DNR-Glad to see you got it on the road for more than just a lap around the block. It's good to hear someone using their truck for what it was built/rebuilt for. I hate to take mine out in the snow as well, but that's why I have it. Maybe hook to a loaded trailer of somesorts and go for another trip when the weather gets better, mine seems to run better if I make it work hard...

 

Wow, I ain't getting that good. My tops is 600 hwy and then it takes 25 gallons.

 

i get around 550 +/- to a tank with 3.54's. maybe your winter fuel is beaten you down! throw some ps additive and a little oil in there! at about 70 mph my egt's are usually 600/700. these old trucks run great i travel all over in mine... it seems once there on the road for about an hour they start runnin like a DREAM!

 

Mine will usually get 16-17 mpg.

Last winter I went to Fargo, ND (about 400 miles one way) with a strong headwind and got 13 mpg on the way up and about 16 on the way back.

I think these ol' barn doors really suffer from wind drag.

 

I can sympathize...this is the first winter my truck has ever seen !!! i hate that i have to drive it...my winter beater is down for the count. I did oil it real good, but it still bothers me...Lot's of car washes. BTW... I was getting 18.5 mpg until they started blending the fuel, now down to 15.5 .

 

I put the 89 away in winter. I just can not drive it in the snow. Original owner never did and niether have I. I am in the middle of patchin up my 93 that was almost beond repair. Most people would have junked it. It was that bad. I bought it this summer from the original owner that drove it in the winter. I will never drive either one in the snow.

 

Well, I am back home and everything went real good.. No problems at all.. Little hard starting the one morning, had to crank a few cycles.. It was a low of 9 degrees.. Plugged it in this morning for about 3hrs and fired right up... Does that sound right for these older gems!!

I filled up and got 15.5 on the way there with that stiff headwind and 17.7 on the way home with light winds... So..I am pretty happy with that.. That was 16oz of walmart 2stoke on each tank too.. I did notice it quieted the motor down too.. A few tweaks here and there and It will be real good..

Future plans in order for now:
-Finish exhaust
-Fuel pressure guage
-poly spacers on rear springs for sure, even with 1k in the bed, it is rough!!
-Front sway bar
-latter bars
-build trans to the hilt
-Add lots of power adders

HAVE FUN!!

Thanks for everybodys compliments and information you give..

Derek