Hey guys

[eightup]

Hi everyone,

I'm just joining the forum with my 1988 Dodge Explorer. I picked her up back in April and have been living in it ever since. Came on here to learn about all the cool things I want to mod but aren't quite sure I need yet.

[Bruceper]

Nice looking.

I'll assume it's a fuel injected 5.2L (31 as 1988 was the first year of the fuel injection in the B van. I've got a 92 Pleasure-Way on a B350 chassis and I'm getting 15.5 mpg, how are you doing on mileage?

[eightup]

Your assumption would be incorrect. It is a carbed 360. And she is terrible both in mileage and going uphill. Best I have done is 11.5ish mpg. There is definitely more I need to do tune up wise but I don't expect mileage to jump up much. Hopefully I can save up enough to 4bt swap it and jump into the high 20s.

[Bruceper]

4bt.. now you're talkin! I'd love to find one for mine but they're pretty rare here. Someone is scooping them up and not reselling.

[eric1514]

OK, I'll ask. What's a 4bt?

Nice looking van, BTW.

Eric

[Bruceper]

Inline 4 cylinder Cummins turbo diesel.

The Cummins turbo diesel in the (older) dodge ram is known as the 6bt, the 4bt is the little brother.

[eightup]

The 4bt is essentially the same as the 5.9 cummins. Just with two less cylinders. 330ft/lbs of torque and incredible mpgs.

Yea sometimes they are tough to find. I will probably end up buying a complete stepvan to get mine.

[eightup]

Where do you guys post build threads? My van is getting some work done so i might as well post it up

[Bruceper]

Typically in Tweaks/Mods/Projects

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by eightup

Your assumption would be incorrect. It is a carbed 360. And she is terrible both in mileage and going uphill. Best I have done is 11.5ish mpg. There is definitely more I need to do tune up wise but I don't expect mileage to jump up much. Hopefully I can save up enough to 4bt swap it and jump into the high 20s.

I had a 1973 Dodge B300 with 360 V8 and 2bbl carb. I installed an Edelbroc manifold with small 4bbl carb that improved mileage to about 15 on the road.

[Ridenfun]

Just bought a 2000 High roof Okanagan on a Dodge 3500, which I think is a 360 (5.7?) Checked mileage yesterday driving home, averaged only about 15.5 MPG (imperial or about 12.6 per US gal).
Anyone have any tips on improving gas mileage on this age.model, just out of interest. (Way back owned a 1980 (same unit style) with a 360 carbed, and NEVER got better than 14 MPG Imperial, so I'm not expecting a lot of improvement is possible but I've been out of this for a long time, so wanted to ask. If there are other good sources would appreciate that as well.

[eightup]

Originally Posted by Ridenfun

Just bought a 2000 High roof Okanagan on a Dodge 3500, which I think is a 360 (5.7?) Checked mileage yesterday driving home, averaged only about 15.5 MPG (imperial or about 12.6 per US gal).
Anyone have any tips on improving gas mileage on this age.model, just out of interest. (Way back owned a 1980 (same unit style) with a 360 carbed, and NEVER got better than 14 MPG Imperial, so I'm not expecting a lot of improvement is possible but I've been out of this for a long time, so wanted to ask. If there are other good sources would appreciate that as well.

Being a 2000, you should have the fuel injected 360. Which would be a better starting base. Do the usual tune up stuff such as spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, air filter, oil change, and if the mileage is higher maybe look into O2 sensors as well.

[Ridenfun]

Eightup, thanks for the response on this. I need to go through it anyway since I just bought it, so I'll examine all you've suggested. It's got about 180000 KM (roughly 110,000 miles, so I can't expect "like new" but it does run well, smooth and strong at the reported mileage I'm getting. It literally had oil changes every 5-5500 km/3-3500 miles; from the older lady who owned it for the last 13 years and did about 120000 of the KM. Before that it was a rental fleet and I know enough about that company to know they look after their units very well.