A tachometer in a P-30

[BULLETLS1]

Finally finished cutting the steel Stamping
That forms
The back of the instrument pannel, this is what looks like!

Comments!?

[JimFromJersey]

Daveinet wrote:
I'm surprised you need to drive so slow to get 10mpg. Back when I was running the 454 and 3 speed, I could get 10 on flat level ground traveling 65 mph. The only thing the engine had was headers. Otherwise it was bone stock.

What weight/length RV were you pulling to get 10 mpg? My Bounder is 34', and we're usually pretty lightly loaded. I'd love to get 10 mpg even at 60.

[Gjac]

Daveinet wrote:
I'm surprised you need to drive so slow to get 10mpg. Back when I was running the 454 and 3 speed, I could get 10 on flat level ground traveling 65 mph. The only thing the engine had was headers. Otherwise it was bone stock.

I am surprised also that the newer 8.1's and V-10's don't do better than the older motors. Most seem to report 7-7.5 mpgs on on the newer MH's with 5 & 6 speed transmissions, while 8-8.5 mpg seems to be the norm for a 454 TBI with a 4 speed transmission for the same length MH. Maybe more HP uses more fuel? Weight of stuff inside more slide outs?

[Daveinet]

I'm surprised you need to drive so slow to get 10mpg. Back when I was running the 454 and 3 speed, I could get 10 on flat level ground traveling 65 mph. The only thing the engine had was headers. Otherwise it was bone stock.

[Gjac]

BULLETLS1 wrote:
I did change the distributor, there was a sale in summit racing, 50bucks a billet one, high perf coil, nice 9mm wires ceramic spark boots, 1number leaner jets (yes, still has a carb), the injector in the "least injection hole", carb spacer (I think it was a waste of money), and definetelly north of 10mpg! Keeping @50mph
30footer.

Did you change the distributor as a preventative measure or was it giving you some sort of problem? I ask because mine has 98 k miles and is the original and have thought about just changing it because it is old.

[JimFromJersey]

Deano56 wrote:
wow 8 mpg, I think my carbed 1990 P 30 34' MH gets around 6 mpg but not sure

Yeah, my 87 34' Bounder is the same - you might also be restricted, as I am, by the fairly un-economical 3 speed trans. I almost never get her above 60, and I'm lucky to hit 6.5 mpg. There's not a lot we can do without spending a fair amount of money, and you really have to look at payback. If I drove mine 10K miles a year it would make a difference, but at 3-4K a year, right now I just have to live with it.

[BULLETLS1]

I wanted a clean look, I'll consider deleting the air vent (dash AC doesnt work anyway).

[BULLETLS1]

I did change the distributor, there was a sale in summit racing, 50bucks a billet one, high perf coil, nice 9mm wires ceramic spark boots, 1number leaner jets (yes, still has a carb), the injector in the "least injection hole", carb spacer (I think it was a waste of money), and definetelly north of 10mpg! Keeping @50mph
30footer.

[jolooote]

Nice job. Almost exactly what I did on my P30 years ago. U really need a tach in older P30s. When you see the needle start getting irradic its time to replace the 2 modules inside the distributor.

[Doc_Eagle]

Last fill up 9.5 mpg, put air in tires, may help some more. Tach and vacuum guages working great. Keeping tach between 1700-2000 rpm, seems to be working out. Get pasted by alot of vehicles but don't care, they pay for my gas I'll go faster, not in hurry to get anywhere. Keep you'll posted on next fill up.

[Deano56]

wow 8 mpg, I think my carbed 1990 P 30 34' MH gets around 6 mpg but not sure

[turbojimmy]

Mine's an '84, but my dash looks just like that. Neat idea! My brake light doesn't seem to work anyway....

[Doc_Eagle]

Well keeping speed at 60 mph with cruise control and first true reading was 9.3 mpg. Got a couple things more to try but pretty happy right now.

[Gjac]

Doc Eagle wrote:
Well actually I would really be happy with 9-10 mpg. My guys at work call our MH "Cat One" due to my wife's cat rescue activities. Of course it is really one of the only cat free zones in the yard. Has anyone else heard that 1700 rpm the best range for economy on the TBI 454?

I think that vintage 454 develops max torque at 1800 rpms. I have a 1995 454 tbi on a 1996 chassis that is 33 ft and weights about 15,000lbs (UW is 13,000 lbs). I have aved 8.7 mpg over 60k miles. I think installing the vacuum gauge will help mpgs more than watching the rpm. When I installed my VG I put a black pointer on mine at 15 ins and try to keep it above that line for best fuel economy. Also I know at what point the trans will downshift so I can increase the vacuum by letting off the gas and keep it in 4th gear. If I travel between 50-55 mph I can get between 9-10 mpg with no generator use using the VG as described and secondary roads. Below 45 mph and a slight hill trans will downshift.

[Doc_Eagle]

Ok, finally got the tach installed on the MH. Since I choose a small tach it fit between the heater control & speedometer. Also installed a small vacuum gauge to the right of heater control. And they both work... hurray!

[Doc_Eagle]

Well actually I would really be happy with 9-10 mpg. My guys at work call our MH "Cat One" due to my wife's cat rescue activities. Of course it is really one of the only cat free zones in the yard. Has anyone else heard that 1700 rpm the best range for economy on the TBI 454?