S13 vs 2000 z28 which would be more economical

[JZenki]

I have a stock 89 hatch which is.... Ok on gas.. Was planning to ls1 swap it but funds are only half way there. I'm buying a 2000 z28 with under 100k miles from a friend for really cheap, all it needs is body work. Now if I was to sell my hatch would I suffer gas economy from the z28?. I was planning to just buy this camaro to commute until i find a buyer for the shell and buy a s13 or 14 shell to swap the ls1 in. I have a desicion to make by 6pm any opinions are welcome.

[jr_ss]

V8 vs 4cyl, is this a serious question?

[JZenki]

A ls1 swapped schassis can get up to 30 mpg and a camaro is only a few hundred lbs heavier than a s13.. The single cam isnt all that great on gas due to being a large 4cyl engine, with the ls1 only weighing around 75-100 lbs more and 4 more cylinders than a ka, it is more efficient and less stressed.. I just need figures to calculate how much ill be spending on gas every day. I pay 20 bucks a day with gas averaging $4/gallon driving 30 miles a day. I read somewhere people with a m6 camaro can get up to 30mpg on the highway and 20ish in the city.. Its near impossible for my ka to reach that much. So why not just sell my car and buy a lowmilage camaro for just as much?

[codyace]

An LS1 and T56 combo in a S chassis should get over 30mpg without issue. They get upper 20's in F bodies, and that's with an extra 750 lbs or so. 30mpg MAYBE on a perfect highway cruise at 68mph.


With that said, a nice running SR will get you there as well, and cost you much less to swap in.


...and with those points both considered, it would be cheaper to buy a B13 Sentra, or Civic that get 38-40 mpg and be content.

[Mikester]

According to Consumer Guide Auto, a 2000 Camaro Z28 (5.7L) gets est 17mpg city, 25 hwy... and it weighs 3424lbs.
The 1990 240SX hatch gets est 20mpg city, 27 hwy (SOHC), and the DOHC gets 22 & 28 respectively. It also weighs 2730lbs, a difference of 694lbs in favor of the S13.

Yes you will absolutely suffer fuel economy if you sell the hatch. If you want to do an LS swap, you don't need a whole car to do it. Keep the S13 & drop an LS in when a motor comes up for a good deal and fuel economy is not a factor.

[Chuki_KA24e]

Pull the motors out of both of your cars. Sell the ka, throw it in a dumpster, use it as a boat anchor etc, it's your choice. Sell the z28 body for parts money. Install the z28 motor in the 89 hatch and buy some bolt on's with that part money you got from selling the z28 body. Use the cash you already have saved for the ls1 and buy the rest of what you need for the z28 swap.

Seems legit, I would anyways...

[Mikester]

Seems to me that fuel economy should not even be in the list of considerations for an LS swap.... If by some miracle, there was indeed better mileage to be had; you'd have to own the car for 20 years to see any real "savings" with respect to the cost of the swap lol!

[tapdeznutz]

An LS1 and T56 combo in a S chassis should get over 30mpg without issue. They get upper 20's in F bodies, and that's with an extra 750 lbs or so. 30mpg MAYBE on a perfect highway cruise at 68mph.


With that said, a nice running SR will get you there as well, and cost you much less to swap in.


...and with those points both considered, it would be cheaper to buy a B13 Sentra, or Civic that get 38-40 mpg and be content.

lol nice twist there at the end.

[jr_ss]

An LS1 and T56 combo in a S chassis should get over 30mpg without issue. They get upper 20's in F bodies, and that's with an extra 750 lbs or so. 30mpg MAYBE on a perfect highway cruise at 68mph.


With that said, a nice running SR will get you there as well, and cost you much less to swap in.


...and with those points both considered, it would be cheaper to buy a B13 Sentra, or Civic that get 38-40 mpg and be content.

It's a fine line... Obviously a V8 in a lighter chassis gets better mpg's, but how often are the V8s swapped in and left stock? They are no different than a turbo'd engine if you can't keep your foot out of it. Start modding and there goes your fuel mileage out the window...

[AdamR]

An LS1 and T56 combo in a S chassis should get over 30mpg without issue. They get upper 20's in F bodies, and that's with an extra 750 lbs or so. 30mpg MAYBE on a perfect highway cruise at 68mph.


With that said, a nice running SR will get you there as well, and cost you much less to swap in.


...and with those points both considered, it would be cheaper to buy a B13 Sentra, or Civic that get 38-40 mpg and be content.

Hell yeah. I average high 20s with city driving over a whole tank with my B14 SE-R.
Mid 30s on the highway.

[codyace]

According to Consumer Guide Auto, a 2000 Camaro Z28 (5.7L) gets est 17mpg city, 25 hwy... and it weighs 3424lbs.
The 1990 240SX hatch gets est 20mpg city, 27 hwy (SOHC), and the DOHC gets 22 & 28 respectively. It also weighs 2730lbs, a difference of 694lbs in favor of the S13.

Yes you will absolutely suffer fuel economy if you sell the hatch. If you want to do an LS swap, you don't need a whole car to do it. Keep the S13 & drop an LS in when a motor comes up for a good deal and fuel economy is not a factor.

All fine and dandy. I can assure you that F bodies can hit 28-30 highway only when driven like a human and not speed racer. Iv'e done it, and my countless buddies have done it as well. The key to getting better fuel mileage than what the 'tests' get is to bring up a bit. Dump a T56 into 6th early and you're lugging it to the point where you're not saving fuel. Try it with a cammed car and you'll be driving the bucking bronco down the freeway Haha


lol nice twist there at the end.

I'd say for anyone who drives between 12-16k miles a year, buying a 1000 dollar B13 would probably pay for itself in 2 years of driving vs driving the 240 KA or LS (give or take)

It's a fine line... Obviously a V8 in a lighter chassis gets better mpg's, but how often are the V8s swapped in and left stock? They are no different than a turbo'd engine if you can't keep your foot out of it. Start modding and there goes your fuel mileage out the window...

I understand your point, but would argue that a properly tuned LS (even with a moderate cam) will get darn near the same fuel mileage as a stock one (in my experience at least). Then again, most dopes just go out and pick the knarliest MS3 stick they can buy, pray it idles, and then flog it everywhere as they make no torque then (thus using more fuel haha)

Hell yeah. I average high 20s with city driving over a whole tank with my B14 SE-R.
Mid 30s on the highway.

:D Some of the best commuter/daily cars out there are the mid to late 90's Nissans. My Maxima gets low 20's mixed, 30 mpg cruising, and that's a big bloaty fully loaded bomber. B14 and Altima's get (as you said) mid to high 20 mixed, mid 30 highway, however the the best were the old XE B13's where you could get 40mpg of the clunkers haha.

The other nice thing is that you can pick up any of those cars listed above (b13/b14, U13/L30, A32) for 800-1500 dollars in great shape and perfect for daily usage.

[halldavid328888]

I have a stock 89 hatch which is.... Ok on gas.. Was planning to ls1 swap it but funds are only half way there. I'm buying a 2000 z28 with under 100k miles from a friend for really cheap, all it needs is body work. Now if I was to sell my hatch would I suffer gas economy from the z28?. I was planning to just buy this camaro to commute until i find a buyer for the shell and buy a s13 or 14 shell to swap the ls1 in. I have a desicion to make by 6pm any opinions are welcome.

What did you finally do? If I were you then I would have buy camaroo like seriously. I drive this 1969 Chevrolet Camaro and man it's the bestest car you will ever drive on earth.

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