Hi SOLers
On 3/23 George Parker wrote:
> Problem: The very best mileage I can get out of the car (being
> careful - no fun there!) is around 24 mpg, while the installation
> instructions claim over 30 (near 40?) for their test route with that
> tuning (on a '79 Spit 1500). If I have more fun with it, I generally
> get around 20-22, but usually not much worse than that.
using a Weber DGV carb on a '78 Spit..
I have not tried this particular carb, but have some data that might be good
for comparison. Using a '78 Spit with stock carb, header, no air pump etc.
I have averaged 25mpg over the last year (hi 34, lo 18). In Jan I swapped the
4 speed tranny for an OD unit, avg since swap = 25mpg. This is 95% city
driving,
mostly <5 mi trips (work commute) barely long enough for the water heated
choke
to cut off. I'm expecting better w/ warmer weather. This car runs great &
has 54K
miles on the clock. Same car, same conditions with Weber 45DCOE avg = 20 mpg
(probably "getting into the power band" a little more with the Weber though).
I did a little research and came up with the following:
>From 1978 Spit (OD tranny) BL new car window sticker - (EPA figures)
22 mpg City - 35 mpg Highway - 27 mpg combined.
Road Test magazine article March '79 reprinted in Brooklands Books
compilation
shows same figures (also quoted from EPA tests)
from "A collectors Guide - Triumph Spitfire and GT6" by Graham Robson
(The smaller book with this title) Appendix E Performance Figures:
Spitfire 1500 USA 1973 model typical fuel consumption = 30 mpg
This book lists both "overall" and "typical" fuel consumption for all (UK)
models of Spitfire
and GT6. The UK data was taken from Britains "Autocar" magazine.
Only "typical" fuel consumption is list for USA models '71 Mk IV and the '73
1500
model mentioned above. The USA data was taken from "Road & Track".
Although no mention is made of this, I assume we are talking *imperial*
gallons for
the UK data, and *US* gallons for the R&T data.
IMHO you are not doing too bad George. I expect you can tweak it a little
for performance
or economy with the usual trade offs.
Lastly ( I just can't resist) ..................... YMMV
Bob Sykes
74, 75, 78, 78 Spitfires
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