Going for the Gas Mileage

[Magyar]

I understand that the Number 1 purpose of having a Spridget is for the pure joy of driving it, and I whole heartedly agree. I do enjoy driving mine anywhere and everywhere. However, I'm thinking how great it would be, not only to tell folks what a great and fun car it is, but that it gets ___ miles to the galion of gasoline. What efforts have been made, and what tricks are there to get the BEST gas milage out of a Spridget? Has this been discussed in previous threads? I know much has been done to make these lil'fellers do well on the race track, anything to get top mileage around town? Any thought or suggestions would be greatly appreacitated.
Thanks,
Magyar

 

[RickB]

At least one member here has converted a bugeye to electric.
So - no gasoline at all in that one.

Many have worked to gain a balance between performance and economy.
There are several members here who get 45 MPG or better.

I tend to keep my right foot down too much to get very good MPG.
But I do enjoy it.

 

[spritenut]

If you have a 5 speed and a 3.77 diff, you should get about 45-50 MPG.
I have a 5 speed but a 4.22 diff in my Bugeye. I added cruise control to it for the Missouri trip when gas was $4 a gallon.
On the interstate at 70 miles per hour with the cruise on, I got 42 miles per gallon.
I also got this exact mileage back in 1972 when a truck driver taught me all about slip streaming his rig.
He let me slip stream him and for about 100 miles, I got 42 MPG but being 12" or less off the back bumper of a big rig got to be a bit nerve racking even for a dumb 17 year old kid :wink:

 

[jollyroger]

I have gotten 50 mpg by driving my MKII sprite at 65 mgh hwy with a mild 1275 and 3.9 rear gear with nothing else done. I am not so sure that adding an overdrive would help because the engine would have to work harder to turn the taller gear. I have found that with an overdrive box I have to push the gas pedal a bit further at 70 when I am in od than if I were in 1 to 1. On modern cars with a data logger I have found that to be true in some cases.
I have also tried a 3.7 and found little success there for sure. Slowing the engine down sometimes takes it out of the designed sweet spot.

 

[Guest]

Us 1500 guys got it bad. We get 23-27. Sometimes I get 31 if the planets are lined up right.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Price you pay for running the BigBlock!

 

[tomshobby]

Us 1500 guys got it bad. We get 23-27. Sometimes I get 31 if the planets are lined up right.

Wow Kelly, that is in the range of what I get with my TR6 that has been "improved".

I am curious to get my 1275 running and see what it does.

 

[nomad]

Anyone tryed David Visards method of leaning out a SU carb? Their test Metro got 55 at 55.


Kurt.