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lean burn

Done it a couple of times, not hard, but you need, to do this right, is change the carb as well, unless you can tap into the proper vacuum register.

MP sells a complete kit for this, and comes with instructions, or you can buy a new control box, wiring harness, and rebuilt distributor for some less, but the Mopar kit has the instructions too, but those also can be retrieved off the internet, and the parts are more than likely spot on, buying rebuilt or non-Mopar parts can not be the best way to go.
 
removing it will be the best thing you have done for your car..faster starts and better mpg.and it will run much better.........Artie
 
godfatherofchry said:
removing it will be the best thing you have done for your car..faster starts and better mpg.and it will run much better.........Artie
Click to expand...

Really?!?! Better mpg? But it's "lean burn"! We managed 29 mpg in our '78 Cordoba 360c.i. running at 55 mph back in the 80s. I understand better starting and more power... but... I find it hard to believe the better mpg part! Any other comments on this folks?
Thanx, David
 
My experience has been on 3 cars.

1st. experience: 79 Magnum w/318. Was from a car w/points, so maybe didn't realize a big difference, but it did idle better.

2nd. 78 Magnum 360-2. This one had the original LB computer, and it was almost 30 years old. Ran fine, but was hard to start when setting for extended periods, this car would set through the winter. Performance was slightly better and mileage dropped maybe 1 or 2 mpg's. I drove this car to Carlisle many times, through W.Va., Virginia, Penn. Major hills on the way, and would run 65-70 all the way. Would get 20 mpg's w/LB, dropped under w/ elect. ign.

3rd. 78 Magnum, 360-2. Partial change here. I changed the carb, and distributor to elect. ign. type (vacuum adv. style), leanburn electronics still in place. Before the carb/dist. change, this car wouldn't squeel tires if you picked it up and dropped it. Now, with the changes I made, it runs 180 degrees better, mileage is better, performance is light-years ahead of where it was, and will light up the tires w/o effort.

IM001644.jpg
 
deedohaw said:
Really?!?! Better mpg? But it's "lean burn"! We managed 29 mpg in our '78 Cordoba 360c.i. running at 55 mph back in the 80s. I understand better starting and more power... but... I find it hard to believe the better mpg part! Any other comments on this folks?
Thanx, David
Click to expand...

With the new mixed fuel you won't be getting any where near 29mpg even if it was all downhill! Best I ever got with my 360/2 Magnum GT back in the early 80s was 22mpg on the highway, of course I couldn't drive that car at 55mph it always liked 70 better.
 
Well, I don't know anybody, including myself, that got anywhere NEAR 29 mpg in a Cordoba. BUT, I did a few changoevers back in the day for customers when the lean-burn crapped-out. EVERY one was happy !
 
Lean Burn was Mopars way of attempting to pass emissions tests with a carb and distributor.
EPA wanted clean emissions and did not care about mileage as much.
Sure, it passed the test but it ran like crap (lean), was hard to start(lean), and the fuel mileage sucked (retarded timing) compared to say, a 68 318.
 
ooops

deedohaw said:
Really?!?! Better mpg? But it's "lean burn"! We managed 29 mpg in our '78 Cordoba 360c.i. running at 55 mph back in the 80s. I understand better starting and more power... but... I find it hard to believe the better mpg part! Any other comments on this folks?
Thanx, David
Click to expand...

Ooops! Sorry.... checked my old notes. It was 26 mpg (not 29) on that one day returning from Myrtle Beach.
David
 
Replacing lean burn on my 79 cordoba took only one electrical splice and two holes drilled, and replacing the distributor. It made the car go from a slug that required grandma driving to a car that allows me to take lane changes that require acceleration to acheive.

really the key is having a damn distributor that advances. Who can know if the lean burn is advancing the spark or if i was just running that hard locked timing?
 
Magnumguy said:
My experience has been on 3 cars.

1st. experience: 79 Magnum w/318. Was from a car w/points, so maybe didn't realize a big difference, but it did idle better.

2nd. 78 Magnum 360-2. This one had the original LB computer, and it was almost 30 years old. Ran fine, but was hard to start when setting for extended periods, this car would set through the winter. Performance was slightly better and mileage dropped maybe 1 or 2 mpg's. I drove this car to Carlisle many times, through W.Va., Virginia, Penn. Major hills on the way, and would run 65-70 all the way. Would get 20 mpg's w/LB, dropped under w/ elect. ign.

3rd. 78 Magnum, 360-2. Partial change here. I changed the carb, and distributor to elect. ign. type (vacuum adv. style), leanburn electronics still in place. Before the carb/dist. change, this car wouldn't squeel tires if you picked it up and dropped it. Now, with the changes I made, it runs 180 degrees better, mileage is better, performance is light-years ahead of where it was, and will light up the tires w/o effort.

IM001644.jpg
Click to expand...
Is that your car in red ? If so, I love that car in that color, esp w/ white interior ?
 
deedohaw said:
Really?!?! Better mpg? But it's "lean burn"! We managed 29 mpg in our '78 Cordoba 360c.i. running at 55 mph back in the 80s. I understand better starting and more power... but... I find it hard to believe the better mpg part! Any other comments on this folks?
Thanx, David
Click to expand...

Gas was much better in the 80's too.
 
WileERobby said:
Is that your car in red ? If so, I love that car in that color, esp w/ white interior ?
Click to expand...

Thanks!! yep, she's red with white gut. Might change it over to tan just for something different.

Oh, when I bought my black 78 new (360-2), salesguy said I'd get over 20, I laughed. I, more than once got over 22 mpg's.
 
I'm gonna try the lean burn on my 87 318 (in my 66), if I can get it going. It was running very well before being pulled from the M body. I did notice the "smog" pump was not turning (no belt). Is this necessary? Can I remove the air piping and block off the holes in the exhaust manifolds?

Someone mentioned drilling. I assume that is to gain access to the idle screws- correct?
 
Magnumguy said:
Thanks!! yep, she's red with white gut. Might change it over to tan just for something different.

Oh, when I bought my black 78 new (360-2), salesguy said I'd get over 20, I laughed. I, more than once got over 22 mpg's.
Click to expand...
Nooo ! Don't mess with beauty, that red/white combo ! I had a black 360-2 Cordoba back in '77, would get about 20 hwy...
 
Im doing close to 20 highway with the orange box, edelbrock 600 cfm and performer intake.
 
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