Early 80's half ton 2wd with a 6.2L questions

[AJMBLAZER]

Semi-interested in a low mileage early 80's half ton 2wd with a 6.2L and 3 speed + OD manual trans. Got a post up about it in The Garage.
I'm figuring it's a plain jane stocker as it came from the government.

What sort of gas mileage can one of these get? I know the 4x4's can do 20 with OD but what about the 2wd's?

Thoughts/concerns/worries/advice?

 

[Russell]

Rene has a 2wd 6.2L diesel with a 700r4 overdrive transmission and he claims to get like 22 - 24 mpg with his. I imagine you could even get slightly better mileage with the standard transmission yet as well.

 

[tRustyK5]

My best freeway was 25 mpg...and I'd think if it was a manual tranny I'd gain at least 1 mpg with everything else being equal.

Rene

 

[Wrench]

A friend of mine owns an '83 6.2 half ton 2wd with the same manual OD transmission and 3.08 gears--regularly gets around 25 . . . not the greatest takeoff but awesome cruiser.

 

[Volare]

You cant go wrong with an old 6.2 I get roughly 25 mpg on mine.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Thanks guys. I'm kinda waiting on this one as the lady owner is sort of...hard to communicate with. You ask 5 questions, she answers one, you ask 4 questions, she answers one, you ask 3 questions, she repeats her first two answers...

Meanwhile she has no pics until next week so I'm fully expecting this truck to be a rusty POS after all of this.

 

[tRustyK5]

I do want to add that city traffic does a pretty good number on the fuel mileage. I may get 25 mpg on the highway, but in town it's more like 15-17. That's not terrible, but it's not especially great either. I drive about 200 miles a week in traffic and almost never any highway.

I bought the pick-up knowing that the company I work for is building a new shop about 35-40 miles away from where i live. There is a good chunk of freeway between here and there so the pick-up is a viable commuter for that eventuality.

rene

 

[Wrench]

yeah, the poorer city mileage goes along with the great highway mileage--between the low gear ratios and the lower power ratings on the 6.2, it doesn't especially like getting going . . .

 

[Volare]

City driving for me is 19mpg. And that is full throttle from the get go...

 

[tRustyK5]

City driving here kind of precludes being able to use full throttle. I see a lot of stop and go rush hour type of traffic.

Running around town it's a bit better (no traffic)

Rene