Fuel Economy - GMC Van 2500 Camper 1982

[gemmaellenfish]

Hi forum people!

We're back and we finally did it!!! Thanks to all who answered my posts in the past.

We are buying a 1982 GMC Van 2500 Camper to close next week.

It has a 350ci / TH400 motor with a new Carburetor (Edelbrock 600cfm) and fuel filters, hoses, seals etc etc.

It's in pretty good condition. The only query we have is with the fuel consumption.

The current owner tells us he gets 23 MPG which we find pretty amazing.

We can't find any stats online to confirm his opinion.

Can anyone confirm if 23MPG is accurate or not for this campervan?

Thank you!

[markopolo]

I don't know.
It could be possible because:
1. that is probably calculated using imperial gallons if in Canada (20% greater)
2. the 2500 is lighter that a full 1 ton 3500 van
3. the owner might cruise around at 50 mph (80 kph)

But..........
I doubt that 23 mpg is what most people would get. 16 or 18 mpg (US) or 20 mpg (imperial) going the speed limit on slower highways or less maybe.......... I'm just guessing.

Anyone else have an idea?

[g1g]

I have a 1999 chevy cargo van 2500 with a 350 and the best I ever got was about 12.5 mpg. My 1995 Dodge classb with a 318 has gotten over 17mpg

[poncho62]

I had a 77 Dodge Maxivan with a 360, that I managed to squeeze 16 mpg.....Most of the time less. I seriously doubt that anyone could get 23

[AmCruiser]

My first van was a 1/2 ton Chevy Beauville cargo van with a 350 V8 that I bought new in 1978. Empty, it got 16-17 mph city, maybe 19 highway. This was back when custom vans were the rage. I was sailing oil tankers for Gulf Oil at the time so I had it customized in a nautical theme by Delar Maine Camper. Carpet on floor & ceiling, wood-paneled walls, 2 big custom windows and a jack knife bench seat/bed in the back, 4 swivel captain's chairs and a ships wheel table up front. A mural of a schooner one side and a lighthouse on the other. After customizing, which added a fair amount of weight due to the plywood, the mileage dropped to 13-14 mph city, 16-17 highway. I don't recall that Chevy vans changed much between 78 and 82, so 23 mph in a 1982 Chevy camper van with a 350, which is probably heavier than what I had, seems unlikely. That said, I wouldn't let it deter you. Even new gasoline van based campers don't get drastically better mileage. Have fun with it.
Randy

[gemmaellenfish]

Thanks everyone for your help. We're going to ask the owner again - he was very specific about it getting 23MPG. We asked him twice. We're going to ask him how he came to that figure. He must have a reason, and he doesn't strike us as the sort of guy who would lie - seems like a nice family man to us. Thanks again. Very helpful.