any ever do a build to run on E85?

[mwipp]

I've always wanted to build my truck to run on E85 ( wont happen because i have a perfectly good drive train and dont have any money to screw things up ) But over all ive been wondering if anyone has tried this? I just got thinking about it again because i saw that the GT race corvette had to run on it lol ive seen carbs and fuel injection and such to convert it over to it. And being it has a higher octance rating...

[lakeroadster]

Well, one reason not to build a classic truck to run on E85 is ethanol is a scam. Read this: http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyl...514_058678.htm and this http://www.examiner.com/science-news...omy-is-a-fraud

Get rid of all the subsidies that artifically make it look like a good deal and it would be gone tomorrow.

Fact is as long as fossil fuels are around ethanol does not make sense.

[mwipp]

to a point i agree... in the end what you save in the price of E85 you easily make up in the lose of mileage. But still doesnt change the fact it has a higher octane rating (105) than pump fuel. It is basically just a step down from race fuel at a much cheaper price. which is why several race series are changing over to it. On a side note i run my cavalier on E25 and get exactly the same mileage as unleaded... i actually have been averageing about a mpg better but i would consider that the same. E25 saves me about 10 cents a gallon mattering the prices of corn and i need to save every penny i can to pay tuition!

[javadoc]

I run an E85 map on my 2000 Volvo V70R sometimes, when I want to play, or when I take it to the track. I mix 70% E85 to 30% 100 octane, and it makes 30-40whp more than on straight 100 octane, on the dyno, so ~10% more power. It runs very 'nervously,' if you know what I mean. Not very streetable when I run that map. That, and the mileage drops from 19mpg to 11mpg. I wouldn't set it up on a street driven '60-66 if it were me.

Having a higher octane 'rating' just allows you to run more timing (and boost if you're force-induced) before pre-det. There's actually less 'energy' in the fuel.

[mwipp]

Thanks for the info! Yeah i understand that there is less energy in ethanol hence the decreased gas mileage lol I wasnt planning on changing over anytime soon or ever. just a thought ive been having. Im in my second year of study in mechanical engineering and am planning on picking up a bio-fuels minor. Was thinking it would be kinda fun to build a motor that ran on E85 if i actually come across any good knowledge while getting my minor haha

[bama63]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

Well, one reason not to build a classic truck to run on E85 is ethanol is a scam. Read this: http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyl...514_058678.htm and this http://www.examiner.com/science-news...omy-is-a-fraud

Get rid of all the subsidies that artifically make it look like a good deal and it would be gone tomorrow.

Fact is as long as fossil fuels are around ethanol does not make sense.

to an extent your right lake, when left to our great u.s. government to develop any technology they must first figure out how they can spend the most money for the least return and in return more money for lobbyist to shift into their pockets (special interest money) in layman terms A BRIBE!and until greed and corruption is removed from our own government we as a country will never do the right thing first. now if you go here http://alternativefuels.about.com/od...olinbrazil.htm this little country can and has gotten it done since 1988. as for the 2007 Mini mentioned, its 2011 probably time for that tired fuel pump to quit In my opinion of 30 years as an ASE certified mechanic and 27 years racing on dirt tracks all over the south.and as for the mentioned carbon build up is complete B.S. methanol/ethanol engines are the cleanest burning engines you will ever find and after hundreds of builds and rebuilds have never found even the slightest trace of carbon on any piston,valve or cylinder head, just switching over to ethanol gained 81hp on the dyno and you could see the carbon washing out of the headers as the engine ran! I have never had any problems with any of my engines due to ethanol, yes there are certain materials that are attacked by the ethanol but substitute materials are readily available for close to the same price.on the downside it takes 1.5 times as much ethanol as gas at 100%, roughly 40% more for e85 so there is a trade off and cold climates can be a bit tough to start the engine but i believe IMO it is a good trade off and promising alternative fuel if taken out of the hands of the government bureaucrats and lobbyist just my 2cents.

[shortbed70]

IMHO I think alcohol belongs in a high compression motor to be efficient enough to claim any gain in running it on the street but then again how many 12-1+ motors u see on the street. I don't think it's worth it to build a dd on e85 but if your going more race and cruise than get some compression and let her eat! I read a comparison that had the effects of higher octane in lower compression motors and that's where economy went down. To put it in perspective 12-1 needs 100 octane where 14-1 needs 116 so putting 105 in a 9-1 motor it can't compress it enough to make a good BANG.
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[Rich 5150 69]

This might be worth reading while on the subject, but I`m sure this thread will get moved. http://www.purplesagetradingpost.com...%20engine.html

[mwipp]

and as for the mentioned carbon build up is complete B.S. methanol/ethanol engines are the cleanest burning engines you will ever find and after hundreds of builds and rebuilds have never found even the slightest trace of carbon on any piston,valve or cylinder head, just switching over to ethanol gained 81hp on the dyno and you could see the carbon washing out of the headers as the engine ran!

Thats what i figured bama63. When people claim they burn dirty they are misinformed. If you look at the ingredients in engine cleaner additive most of it is just alcohol! if i ever to build an E85 engine for my truck it would be a high compresion engine. It wont be a daily driver, more of a weekend cruiser and just something to **** around with haha i have a cavalier for driving everyday ha

[bama63]

e85 runs great on 10.5:1 to 14.0:1 and most of my racing engines fall somewhere around 13.0:1 so you can definitely make some horses.you can try our board members or send your holley carb to :
Stealth Racing Carburetors
865 6th St NE # B
Cleveland, TN 37311-5493
(423) 339-2272

i have used them for the past 12 years, really good folks and service . you supply your carb and $200.00 gets you a calibrated e85 carb...not bad IMO

[mwipp]

wow. that really aint bad at all! id need to get a holly carb tho too haha im running a quadrajet right now and currently only around 9.5:1. if i were to go this route id def upgrade to alum. heads with smaller chambers to increase my compression some

[KIC]

My 02 Tahoe can run E85. I tried it as at the time the price difference was 15-20-cents per gallon. But my gas mileage dropped so low it cost me more to use it than I ever could save. i could only get 9 MPG on the freeway where I normally can get 16 +/-. Tried different tanks on it to see if the mileage loss was consistent and it was. The cents per gallon savings were eaten up with the purchase of extra gallons to go the same miles.

E85 is a scam. Period.

[mwipp]

you really dont gain anything on the flex fuel vehicles because they still are running lower compression to be able to run unleaded. It only would be beneficiary if your running high compression