Even though it is a little underpowered, the 5.0-liter engine runs very well.
The original Ford Maverick was not a small pickup truck. The original Ford Maverick didn’t have the hybrid four-cylinder engine. However, this 1974 Maverick sedan powered by a V8 engine can get a staggering 41 mpg with its 5.0-liter V8 engine. This is significantly better than the Ford hybrid version, which has an EPA-combined rating at 37 mpg. As you can see, this is more than just a small engine with a large carb.
ThunderHead289 uploaded the experiment to YouTube. It’s really well-thought out. The experiment begins by looking for the smallest lawn mower carburetor with a floating bowl. This is necessary to allow it to work on a larger engine. A 3D-printed adapter plate was created to mount the carburetor to the intake. Another adapter was printed to hold small air filters. Once everything was in place, the engine started up immediately, proving that the concept was possible.
It’s a different experience than driving. To make sure the carb’s capabilities were better matched, the needles were adjusted to allow for proper idle. It’s important to note that this engine is not stock. This engine is used to test rebuilt carburetors. It also has manual adjustments to control fuel pressure. The engine parameters can be adjusted on the fly using modern technology, including the air/fuel ratio.
While a good deal of the video gives a deeper look into the technical aspects of the experiment, we just need to know that it freaking works. It seems to work well. The V8 Maverick starts up immediately, idles quickly, and makes a good V8 sound once it’s given some beans. The engine has a lot less power than it used to – the exact amount was not mentioned, but the old V8 reached highway speeds of 80 mph on a 37-mile test drive. Efficiency is the tradeoff for power. A fuel stop after the drive showed an estimated mileage of 41 MPG.
It is impressive to see an old V8 perform better than many hybrids, especially with gasoline prices currently hovering above $4.00 per gallon in the US. It remains to be seen how long this small carb will last in this application.