Fuel Mileage 1940 La Salle

[wheikkila]

Good Afternoon
I'm in the process of rebuilding my 322 engine and was wondering what the mileage should be on the car after the rebuild. Before I started the rebuild on the engine it only got 5 or 6 miles to a gallon.
Thanks Wayne 

[suchan]

I get 10-12 on a reasonably fresh 322 (about 15K since rebuild).

[39LaSalleDriver]

I get about 6 mpg around town, and 11 on the highway with my 39 LaSalle, but the engine hasn't been rebuilt so far as I know.

[z3skybolt]

I have  driven 9,000 miles in my 1940 LaSalle....7,000 since overhaul.  She gets 12 miles to the gallon on the road.  9 mpg chugging around locally.  I do virtually zero city driving. The mileage was the same before and after the overhaul.  I use 91 octane, non ethanol  fuel with 4 oz. of Marvel Mystery Oil added during each fill up. Not sure the Mystery oil does any good but......

Bob R.

[wheikkila]

Thanks, I put around a 1000 miles on my car almost all in town driving. So my 5 to 6 miles to the gallon is probably all I will get. I won't mind 11 or 12 on the highway.
Thanks   

[bcroe]

The 2 things that lower those cars so much, is a compression level
a lot less than 8:1, and gearing doing a lot of rpm at 60mph.  My
77 manages 19mpg on 87 unleaded, and 2000 rpm at 60.  Bruce Roe

[chrisntam]

My '70 gets 5 to 7 in town, about 12 on the highway.  2400 to 2600 rpm @ 70 mph IIRC.

10 to 1 compression, 507 cubic inch with 2.93 rear gears.

[Jay Friedman]

I've never measured my '49's mileage around town, but on the highway it gets 16 or 17 mpg.  It has the 331 OHV engine.  It has a manual transmission, for which it should have a 3.77 differential.  However, I replaced it with a 3.31 meant for a car with Hydramatic, which may have improved the mileage a bit. 

[chrisntam]

Jay, you're my hero. 

You drive that '49 to the GNs.  How many have you driven it to and what was the longest distance?

[Jay Friedman]

Chris, I'm no hero, just like to drive my Cadillac.  Well..., maybe to my wife after I do the dishes.

I've driven my '49 to 18 GNs from my home in Decatur, Georgia (suburb of Atlanta).  I think the furthest was to the 2014 GN in Lake George NY which was about 1,200 miles, though the 1995 GN in Albany NY was almost as far.  My last one was to Louisville last year, only 480 miles.  I've now gotten old enough to start thinking long distance drives are behind me, though the car is as ready as ever. 

Keep on Cadillacin'