VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 MPG

How many miles per gallon do any of you get in your stock Independence's? For those of you who still have your un-modified stovebolts. (Yes, I ran out of gas this week after just fueling it up 2 weeks ago). LOL.

I don't have a gas gauge on my '28 truck, so I check the gas level every time before I go out for a drive.

BTW, I get between 15 and 20 MPG. I know, I'm talking apples (4 cylinder) and you are talking oranges (6 cylinder).

Cheers, Dean

Guestimating here, but mine gets about 10-12 MPG. I fill up every 100 miles or so and I am getting low.

Jim.

A '31 Chevrolet in good condition should get 16-18 mpg at 45 or lower speed. Less at higher speed. Running out of gas prematurely can be an issue with the pickup tube in the gas tank

Thanks all. I think I got about 8-10 on that tank. I have only put gas in 4 times since purchase and never full tanks so I don't think anything is really wrong - except that the fuel guage is still awaiting overhaul. Lol.

Are you running a Carter W-1 carburetor? If so which one? The early version of the 1932 gets about 10 mpg. Later versions much better. If not a Carter W-1 then which one. The carburetor type and condition can dramatically affect the gas mileage.

With a ten gallon tank and getting around 10 MPG its quite easy to run out, especially with a non-working gauge and not filling to the top. Found that out the hard way on my 32 with the original carb and non-working gauge. Switched to the W-1 and now get 17-19 MPG. Also repaired the gauge.

If you had the original carburetor on your 1932, it too was a W1. So, did you change out the original W1 for a later W1?

The only '31 I have that gets less than 15 mpg is the Boss's '31 Fire truck. It gets ~ 10 mpg but weighs more than twice any of the cars. The worst '31 car was better than 15 mpg.

If there are many
"start-ups" in the tank full and a lot of short strips, cold engine, etc. the mileage will be almost half of what you would expeiance on a 400 mile trip.

For about 10 years, my gas gauge didn't work. I ran out of gas on club tours so many times, that the club gave me a red plastic gas can at two Christmas parties in a row. After that I figured that I needed to fix it... which I did.

One quick tip: Find the electrical connector at the rear of the car where the wiring harness connects to the wire coming from the gas tank. This connection can become corroded (oxidized) and by simply twisting it (or rubbing with steel wool) you just might get it working again.

--Bill B

Great Tip!!

Ooops. Looks like I left out the most important part-the W-1 I switched to is a 569-s #421.

My 31' is giving me about 15-16mpg. On the gas line electrical connector (and all my other connectors) a dab of dielectric grease is what I use.

The Carter W-1 569s is a good replacement. It runs a bit more lean than the originals of earlier years. Much more lean that the early '32 212s. Should get 18 mpg on the road, less in short trips or in town stop and go.

The later 569-S replacement is a very good carburetor.

Don't want to sound like a dummy but how does one tell which model carb is on their car? Are those numbers cast into the carb body? I know there was supposed to be a metal tag but mine does not have one.

Some of the W1 carburetors had a number stamped on the base of the flange where the carburetor bolts to the manifold. In the case of the 569-S the number was 421. However, without a Carter Carburetor Manual it would be difficult for you to tell exactly what carburetor you have.

421 is also the flange number stamped for 1941 to 1948 W-1's The difference being a bent throttle arm compared to a straight one on the 569-S

Yes there are several different carbs with the 421 stamp according to a chart published in the G&D. The different ones are all W-1. Listed are 483S-515S-569S-and 574S. Other than the 569S the others are listed as for 1941 and 1942.