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Here is a success story. It shows how to make some moderate changes in a vehicles engine and come out with more fuel mileage and better emissions. It happens to be a personal story, in retrospect we performed this type of procedure on many vehicles, before I sold my shop 3 years ago.
My truck is a collectible 1988 GMC 1 ton four wheel drive with 4 wheels, in other words it is not a duallie. I have owned it since it was new, that is 21 years now. I adore my truck, no way It will ever be sold. This will make you jealous, I paid $17500.00 new for it in 1988. The equivalent GMC DuraMax 1 ton pickup would cost about $45000. 00 minimally. Most cost more like $60,000.00 with options.
About 8 or 9 years ago, as I mentioned in another article (Swap your 3 speed automatic transmission for a T-700R4) URL is: (http://www.gottransmissions.com/blog/transmission-upgrades/swap-3-speed-automatic-transmission-t700r4)…. just copy and paste.
I had to replace the camshaft. Well actually it had a bad lifter and in the process I decided to spend a few hundred dollars more and buy a ‘fuel saver’ camshaft along with the lifters. I bought a ‘fuel miser camshaft’ from ISKY racing camshafts. Been around since before I was a kid in the ’60s. I also purchased all the gaskets and seals for reassembly.
BTW: I took the time and expense to have the heads rebuilt (valve job). This is where they re-seat the valves and clean the heads up and machine them. They actually upgrade the heads as apart of the process nowadays. Cost: about $200.00 + or - a few $$$. It is not a necessity to do, however well worth it if you can afford it at the time. It will affect your mileage by maybe 1 mile per gallon if the heads were good in the first place, but a valve job crispins up the performance.
After I reassembled the engine using a torque wrench to tighten the head bolts equally and the intake manifold too, it was ready to put some fire on it. (start it up). I always take the time to triple check my work, walk away for a few hours and recheck it. After I started it and went through the brief break-in procedure, I changed the oil in case any debris was left in the engine.
Got my nerve up and went for a ride. To make a long story shorter, after driving the truck for a month, it turns out the truck picked up 3 miles per gallon and had a bunch more power ready to use anytime. Now 3 mpg may not sound like a lot, but when you only get 10 miles per gallon in the first place, a 3 mpg pickup is very significant and it reduces emissions too.
I also did another upgrade to the truck that added another 4 miles per gallon without touching the engine. I realize what I described is not a doable procedure for most folks, but it is affordable to have a competent mechanic do it, and of course the fuel savings will pay for itself. Especially if you had a $4500.00 dollar rebate to do it with.
For your information, GotEngines.com has the updated modernized “rebuilt engines for sale” in stock, call 1-877-268-0664.
