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88-91 chevy 3/4 ton fuel milage question
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weld123
New User
Oct 19, 2007, 8:09 PM
Post #1 of 2
(2367 views)
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88-91 chevy 3/4 ton fuel milage question
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Im looking to buy a 3/4 ton chevy/GMC pickup. Can anyone tell me what rear ratios and transmissions(auto or man.) were offered in those from 88-91. A half ton doesnt quite have stiff enough suspension for what Im doing. Ideally I thought a high rear end w/ 5 speed manual behind a 350 would do me fine but I havent seen such in a two wheel drive. Anyone have any ideas for light duty 3/4 ton and what kind of milage you think I can get.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 20, 2007, 2:31 AM
Post #2 of 2
(2362 views)
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Re: 88-91 chevy 3/4 ton fuel milage question
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I really don't know what axle ratios were offered for 3/4 ton. That starts the real need for HD and Power so fuel economy comes in second place. I have this in a 97 5.7 (350) 4WD PU auto and monitor fuel use carefully. Family has owned Suburbans since 1974 including, 83, 96, 99, 2001. The 83 had a tall rear axle ratio and it ruined it. No canolis at all and still used plenty of fuel. All the rest and my own truck have excellent performance.
Fuel use is absolutely going to be dictated by your driving habits, load you carry and the type of driving. I plow snow with my truck. Gas mileage can drop to less than 5 keeping in mind you do a lot of backing up and miles don't record that (?) I think. It could do a lot less than that too but it's worth it at $20 bucks a gallon for the work it does. So be that.
Same truck routinely gets 10mpg with no real load in what would be rural driving and short trips. Tested out long trip (over 100 miles) with full but light load that did cause wind resistance and could get 17mpg. I would expect at best on steady highway drive not exceeding 65mph it would do 18.5 at best. That's about what the 74 Suburban did too. The 83 did inch up about 10% but again not worth it and not sure it would have done any differently with a different ratio. The real usable HP came back in the 90s which is nice. Fuel economy has improved year by year mostly with higher tech engines and controls and some credit for aerodynamics.
Rough guess for you is expect 12-14 mpg for general mixed use.
Since this is so old now watch out for rust. Get under it and look. Specifically brake and fuel lines, axle housing itself and the bumpers. Look right at the floor pan and all lower body panels.
Your call on the the transmission. I find automatics better overall in used vehicles and the years you are looking at the emission controls are easier for automatics than standards (which got eliminated in some vehicles) I think mostly because using the engine as a brake costs emissions to rise.
Tires will count too. Get what suits your needs,
T
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