Definitely looks a lot Better!

 

I will order the Pro-one handles in chrome and the buckets are crinkle powder coated. I will have them stripped and recoated in gloss black and a clear coat for a little extra protection. I think all chrome is too much and the black and chrome contrast is what I have now and I like it. My friend said that he can get them done for 50 or 60 dollars. I will order first thing Tuesday morning and maybe have them by Friday.

 

That will look nice! The billet handles do feel different and just feel like quality. You can immediately tell that you are grabbing a solid piece of metal and not plastic.

 

I think it will look better but I’m not looking forward to the installation. I will order new plastic clips for the rods and hopefully I will not have to get back in there again. I didn’t want to do this upgrade yet because it will probably put me a month behind on my fan conversion. I was going to order my Mechman HO alternator this week but it will have to wait. It’s still too hot to be working outside anyways.

 

I just ordered my buckets and handles in chrome. They said they would ship today and the total was 474.00. I really didn’t want to do this right now but it needed to be fixed. I will get them off to powder coat and look for the plastic rod ends while I’m in there.

 

My last 2 full tanks of gas I have been averaging 8.4 miles per gallon and that’s up from the 7.7 that it showed when I purchased it. It was all in town driving and included a few romps. I think I got a little bump from my AirDoc and the gears had to help also. Maybe electric fans will pick up a little mpg and some Headers might get me to 10 mpg. I really wish I had the Duramax because I think 19 mpg is possible. I’m very happy with everything that I have done so far.

 

With mine I'm averaging 9.4 since I put the 37's on it..... was about 10.6 before. Full long tube headers, full exhaust, custom tune is all that is really done otherwise that might help (Airaid intake tube). I'd imagine gears would help as would driving like Miss Daisy. You can reset the average fuel economy on a road trip in the interstate which will drive it up higher for a while but once in town it will average back down within a week or so. Seem pretty good at tracking the economy but it is always stupidly optimistic on miles remaining right after a fill up. lol

 

i am averaging 8.4 with everything stock on my 03.

 

I’m doing great then. I don’t get on it very often.

 

You didn't lose fuel economy, your miles are not properly recorded on the odometer.

Effect of tire size on odometer readings

Assumption:

1. The odometer “calculates” the distance based on the number of revolutions for the tire.
2. The diameter of a bus tire is 36 Inches.
3. Tire treads are worn evenly over the entire surface of the road. Therefore; 1/8” tread wear amounts to 2/8” reduction in diameter.

Observations:

1. The revolution of a tire is equivalent to the circumference of the tire.

Fact:

1. The Circumference of the tire is equal to PI times the diameter.
2. 1 Mile = 5280 feet.

Calculations:

1. The Circumference of a 36 inch tire is PI * 36 = 113.1 Inches or 9.42 feet
2. The Circumference of a 35 6/8” inch tire is PI * 35.75 = 112.3 inches or 9.36 feet
3. Calculate the revolutions required to travel 1 mile (5280 feet). 5280 / 9.42 = 560.51 revolutions

Intermediate Conclusion:

1. For every 560.51 revolutions of the tire, the odometer will register 1 mile.

Further Calculations:

1. In 560.51 revolutions, a 35 6/8” tire will travel… 560.51 * 9.36 or 5246.37 feet.
2. For each 560.51 revolutions, the odometer will increment by 1 mile even though the vehicle has only traveled 5246 feet. Therefore, a vehicle with tread wear will report more miles driven by the odometer.
3. The difference in distance is 33.63 feet for each mile driven. Actually traveling 157 miles will cause the odometer to be off by 1 mile.
4. The percentage of error is… (1 - 5246.37 / 5280) * 100% = 0.64%

Conclusions:

1. 1/8” tread wear on a 36-inch tire reduces the circumference by 0.8 inches.
2. Over the length of 1 mile, this adds up to 33.6 feet.
3. After “actually” traveling 157 miles, the odometer will be “off” by 1 mile. It will read 158 miles.
4. Smaller diameter tires will effect odometer reading more than larger tires.