I scheduled another trip to Tally after a first trek down there to rebuild
the carb.

The car went to Tally in December because it was leaking a little gas on the
manifold, and I could smell the strong odor of petrol around the car. Also
figured with a carb rebuild, I might hit 20MPG with the Stromberg atop the
289. It got 16.5MPG on the trip down, but about 10 on the way back! OUCH!

Discouraged, and gas-weary, the Cruiser sat parked, so as not to waste the
$2.20 stuff at 10MPG.

My Stude guru and I were truly vexed by this huge nose dive in fuel economy,
and concluded it must be the power valve sticking. The car ran great, but it
almost like it was pouring the gas out on the ground.

I decided to heck with it, and ran the car the 95 miles at 75 to 80 on the
speedo, which is a true 65 - 70 with the 205 tires. After all was said and
done, and the carb opened up a second time, I calculated that she got 16.5
on the trip down, and 17.6 on the return trip.

I CAN LIVE WITH THAT, and the car is fun again!

Sounds plausible that some piece of gunk was clogging the carb's  power
valve, causing the terrible MPG, but the road trip to Tally blew it out,
accounting for back-to-normal MPG. Then further tweaking and tightening by
Stude George bumped it up another 1 MPG.

I discovered, finally, that the strong gas odor was presenting when the tank
was full, because the gasket around the fuel sender was GONE, and a P.O.
used steel washers and screws to mount the failing sending unit. Gas was
sloshing right out around the sender. I made a new gasket, and got new
screws with rubber (plumber's) washers, but even that isn't sealing like it
should.

Taller tires should help the MPG, AND the speedometer variance. 60 seconds
between mile posts IS STILL 60 MPH, right? The speedo is indicating 70 at
this speed.

Dave Miller
Webmaster & Chaplain
So. Ga. SDC
http://www.georgiastudebaker.com