southwestern PA
Sep 30, 2004
#5
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #5
Cobain03 said:
more power means less mpg from what i have seen...but i gues si'll trust ya
Click to expand...


Headers helps the engines EFFICIENCY, thereby giving a hp increase. I can't comment on mpg differences, as i feel it will most likely be negligable.
 

Cobain03

Active Member
Aug 27, 2003
996
0
36
Lexington, Ky
Sep 30, 2004
#6
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #6
well 90% of my driving would be around town..most id go would be maybe 1 1/2 hours away to grandparents...

right now, when i go abuot 70 mph, you can hear the engine winding a lil bit..if i used other gears would it say, wine at 50 or wine at like 90
 

taylor4g63

Founding Member
May 6, 2002
921
0
0
Asheboro, NC
Sep 30, 2004
#7
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #7
I've got 3.55's and getting on the highway sucks. 60mph is appoaching 3000 rpm. However, around town, they are great.
 
B

bnickel

Founding Member
Aug 21, 2002
5,640
3
77
lubbock, texas
Sep 30, 2004
#8
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #8
you might think about getting some 3.25 gears. depending on what you have done to the motor you might actually get better mileage on the highway even. all engines have a sweet spot where they perform best when cruising, for most street motors it is between 1500-2500 rpm, some like to wind out more than others some like just off idle better. considering the mods you've done already and the current mileage, assuming the car is properly tuned, i think you would probabaly notice a significant increase in mileage in town and possibly an increase on the highway, you may not notice any difference on the highway however and might even lose a little bit, but it would be negligible i think. i would also expect to see a very slight increase in mileage by adding headers. you might also consider running a taller rear tire as well, less revolutions of the tire means less rpm the engine has to turn as well.
 

mdjay

Premium Sponsor
Dec 9, 2003
896
0
16
Las Vegas, NV
Oct 1, 2004
#9
  • Oct 1, 2004
  • #9
The x-factor here of course is the fact that the gears and some exhaust will may help, but your much more likely to put your foot in it 'cause it sounds and feels good. That surely won't help the mileage The best thing for milage is an efi kit and a 5 speed.
 

2nd Mustang

Founding Member
Feb 24, 2002
2,488
0
46
Southern California
Oct 1, 2004
#10
  • Oct 1, 2004
  • #10
mdjay said:
The x-factor here of course is the fact that the gears and some exhaust will may help, but your much more likely to put your foot in it 'cause it sounds and feels good. That surely won't help the mileage The best thing for milage is an efi kit and a 5 speed.
Click to expand...

I have a 3.25 limited slip rear, headers, 302, 4 speed toploader, Holley 600 vacuum secondaries, etc. I must live by the X-factor because my mileage is about 7 mpgs around town. I do admit that my "heavy" foot is a factor . Performance is for fun........if you want economy, you need an econobox.
 

Cobain03

Active Member
Aug 27, 2003
996
0
36
Lexington, Ky
Oct 1, 2004
#11
  • Oct 1, 2004
  • #11
well, this car is going to be driven every day to school so i kindly dont want to go broke on gas but they way i headed,,doesnt look to good
 

Pakrat

Founding Member
Aug 6, 2000
3,843
0
56
Currently: NH Originally: Rhode Island (and all po
Oct 1, 2004
#12
  • Oct 1, 2004
  • #12
What you are looking for is a complete oxy moron. If it is such a concern then you are simply driving the wrong car. You can not have your cake and eat it. Choose style or choose economy, what you want or what you need.

With my set up and the usual spirited driving I see about 8mpg on average. I recently did a test where I drove like a grandma for one full tank just to see the difference and I got about 12-13mpg instead, but I had 0 zero fun in the car too, so I am back to spirited driving again. Like a sports car, these things are not meant for the dollar concerned so decide what your priorities really are and then go from there but don't waste your time trying to make it something it's not.
 
O

Ozsum2

New Member
Jul 28, 2004
695
1
0
Oct 1, 2004
#13
  • Oct 1, 2004
  • #13
You will get better fuel economy out of the headers if you drive the same. It wiil create more power, with less fuel. Hence, the savings. I get 19-21 mpg on the highway with my stock 2100. Around town is 12- 15. That is with the 2.79 rear gears. And, I drive like an old lady. Damn Calif. chippy!!!
 

Cobain03

Active Member
Aug 27, 2003
996
0
36
Lexington, Ky
Oct 1, 2004
#14
  • Oct 1, 2004
  • #14
so harsh but so true.. maybe i should be kinda savin for like a gt fox and use the 65 as a monster,,,hmm i dunno well i guess gears will wait for a while. my headers some in tuesday! !
 
S

slowboostens281

New Member
Sep 13, 2004
2
0
0
Oct 1, 2004
#15
  • Oct 1, 2004
  • #15
im having rear problems

will any 8.8 ford rear fit in a 1999 gt, i rolled my axle tubing forward on the right side and now i need a new rear.
 

Cobain03

Active Member
Aug 27, 2003
996
0
36
Lexington, Ky
Oct 1, 2004
#16
  • Oct 1, 2004
  • #16
kinda OT but i dont have a clue
 

mustang70

Founding Member
Nov 15, 2001
2,445
2
48
San Diego
Oct 5, 2004
#17
  • Oct 5, 2004
  • #17
slowboostens281 said:
will any 8.8 ford rear fit in a 1999 gt, i rolled my axle tubing forward on the right side and now i need a new rear.
Click to expand...


You need to check the late model forums. But no, not all 8.8's will fit in your 99. The 99's have a slightly wider track width then the earlier years.

You can drive spiritedly and still knock down decent mileage. I averaged 13 mpg when I was driving my car. And I don't have a light foot. That was without an AOD too.
 

mach1one

Boulevard Bruiser
Founding Member
Oct 30, 2001
4,775
0
0
Living in the past
Oct 5, 2004
#18
  • Oct 5, 2004
  • #18
if you don't want to go broke driving back/forth to school, buy a 500$ honda and drive it. if your gas mpg is that bad, it'll pay for itself after several months. Mine did.


If you're worried about gas mpg in your classic mustang, you're driving the wrong car. 3.55s will wake the car up but your gas mpg will suffer. I never cared about gas mpg. Generally as hp went up, gas mpg went down, and happiness went through the roof
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
4.10 gears = 200,000 miles ?
  • michaelleewebb
  • Apr 1, 2026
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
5
Views
190
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Apr 2, 2026
michaelleewebb
M
Mustang II 4 cyl gear hunting and possibly messed up vacuum system
  • oesterreicher
  • May 31, 2026
  • 1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech
Replies
11
Views
219
1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech Jun 14, 2026
manicmechanic007
S
Engine Stalls when downshifting/coasting
  • Scott_S
  • Nov 5, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
11
Views
674
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Nov 6, 2025
Mustang5L5
L
95 gt engine vibration
  • lenzgt
  • May 11, 2026
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
6
Views
161
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech May 26, 2026
lenzgt
L
3
Eight inches is enough for me...
  • 351MooseStang
  • Nov 27, 2025
  • 1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech
Replies
5
Views
535
1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech Mar 2, 2026
Bullitt347
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?