77-79 T/A questions

[CRX89]

Ive been thinking about finding one with a 400 or 403 if last resort. I know certain years they had a "high performance" 400 with like 20 more hp puttin like 220hp or 200hp. My question is in STOCK form with a auto is it possible for these cars get in to 14 second e/t? Is it possible to get 15+mpg? Im asking these because Im thinking about getting a 77-79 T/A as a daily driver or maybe a swaped Civic HB which I know would run mid to high 14s at around sea level and still get awesome gas mileage and handle well. I could give up the gas mileage and some handling for the muscle car style of a T/A. I have owned a 2nd gen F body that was faster and still got 15mpg but it had a 350 (chevy) and I have owned a few civics. I kinda want aold car again and was just curious if its possible for the 77-79 T/A to run at least high 14's and still get 15mpg. I dont want to change the ring and pinion or get headers or put a bigger cam in to go faster because those mods usualy decrease mpg. Keep in mind I want this ass a daily driver. Most stock or near stock 70's T/As(autos) Ive seen run 15's which kinda blows. Any help appricated.

[TorinoGT69]

Two of my friends had '78 T/As back in high school, they were both 400s and auto. When they were both stock (which wasn't for long) one got around 12mpg (3.42 gear) and the other got around 14mpg (not sure the gearing on this one but it turned lower rpms so I know it was a lower number ratio). Both cars were probably low 15s - high 14s in the quarter. I know with headers, dual exhuast, and a small cam the one with the 3.42 gear ran mid 14s but it also got around 10mpg. All these mpgs are city numbers we did not do a lot of highway travel back then. But if you want a car that is realitively easy to make fast these cars are a good start but they are not economy cars.

[FAPhoenix]

They ran in the 15's for a reason, they are choked down with emissions. These are not an economy type of car. With a 400CI engine it is pretty easy to get them into the low 13's. Stall convertor, headers, light cam, and if you want to go high 12's mill the heads for some decent compression.

Remember, VTEC is great if you want to run 15's all day long.

Also remember these old cars don't have overdrive which is a giant factor for milage.

If you want fuel exconomy go for a Civic and be just like everything else on the road. If you want a car that will get noticed and have the potential for real speed get the Trans Am.