How far do you drive your highly modified 455?

I drove my Buick with its new 455 to visit my mom in Cary, NC last night. A 216 mile trip one way. Before last night its been 400 miles of short trips around town. She ran perfect but I heard every noise and watched the gauges constantly. On a 3.75 hour trip there is way too much time to think about the many ways an engine can blow, header bolts can loosen etc. I suppose the aluminum rods had me wondering the most. I did notice a 5 psi drop in oil pressure when it was cruising at 75-80 that I worried about(then). I suppose its just from a slightly higher oil temp while cruising at speed. It was 35 psi @ 2400 whereas it's usually 40 at the same RPM. In fact after I stopped for gas it went back to 40 and after a few minutes back down to 35. She ran a steady 170 water temp so I got to thinking about oil coolers. Does anyone run one? So far my MPG for the trip was 10.67. I'm happy with that considering the build and the speed. More good news was the driveway under the car was still clean this morning and the oil is still full and clean.

I think I'd worry less if I heard from other guys that take long trips with an engine that is basically a race engine.

 

I've run 1 trip from here to Chicago and back and twice to Detroit (Woodward Cruise) and back. Total of roughly 3800 mi. at 3000 RPM steady. No problems except a voltage regulator crapping out on me in Chicago. Several trips to BG of course and one broken rocker shaft as I pulled in the driveway at home from this years GS nationals. Build 'em to drive.

 

My GS was running low 12's with 4.56's here in the desert, not really highly modified. Drove it from Phoenix to Rock Point in Mexico to camp on the beach. About a 3 hour trip one way. Wife hates this picture, because it isn't her, pre wife times Car was kind of dusty!

 

I haven't long distanced my car. But I take her out and cruise around up and down the highways around town for 3-4 hours several times a year. Maybe 200 miles or so.

 

Drove mine 2 hrs.to an air strip to drag race w the corvete club and 2 hrs home w a solid 600 hp iron headed pump gas motor and 10" converter w 373 gears w no troubles but a **** load of gas,but i would'nt do it regularly.I do regularly drive to island dragway (35 min each way) to spank the chevies in the street car class.When the weekend comes around thats all i drive when the weather's decent

 

Andy,
I just switched to Amsoil Marine and Diesel 15-40 oil and notice less drop off than I got with any other oil. I run about the same temps as you. When I put mine on the highway its left lane all the way and it loves it (don't ask about gas millage.)

 

I've put 1200 miles on my fresh 464 build in the last four months, being my first car. Built it as sort of a class project. That would make a good thread. It's nice having a 500hp daily driver One note on it is I have so far not had any real problems with the motor, but I never really beat on or abuse it. It very rarely even sees 3 grand. Oh, did I mention I'm a junior in High School.:Smarty:

BTW, I somehow manage to get about 10 to 11 mpg around town. Might just be my light foot.

 

Thanks guys:beers2: I suppose there really isn't any reason to worry. I just never had a cam this big or aluminum rods before. Craig, I love that pic :TU: Doug, FWIW I'm running Exxon Diesel 15W-40.

 

I was using Rotetella 15-40, but since it was hard to get the old formula I switched to the Amsoil. It showed about 5 psi more. As soon as I hit 1500 rpm it goes over 50 psi and stays there. I switched to a 180 thermostat and did not get any drop in pressure.

19skylark68
Congratulations on showing good common sense when driving your Lark on the street. Sounds like you have the proper respect for the power of that 464. You must have a good tune to get over 10 mpg on a hot BBB, I get around 8 now, still working on the Holley carb tune. I try to take it easy on my motor also, never sees over 6200 since I put on the rev limiter :Brow:

 

I watch my fuel economy and on average, fairly good mix of driving nice and beating on it, I get about 13 mpg. So I'm pretty happy with that.

Those claims of the new Corvette's getting 28 mpg if just pure fantasy. My neighbor has an '06. He said he's lucky if he averages 17-18 mpg.

 

Doug, I buy 55 gallons of the exxon oil at a time and I bought my latest drum about two years ago. I think/hope it has the large amont of zinc that I saw when I checked on it last. That's really good oil pressure, where are you taking it from? I take mine from the passenger rear lifter gallery and I adjusted it to be 65-75 @ 5000 hot.

Phillip, I think 13 MPG with an 11 second car is awesome :beers2: That's all I got with my mild 350!

Well, I leave here in less than an hour. Wish me luck...lol

 

I get 11-12 MPG city with my fairly stock 350. :af: Maybe with heads and a John Osborne Q-Jet it will go up some.

 

When you make more power you consume more, not less, fuel.

 

By that logic if I was to kink my exhaust so that it barely flowed I would get more MPG. I don't think so. Under normal condition's (Not Racing) if you can improve efficiency you will get better mileage. :bla:

 

More air in and more air out iof the engine is the key to making power. When you increase the air flow you have in increase the fuel flow to continue to optimize the air to fuel ratio. In a word you are incorrect. So if you had head work done and increased their flow numbers you will see Osborne knowing this mod put bigger jets in the carb to increase the fuel flow. These jets are fixed at the bigger size 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

When you get to college you will have a chance to take a course in Thermodynamics. You will find out in diifferent words that there is no such thing as a free power lunch.

 

So why do I get better mileage with my 2 1/2 inch duals compared to my old 2 inch kinked system. Because I increased efficiency.

 

I did not say there are no things you can do to just increase efficiency-- in the case of exhaust mods air flow. However, as you increase airflow the engine will eventually get to a point where it will run lean on the fuel mixture requiring a larger carb or a rejet of your old one. But you said heads and a carb mod by JO. That portends more air, more fuel and less mpg.

 

What the hell is "portends"??

 

indicates, is a sign of, signifies etc.

 

:laugh: