Do rising fuel prices have you cringing at the pump, when
filling up your fuel swilling 10 MPG classic car?

Today’s car manufacturers have come a long way since the 60's and 70's in improving the fuel economy, reliability, durability and performance in the modern car. Believe it or not, a lot of what is being used today will bolt right in to your classic car with minimal modifications to gain those same improvements. Below are some simple steps you can take to improve the fuel economy and the performance of your car.

Purchase and Install an Overdrive Transmission :

Whether you have an automatic or manual transmission, there is an available overdrive transmission that will mate right up to your existing engine. Today’s overdrive transmissions installed in your classic car will improve fuel economy by as much as 50% with minimal installation labor. You can install a 4-speed automatic transmission, a 5-speed manual or even a 6-speed manual transmission to gain these improvements. For example, we installed a GM automatic overdrive transmission in the 1967 GTO listed under past projects on our site. His fuel mileage went from 11 MPG to 20 MPG just from that single installation. And that is with a 600 horsepower 510 CID motor.

Add Fuel Injection :

Adding fuel injection is a great way to improve not only fuel economy but, also, performance and reliability. A carburetor cannot constantly adjust itself to variations in temperature and humidity. A fuel injection system constantly monitors a whole host of factors, and makes adjustments to keep the proper air/fuel ratio. An engine that is running on just the right air/fuel ratio performs better and with each cylinder receiving the exact fuel it requires, it improves fuel
economy. A fuel injection system can improve your mileage by as much as 30% not too mention lower your emission nightmares. Now that you are
emitting less toxins, if there are any smog testing requirements for your state, you will sail through emission testing.

Renew Your Parts to 1996 or Later :

You can see in some examples of this swap in our past projects such as the 1955 Pontiac and the 1986 Parisienne.
Another option is to remove a 1996 and newer fuel injected motor with an overdrive transmission from a donor car and transfer everything related to it over into your car. This way you will benefit from every enhancement that a 1996 and newer drivetrain came with as a whole.
While it is feasible to buy every part needed to do the swap, it would be extremely expensive. We recommend purchasing a 1996 or newer car that has been in a rear or side accident from an insurance auction or salvage yard. Depending on the mileage, the entire drivetrain can be installed as it was
removed or the individual motor or transmission could be overhauled prior to the installation. This option dramatically improves the fuel economy and reliability of your car not to mention easing the availability of repairs and parts should they be needed.
There is a common concern about modifying a classic car with any of these options, and the affect it will have on the car’s value. But, there is no need to be
concerned. These are all bolt in items and can just as easily be removed and put back to their original condition. If your car has a numbers matching engine, the engine can always be mounted on a stand and preserved. These cars were made for driving and having a daily driver that always starts, gets good fuel economy and runs smoothly gets us spoiled. The sputtering of the
carburetor and the other nuances that come with older technology make for a less enjoyable driving experience. By updating your drivetrain you loose the hassles and headaches, which makes it fun to drive old cars again on a regular basis.
Any and all of these modifications to your classic car will make your car run better, virtually eliminate mechanical failures, improve performance and emissions. So, get out of the garage and onto the road again with that classic. 

One final thought. When your engine is turning less RPM, it does not wear out as fast.