Fuel economy estimates, please. '79 f-150

lemonshindig · 09-29-2009, 08:30 PM

Looking at a '79 f-150 4x4 390 4spd on saturday, and i'd like to have an idea of how the thing would do on gas.

I'm thinking 12 city 15 highway.

What do you think?

I talked to some other people about their '75 4x2 360 4 speed and he said "No less than 16mpg"

Maxum96 · 09-29-2009, 08:37 PM

Depends on gear ratio, tire size, condition of the engine, etc. Truth be know, it's gonna get lousy mileage. Maybe 9-10mpg average. I had a 71 F100 with a 390 2v and 3.50 gears and that was the best I could get with it all tuned up.

somethingclever · 09-30-2009, 12:03 AM

You're looking at about 12mpg with a good tune and 33" or so tires.

musgofasta · 09-30-2009, 09:34 AM

That's a brick on wheels.

Wouldn't suprise me for 8-10 mpg around town.

Maybe hit up an F-150 Forum?

69smach · 09-30-2009, 10:28 AM

The aerodynamics of the ford trucks of that year are equivilant to holding two 4x8 sheets of plywood in front of you in a 60 MPH wind.LOL. They get terrible gas milage,,usually around 12 MPG,,doesn't matter which engine is in the thing either.I have 5 of them,,from 1974 to 1978,,and they all get the same milage and are in perfect tune.Cool trucks though,,and can be built up fairly reasonable for awhile longer. They are catching up though,,taxes are cheap,insurance is fairly inexpensive,,,and best of all,,they are paid for.

MustangBillsInc · 09-30-2009, 11:22 AM

just letting you know that a 79 f150 never came with a 390. 76 was the last year for the FE in the light duty trucks. thats not saying that someone did not put it in there just that it is not stock. my experience with 70's 4x4's is that you will be lucky to get 12mpg out of it.

69 Rustang · 10-01-2009, 01:20 AM

I think 12 mpg with stock tires would be good. My '86 had slightly larger tires, 302, 4x4, AOD and it got 13 on the highway, and maybe 11 around town.

lemonshindig · 10-01-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustangBillsInc

just letting you know that a 79 f150 never came with a 390. 76 was the last year for the FE in the light duty trucks. thats not saying that someone did not put it in there just that it is not stock. my experience with 70's 4x4's is that you will be lucky to get 12mpg out of it.

I'm aware, I've been reading up on the f-series on wikipedia. He told me that the 390 was put in to replace whatever used to be in there.