Anyone running an E85 setup?

[nmra85gt]

The time has come for a rebuild and I have been researching here and there about it.. just wanted to know if anyone on the site is already there?

[powerjames]

Originally Posted by nmra85gt

The time has come for a rebuild and I have been researching here and there about it.. just wanted to know if anyone on the site is already there?

I think Mark Keiser is strongly considering doing this E85 conversion. Mark what do you know!?

[Mark Keiser]

Yes, I would love to convert my car to E-85, but where I am moving to only has one station that sells it. So the first thing to do is to check and see where it is available. From what I have found out you need to count on using about 30% more fuel. So you will need that much bigger carb or injectors and a fuel system that can supply the extra volume. The E-85 is rated at around 103 octane so you can be more aggressive tune-up. The local dyno here in Wichita has some experience with converting to E-85 and he figured on my basic naturally aspirated 302 it would pick up around 25-30 hp. I met a guy here that has an 85 coupe and he built a basic 393 Windsor with Victor Jr. heads and intake. He runs the E-85 through a carb set up for a turbo. He put on a 106 mm turbo and set it to only make 15 pounds of boost and his intake charge is under 50 degrees without an intercooler in the summer on a pass. The car has gone 5.75 in the eighth and 9.0’s in the quarter. There is so much left in the combo, but he can take the car out and cruise 100 miles on Sunday after racing on Saturday. I even have a photo of him towing home his golf cart from the track the exact same way he raced the car.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

[Mark Keiser]

NMRA,

I see you are from Austin. That is where I am moving to next month.
What part of town do you live on? I only found one gas station down there with E-85. Have they added more?

And welcome to StangTV!

[nmra85gt]

My questions are basically concerning induction. Currently I am running a recalibrated 1406 Edelbrock 600cfm elec.choke. Which is great for fuel economy and MILD performance but i am def. going to swap to something else. Right now im thinking a basic..like 4150 (im shooting for 13.0 for next years nmra t/s). But if you say there is a 30% more fuel ordeal - should I go 750 DP? Seems a little x-treme but e85 is unchartered territory to me. Here in austin ALL HEB grocery stores (which are all over in every dir.) sell the fuel so... not much of a problem. As far as the driving aspect goes..its a toy..er daughter actually to me but anyhow, it wont see much 8-9:30 5-7 traffic duty. If any at all. Plugs are another question. Colder or hotter? Logically with more timing..... but then again its a different fuel. so??? Next would be fuel system. Whats recomended (psi, fpr, any internal changes to seals or gaskets?) sorry but like I said E85 is nothing but a wee seed to me, but i think its something def. worth watering. Cooling system?? I already have an aluminum radiator w/ elec. fan but do engine temps increase or decrease with e85? Last question: WILL IT HOLD ME BACK FROM COMPETING IN T/S?? If so, im going to have to buy another car for e85... the benifits seem too good considering new performance vehicles are pretty stout. Thanks for the 101.

[nmra85gt]

Originally Posted by Mark Keiser

NMRA,

I see you are from Austin. That is where I am moving to next month.
What part of town do you live on? I only found one gas station down there with E-85. Have they added more?

And welcome to StangTV!

PM sent.

[Mark Keiser]

As far as cooling system, you will not need to make any changes. It will run much cooler on the E-85. I am not sure on the plugs, but I will try the ones I have in there. Most of the cars around here that have swapped are forced induction. Your 600 might be enough, I am not sure. But I would think the a 750 would be plenty and you probably dont need a DP, but that is just my opinion. I am not sure on the fuel system for a carb car. I am pretty sure on my fuel injection system as long as I have enough volume I will be fine.

I will let you know when we get settled down there so I can come hang out. We are looking for a house in the Cedar Park area.

Thanks for the PM.

[tt610gorilla]

i would run a "product engineering fuel system gph500" for a carb that is more than enough for any hi-comp e-85 engine up 500+ci.

any meth/ethonal based fuel combo will refeigerate under comp/boost! as with any hi-volume fuel combo, keeping the fuel atomized & homoginized w/the air-charge is imperitive

w/e-85,90,or 95 you can run c/r's 12-15:1 & make some serious power for th street & still pass smog!
i have a buddy whos running a huge twin turboed moter @ 12.5:1 &10-20lb of boost w/no heating problems and drives almost every day. standard heat range NGK's -8's or somthing like that

[nmra85gt]

Ok.. thanks for the info but it looks like e85 might be ok to run in true street. Cedar Park is a good spot, save for williamson co. They are relentless a$$holes, and thats an understatement. big time.

[Mark Keiser]

Thanks for the info!

I would think a 500 gph pump would be WAY TOO MUCH for a 13.0 car with a 600 or 750 carb. You could get a much cheaper pump for the application.