My gas mileage

[pengyou]

Is 20 mpg for a stro good for freeway driving? I drove from Portland to Seattle and then around a bit, for a total of 400 miles on 20 gallons of gas. I used cruise control as much as possible and stuck to the speed limit.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Yup, that is on the upper end of what an Astro or Safari will get.

[pengyou]

Yup, that is on the upper end of what an Astro or Safari will get.

Cool...but...I want more...more...more power...more control....and a daily allowance of graham crackers for my snack break please

=D>

[ihatemybike]

Doesn't sound too bad.

Of course you want more. You could try some underdrive pulleys. Slowing down the accessories puts less strain on the engine.

[Smiliesafari]

20 MPG is excellent. Remember, you're pushing a box through the air. At the cost of diesel fuel and the cost of a diesel conversion, it will be a very long time before you realize any savings. Then add the expense of a transmission swap. It sounds like you're backing up. If you just want to do a swap, then put a small block Chevy in it. And stick with the 4L60E. It's a proven setup.

[pengyou]

20 MPG is excellent. Remember, you're pushing a box through the air. At the cost of diesel fuel and the cost of a diesel conversion, it will be a very long time before you realize any savings. Then add the expense of a transmission swap. It sounds like you're backing up. If you just want to do a swap, then put a small block Chevy in it. And stick with the 4L60E. It's a proven setup.

If I go for the V8 swap should I find a V8 version of a 4L60E? Things seem to be doing OK for now but I want to try to be a little proactive with this. Come June of next year I will be on the road a lot during the weekends so I am hoping to take a close look at all parts of Jane and see what, if anything, should be addressed first. I also want to pick up a trailer, which is why I am focusing on the tranny.

[Smiliesafari]

If that transmission is the original (200,000 miles) it's due for a rebuild. There are some upgrades that should be done at the same time. Bill (lockdoc) is better versed on that subject than I. Maybe he'll add his expertise.