The holy grail: a running CUCV pickup...how rare and where to find?

[tRustyK5]

I'm not sure...probably have to de-fuel it a fair bit. The NA 6.2's are not powerhouses, but they're really hard to beat for fuel mileage. FWIW, I can tell you the "27 mpg" quoted on that site is optimistic if not outright exaggeration. A few guys here have seen 25 mpg, but that's not all the time or even every few tanks. I'd say 23-24 "highway only" is about as good as it's gonna get on a repeatable basis.

Rene

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Hey guys, sorry for not posting back sooner. My computer died two weeks ago before I left so I haven't been online much.

I picked it up last Friday and it's sitting in my sideyard right now scaring the neighbors and their real estate agents. Starts right up and drives excellent and is big, green, and loud. It has a few issues and I think AlfaHeaven sorta "overstates" the condition of the vehicles when they are done...but again...where the heck am I going to find one in this condition for this price with these few miles? The "new rockers" turned out to be new rocker skins but eh, square tube sliders are cool... A few mystery leaks but again, I'm not complaining...I got a 90-95% 50,xxx mile K30 that's optioned just about exactly how I want it. Took me home the 400 miles with no issues...other than no radio...MAN that was a boring/interesting/loud drive.

I'll put it this way. I was born in '78 and spent the first 14-15 years or so of my life riding around in the back seat of a '76 K5. I have no memories of dad's Blazer ever being this clean/solid.

Rough math after converting for the 36" tires and doing rough division in my head but I saw over 15mpg easily. I'm thinking about 17mpg doing 55-60ish the whole way across the UP. My Ranger got about 15mpg if you had a tail wind.

Next projects are going to be spacing the front axle forward, rebalancing the tires (shake juuuust a bit at about 55-60mph ), a radio, a cig lighter, and generally checking everything over. I'll post up with my thoughts/concerns questions after I get the new computer and finish regearing my DD.

 

[jdemaris]

Many of the fuel-mileage figures I've seen posted are rediculous. I've been driving 6.2 and 6.5 powered vehicles since they came out in 82 - in all shapes and sizes - and I've been a diesel mechanic for 40 years. I have a half-dozen 6.2s on the road right now and many more off-road. I live in a mountain area of New York - but I've driven cross-country and kept good figures on fuel mileage - some in flat-land areas. A 6.2 has about the same powe as a 305 gas - and wont' do better by turning up the fuel - unless it has a turbo. 6.5 is basically the same engine with a slightly bigger bore -and turbo 6.5s have a lower compression ratio and thinner/cheaper blocks than the 6.2s. If a turbo is added to a 6.2- you'll get more power and usually use more fuel- not less. And, getting the RPMs down with oversize tires usually lowers the fuel-mileage - becasue of increased rolling resistance. Anybody who tells you they're getting 28 to 30 MPG - is either lying - or nuts.
A few figures or real-world mileage figures.

1983 K5 4WD Blazer - 6.2 diesel, 3.08 axles, T400 trans - 65 MPH - 19 MPG empty - 13.2 MPG pulling a 20' camper-trailer - both figures with standard 235/75-15" tires. With 31 X 10.50s - mileage is worse empty or pulling a trailer. Same vehicle with stock tires gets an average everday MPG of 16.

1986 K5 4WD Blazer- 6.2 diesel, 3.08 axles, 700R4 trans, standard tires - 23 MPG at 65 MPH in flatland.

1982 K10 1/2 ton 4WD longbed pickup - with 6.2 diesel, 3.08 axles, NP833 overdrive manual trans - 24 MPG at 65 MPH on a flat highway with stock tires. With 31 X 10.50 tires - drops to 22 MPG.

1987 V20 3/4 ton, 4WD Suburban - 6.2 diesel, T400 trans, 3.73 axles - absolute best of 19 MPG at 65 MPH - but 16-17 is more common. Average daily driving - 13 MPG. I also have an 89 GMC Suburban - set up just the same and gets exactly the same mileage.

1995 1 ton, 4WD pickup with dual rear wheels, 6.5 turbo, electronically controlled inj. pump, overdrive-automatic, 4.10 axles, - gets 14.5 MPG at its best at 65 MPH.

1993 3/4 ton 4WD pickup, 6.5 turbo with mechanical injection, 80 auto trans., 3.73 axles, 18 MPG at best at 65 MPH.