I have a '62 Lancer 770/225/auto that's my daily driver. Everything is stock & I'm currently getting 21mpg. While 21mpg is awesome, what can I do to increase this?

Thanks,
Rob

21mpg is very good for a '62 Lancer with stock 225 setup. The first thing to do is to check your odometer for accuracy (not kidding—I've run into plenty of cars with odometers rolling too fast, giving the impression that more miles have been travelled than actually have been).

Better mileage? Well, you can optimize the final drive ratio by changing rear axle ratio and/or tire size to best match your driving (mostly city? Mostly highway?). You can install electronic ignition, recurve the distributor, put in a less restrictive exhaust system, keep the engine in top tune, and twiddle with the carburetion. You can install NGK ZFR5N extended-nose spark plugs (with the gaskets in your '62).

What mods have you made already?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Can the odometer run too slow? Does tire size change it? I have smaller tires than what should be.

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82 D150 Slant6 Shorty
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/658846

That is good mileage for a stocker without optimization. Yes, an odo can run too slow too. You can use mile markers on the hwy to check the odo accuracy, but do it over at least 10-20 miles for best results.

I would say the biggest things you can do (assuming engine internals are fine) are to optimize your ignition timing curve, optimize jetting, and use a manual transmission. When I switched from a 904 to a manual, the difference was about 15% in mileage, and can be even more around town.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

The odo can indeed run too slow. And yes, tire size affects it directly. Assume that the speedo/odo are accurate when they leave the factory.

If you put on smaller-diameter tires, or install a lower (numerically higher) rear axle ratio, the speedo and odo will read high/fast.

If you put on larger-diameter tires, or install a higher (numerically lower) rear axle ratio, the speedo and odo will read low/slow.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

To optimize fuel economy I recommend the following:

(1) install electronic ignition with a hot coil and the plugs Dan recommended above. Pertronix is fine.

(2) install a 2 1/4 inch exhaust line with a free flowing muffler

(3) install a dual chamber brake master cylinder (won't improve economy, but makes your brake system a heck of alot safer)

(4) buy tall skinny tires on lightweight aluminum rims. 14x5 should be plenty. Somewhere I have seen charts for Mopar speedometer gears where the gear size is matched to the rear axle gear ratio and tire size combination. Hopefully someone will post this chart and you can get the largest diameter tire and wheel combination which will match your current speedometer gear.

(5) lighten the car as much as possible- space-saver spare, lose the extra tools in the trunk, get a small battery, etc...

(6) do a thorough tune-up using quality parts nd paying attention to things like valve lash and carb settings.

(7) re-curve the distributor

Beyond these simple modifications it starts cosing more oney to modify than you will save on increased gas mileage.

Pertronix works, but my strong preference is for HEI instead.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

HEI is better, but Pertronix is easier to install. No cutting or splicing, no wiring diagrams to follow. Although HEI is cheaper, especially if you get your control unit at the boneyard.

THANKS for the feedback everyone!!! Here's a list of what's already been done to the car; to answer some of your questions:

1) 235/75R15 rear tires (fuel economy calculations were taken from only driving the car known distances, odo has never been trusted)

2) Fresh tune-up (w/NGK plugs)

3) CherryBomb Glasspack

4) Dual chamber brake master cylinder

5) Accel Super Coil

Here's a few more questions of my own:

1) Would a 2bbl help/hurt? (I already have a SuperSix intake, not on car)

2) Should I install the ignition system off of my '86 truck slant?

3) Electric fan(s)? (Already have those to, not on car)

4) Should I adjust the valves at .009 I & .019 E?

FYI: The car is driven 80% highway. These mileage readings include the facts that I live in NE Ohio so it warms up for 10 min every morning & the fuel cap leaks.

Thanks Again,
Rob

Good...because those tires are 28.88" diameter, while the originals were 24.65" diameter. Those new tires would make your odo run about 17% slow and your speedo read about 17% low.
A well-tuned 2bbl setup can get better or worse MPGs than a well-tuned 1bbl setup, depending on the carbs and intake manifolds in question.
Nooooo, that's a system most people are trying to get away from!
If you can find room in a '62 Lancer...!

I don't advise it. Other people seem to have no trouble with this setting. What cam are you running?
This makes me more than a little suspicious of your 21mpg figure...

What's your rear axle ratio? If the original 3.23 (early production) or 2.93 (late production) has been swapped for e.g. a 2.76, I could believe leaking gas cap + 10-minute warmup + mostly highway driving = 21mpg.

How are you keeping this car from rusting to bits in that part of the world?!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Stock, from what I can tell.
I was shocked as well, but I did the math multiple times. I know for a fact that I drive 37.5 mi one-way to/from work every day (97%hwy). I drive her for 3 days = 225 miles (magic #) & put about +-11 gal back in the tank = +-20.45mpg.
Dunno? All I know is that 0-60 = sometime today
What carb do you recommend with the SuperSix intake & stock exhaust manifold?
Well, I've only had if for about 2 months. It spent the prior 6 months in storage/Sunday driver in Detroit, MI. Before there it lived in Utah. Other than that all I know is that it was built in CA. I had it oil sprayed immediately & have been trying to keep the salt sprayed off via the local quarter wash. It's not pretty, but it's VERY solid.





Thanks Again,
Rob

OK, so we're probably looking at a tall (e.g., 2.76) rear axle.

Next question: Is this the original engine to the car? And if so—forgive the basic question—are you sure it's a 225 and not a 170?
Carefully-picked, carefully-built Carter BBD.
Images don't show up and I can't load them in a new page, says "Not Authorized". Looks like the server you've got them on doesn't allow external linking, perhaps.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Well, according to this post, "170 or a 225", it's a 225. Whether it's original or not I am uncertain.

I just re-calculated my mileage once again today:
274.79 miles/13.972gallons=19.667mpg

I LOVE THIS CAR!!!

Say, I remember seeing that car on eBay. Obviously, the cause of your super-good mileage is your hood scoops!

If your engine is in fact a tall-block, it could also be a 198. But, if everything's in good tune, 19-21mpg with a 225 and 2.76 and tall tires is possible in a lightweight '62.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Yeah, I was in the market for a classic car. I was actually looking for something a little older, with a flat-head 6 & manual trans. When I saw this one I just couldn't pass it up. Now I'm driving it EVERY day & loving it.

As soon as I sell my '04 Dakota I'll be searching for a \6 4x4 3/4spd to have as my truck.