I might as well through my 2-cents worth into this discussion: I have an '86 Stock GT 2.8 with Getrag 5-speed. My son has an '85 GT 2.8 with a 4-speed. When I first got my '86 I got around 21-23-mpg around town, depending on how I drove. My son got about the same. We both installed new Magnecore 8mm performance ignition wires and platinum plugs (irridium would have been better), new distributer with all component parts. It made both cars run much better and get about 1-2-mpg increase. I installed a new MDS 48k volts hot coil, which gave me about 1-mile increase, but the really big change was when I installed a K&N air filter, which made my mileage jumb another4-miles per gallon. I now get 27-29 mpg around town and 31-34mpg on the highway. I'm sure I could get better on the highway, but it's hard not to have a heavy foot. I don't have cruise, so I'd probably get, I'm guessing, around 35-36 on cruise set at 60-mpg.
As an interesting note: Do you know that Smokey Unick (famouse engine designer and Indy crew chief of the 70's and 80's) was retained by Pontiac to design a fuel system for the Fiero Iron Duke that would get top fuel mileage, high power, and low emissions. The result was much more than Pontiac had hoped for. In-fact it was so efficient that they never produced it. He designed a double turbo system that produced over 200hp, at 50-mpg, with ZERO emissions. You can view all the specs on google under Smokey Unick's vapor Fiero, or view the car being loaded and unloaded at factory in Pontiac, Michigan.
Also, the car was for sale on ebay a few months ago for ony $8,000. An ablolute steal for a one-of-a-kind famous car. You can't tell me that government car miles standards is nothing but politics. There isn't a car on the road that couldn't get better specs than the most recent mileage/emission standards. It's a joke!
I have a good friend specializes in up-grading any car for ecceptional power, mileage, and low emissions. His system isn't quite as efficient as Smokey Unicks, but it's close. You can view his site at
www.GenesVettes.com. He upgrades all the factory component electrical, and breathing parts (similar to what I did on my Fiero), installs two big turbo units, special exhaust, and turns the hottest factory vette into a 751 hp monster, that gets over 40mpg and verry little emissions
PS: Make sure your ignition cooling fan is working to cool the coil and ignition module, or your car won't want to run, especially in the hot weather. I just bi-passed the relay fan switch so it's blowing cooling air on the ignition and alternator all-of-the-time. Gain access to fan and relay by pulling the trunk liner away from the righ fender well. After I installed my hot coil, it started missing while toodling around town in the hot weather. Installing side quarter panel air intakes to keep engine compartment cool is a big plus & more than just looks. One of my future projects!
[This message has been edited by Michael D. James (edited 05-28-2009).]
I am just going to get up and walk out of the door on this one because It feels like 12 MPG if that.
