You know though...when PRO-STREET was all the rage, the thought of putting big front tires and large front brakes and a/c on your classic steel was unheard of. We do things now that are 180 degrees from the good old classic hot rod days. Just putting fuel injection and a computer into your 60s vintage stock is beyond radical from the thinking of 20 years ago.
I think this could really fly. Just because the cubes are smaller doesn't mean the car has to be slower. Granted the LS1 is light and capable for high mpg, but I would think a turbo 4 might have some other areas of interest.
I put a 22 gallon fuel tank in my 69 Camaro and added the LS1 with heavy cam/head work and 3.5 gears. She is getting 23 mpg with issues on my tcc not staying locked. It has 25 or more waiting to be tapped. If I had a wicked four tightly tuned that would only sip fuel at lower RPM it is possible to see 35 mpg on the highway with a range of over 600 miles per tank.
How cool would that be if it would still lay down a high 12 and blow some cold a/c.
It is a challenge, but I think it could be done.
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