hmmurdock_00

I posted not to long ago about if i should keep the 305 L03 or or a 350 TPI(forget the name of the motor). Well recently some people have suggested a RamJet 350 in my camaro. Just wanted to know if this be a wise idea? Whats the mpg rating city and highway (roughtly)? Stuff like that....

If it is any help the car is roughtly driven 56 miles Mondays- Thurdays and some on the weekends, unless the weather is really bad.

Thanks in advance for your help.

KiLLJ0Y

iTrader: (1)

a daily that gets good gas mileage.. keep the LO3


to answer the other, the 350 TPI is call the L98


that ramjet will cost you over 5k

hmmurdock_00

Thanks, i thinking the 350 ramjet might be a bit over kill on a DD. I was thinking of swapping the L03 with the L98, only like 1 mpg difference on the highway but it use a different octane type gas so cost would be more. What do ya'll think?

Thanks again for the advice

Camaro_nut

That Ramjet will cost ya! About 5K. For MPG sake,
I would get a stock, or close to stock TPI 350.
Believe it for not, gas mileage between a LO3,
LHO, or L98 is almost the same across the board.

hmmurdock_00

I did do so looking on that and the 305 L03 auto got 17 city and 26 highway, the L98 was 25 highway only difference.

I'm just trying to pick which one I want for the car. I don't want to get something I may regret latter on, because changing back to something like that is not always the easiest thing to do.

Thanks for the advice.

Camaro_nut

Oh, and the Ramjet 350 motor only gets 8 MPG!
It's got Vortec cast iron heads, mild .460/.481 lift
cam, LT1 22 lb. injectors and 1.6 roller rockers.

So, it's basically an LT1 with more power. Just
that it's only getting 8 MPG instead of like 22
or something like that. But it could be that I have
a lead foot, 3.73s and a T-56. I don't know.

hmmurdock_00

Could be

I know the 305 L03 can run off 87 and be fine, but would the L98 need 89 or higher octane to run proberly.

It must seem I am a retard or annoying asking these questions, but I don't want to do something I will regret. Thanks.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Maybe I don't get out enough, but I've never heard that the L98 requires anything more than regular unleaded.

If you want to make up that 1 mpg difference, put synthetic engine oil in the crankcase, synthetic ATF in the tranny, and synthetic gear lube in the diff. REAL synthetic, that is, not those "me too" fakers.

Camaro_nut

I don't think so either. It will actually state if it does
take premium unleaded on the instrument cluster
and in the manual, like 90% of all other cars and trucks.

I only heard of 93 and up F bodies ever requiring
premium octane fuel from the factory.

REAL synthetic meaning what? FULL sythentic you mean?
Not blended? 'Cause if it says full sythentic on the label,
then it's FULL sythentic! Most popular brands are Mobil 1,
Royal Purple and Redline.

wm_sorg

If you are going for mileage do an LS1 swap.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

No, I mean "REAL". The ones you mention are. AMSOIL is as well (the true leader of the pack, IMO).

Penzoil, Valvoline, Quaker State, to name a few, use a re-refined petroleum base that has been declared by an ignorant judge to be "synthetic", even though it is not. Therefore, my distinction.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

How many extra gallons of gas can you buy for $6000? How long will that last you?

Camaro_nut

Yes, that is a great swap project. It is getting very popular
to do nowadays. However, it takes more skill and fabrication
to do that swap. You will need a lot of custom parts and
wiring skills to make it work right. It's going to cost 3 times
more than just swapping in a 350 TPI motor. All for about
5 MPG better fuel economy.


I wanted to originally do that kind of swap but I didn't
have the time to make it happen. You can get up to
28 MPG on the highway with a 98-up LS1 motor with
a T-56 and stock 3.42s.

FYI: the oiling system in the '98 LS1 blocks are not
that great. I would choose a newer block with better
oil galleys.

Camaro_nut

Oh! Thanks for the input. Learn something new everyday!

Yeah, I forgot about AMSOIL. My dad has purple coolant
in his car when he bought it. Did some research, found out it
was AMSOIL coolant. I have never seen purple coolant before.
Green (traditional), red (Toyota), pink (Toyota), blue (VW?), and
orange (GM Dexcool), but not purple.

hmmurdock_00

Well I wasn't going to do a LS1, to much money and to much time to really get involved. That was one reason why i really didn't lean to much towards the Ramjet.

I did some searching and still haven't figured out for a fact if a L98 can run good of 87, I really don't want to spend a whole lot in gas for a DD. What about a 305 TPI(LB9) would it require anything higher than 87?

wm_sorg

The price of a LS1 setup has come down considerably while gas prices have gone up.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33615

You can easily spend the same amount on an LT1 or L98 setup and still not match the mileage and performance combination.
I have had most V8 flavors of firebirds. L98, LB9, and LG4. My LS1 setup out performs them all in terms of fuel economy and power.

If fuel economy is the primary decision factor the LS1 is the best choice for a V8.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Sure, low-ball us, will you? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...r4_PcN__Stores

Plus $350-625 shipping.

And that doesn't get it in your engine bay.

Okay, $4000-$6000 for the parts.

Camaro_nut

Dude, its not much better than an LT1. Not by much
at all. You tell me different all you want, but any 96-97
LT1 or a 98-99 LS1 is almost the same fuel economy
and even performance. The 96-97 LT1 is rated at about
295hp. The 98-99 LS1 is about 305. Torque is the exact
same. If you put that LS1 motor in a thirdgen, then you
may pick up better gas mileage because that car weights
about 500 lbs less than a 98 Camaro.

I give you benefit of the doubt: a 93 LT1 is only 275hp
while an 02 LS1 is 325.

Camaro_nut

Don't forget to add another $1,000.00 in custom parts.

wm_sorg

There were at least two in the price range I selected. Sure there are more expensive ones, however the deals are out there.

Nevertheless we are drifting off topic. My interpretation of this thread was that the origional poster was interested in fuel economy not best bang for the buck. Hence, I suggested he should consider an LS1 for its excellent fuel economy.

wm_sorg

Thank you.

wm_sorg

The conversion is a lot cheaper than it was three years ago.

85.00 For the engine mounts
110.00 For the cross member
450.00 For harness from speartech. Have seen them for around $300 elsewhere.

The rest optional.

http://www.spohn.net/category.cfm?categoryid=1191

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Justifying an LS1 on the basis of gas mileage:

Miles per day times days per week time weeks per year = miles driven per year (if you like, you can add the "weekend" miles).

Divide that by the respective gas mileages projected for each engine type.

Multiply each of those results by the price of gasoline per gallon.

Subtract the difference between, say, the result for the LS1 from the result for an LO3. Divide $4500 by that value.

That's how many years it will take to pay back the LS1 swap.

That's why it's on-topic.

Camaro_nut

OK, I apologize for getting off topic. I just can't justify
installing an LS1 for JUST better gas mileage when you
can modify a stock TPI/TBI motor to get about the same.
Performance will not match, but that's a whole other thing.
Just need to figure out how good she runs off hand,
then do a high performance tune up and go through
the fuel system with a BG fuel system service sold
at dealerships and lube shops. Then have the PROM
custom tuned if you want to go that far. You get actually
get up to 5 MPG more if you know what you are doing.


Of course, everything varies depending on mileage
and condition of drivetrain, tires (inflation/wear), brakes (drag),
trans (slippage/shifting),alignment, driving habits, temp., etc.
ALL of that contributes to gas mileage.


I would recommend the poster of this thread to do this!
I would have the car tuned up with quality parts, check
timing to see if it's where it should be, use brand name
gas, add fuel system cleaner on occasion, clean out the
throttle body if it's clogged with dirt, replace air filter
if dirty, change the fuel pump if old or factory original
( they DO wear down after a while!), replace fuel filter
if over 4 years/ 30K miles on it. I can go on and on.
All of these things could bring up gas mileage considerably!

It's easier and cheaper than buying a used motor, then
swapping the whole thing out. Even with a TPI you need
to do custom wiring if you have TBI.


But all and all about the LS1 swap...it's an awesome
look and a great project swap! I WOULD LOVE TO DO IT
someday, to some car, but I don't have the money or
the time or even the place to do it at all. I love my
Ramjet , no doubt about that, but it will never come
close to good gas mileage as the LS1. EVEN though
it uses LS1 and LT1 parts!!!! Go figure....

OK, I am off topic now......

Camaro_nut

OK, what about fuel lines from the factory steel ones
on the D/S? Need to make custom ones from there
to the LS1, Need custom throttle cable, no? I have
an LS1 type throttle body on the Ramjet, so I used
an LS1 throttle cable. Need to modify things to make it
fit. Or use a LONG universal Lokar cable. Possibly an
'82Camaro 4 cylinder cable?

All of those little things add up! And fast! I should know,
I have done a custom drivetrain swap in my car.

1987formula

If the 305 you have is still sound I would work on it by doing a complete tune up a custom prom running synthic oil in the motor,tranny,and the rear endand you should get a couple more miles to the gallon.its alot cheaper than a motor swap.

Camaro_nut

OK, this is what I and five7kid just stated not too long ago!

Why repeat what we already posted????

SSC

A 305 in good tune is the best bet for fuel economy. The Camaro is just amazing me even though I havent been driving it more then around the block since it isnt street worthy yet. Usually when I run a car like this one (just tinkering) I eat 5 gallons of gas a week, I put 5 gallons in 3 weeks ago and havent run out yet. It's got some go juice too for a "stock" engine.

Goumba T

According to my manual (90) the minimum to be run with the LB9/B2L is 91 octane.

hmmurdock_00

Thanks for the advice. The 305 is very sound, just smokes on start up and long idels(valves stem seals). I was thinking staying with the 305 anyways it gets me where I want to go. So I probably stay with the 305 until it dies, if ever.:P

BronYrAur

iTrader: (1)

If all you want is gas mileage, stick with the 305 and swap in a T56. Best of both worlds. You'll get decent economy already with the engine and have a .5 overdrive gear with your stock 2.73 rear gears. Your mileage will be through the roof.