SBC E85 Coversion - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**DreamRyder1963** · 11-29-2013, 10:06 PM

Today at work we were discussing E85 fuel and its benefits, negatives, etc. The question was raised of how much would cost to convert a carbureted vehicle, mainly a 350. We found a carb conversion kit at summit for $50 and I know that a ethanol safe fuel pump would be needed. Has anyone here done such a conversion? I ask mainly out of curiousity

**Boog** · 11-30-2013, 06:29 AM

A couple of the car magz did buildups a few years back. There is much more to it than just a carb and fuel line in order to get the most out of E85 fuel. They were able to make good horsepower with it.
It takes higher compression ratio to make the power. It runs cooler than straight gasoline. It get less mpg than gasoline. You couldn't switch back and forth between reg gas and E85 easily. E85 isn't readily available everywhere.
In other words you really have to be committed to run E85 fuel.

eldogg · 11-30-2013, 10:06 AM

I did a bunch of E85 R&D work for Barry Grant a few years ago. The stuff loves compression & boost. If you have a pump gas motor you prob wont find much power.

Quickfuel offers metering blocks and you will need nitrophyl floats and viton needle and seats (at least .110) The metering blocks will get you close but its gonna take some fine tuning.

E85 is cheap race gas.

**DreamRyder1963** · 11-30-2013, 10:21 AM

E85 is even almost a dollar cheaper then 87 pump gas here. Which is what brought up the discussion. I used to work with a guy who ran his turbo supra on e85 and he loved it.

marvgarr68 · 11-30-2013, 11:03 AM

I ran it it in my old 71 with a built 350 did nothing to change it over. I did get worse mpg but ran no different this was with 10-1 comp. I also ran it for years in my generators they ran all day never had a problem. Ethy is in reg gas as it is just about 15% though.

engineer_gregh · 11-30-2013, 11:05 AM

I ran it once in my 2011 Denali. It ran like a raped ape but got about 3-4 miles per gallon less that the typical 93 octane I normally run in it. The Denali is an E85 vehicle.

brad_man_72 · 11-30-2013, 11:18 AM

It takes about 2x the ammount of alcohol than gas to get the right fuel mixture. You can definetly make more power on E85 with its higher octaine but not because of that alone, you need more compression and or timing.

11-29-2013, 10:06 PM	#1
DreamRyder1963 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 499	SBC E85 Coversion Today at work we were discussing E85 fuel and its benefits, negatives, etc. The question was raised of how much would cost to convert a carbureted vehicle, mainly a 350. We found a carb conversion kit at summit for $50 and I know that a ethanol safe fuel pump would be needed. Has anyone here done such a conversion? I ask mainly out of curiousity __________________ 1971 Chevy C10 Cheyenne (sold for Mazda) 1963 Chevy Corvair Pro-Touring Project 2012 Mazda 3 i Sport sedan http://www.dracoautodesigns.com/

11-30-2013, 06:29 AM	#2
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,092	Re: SBC E85 Coversion A couple of the car magz did buildups a few years back. There is much more to it than just a carb and fuel line in order to get the most out of E85 fuel. They were able to make good horsepower with it. It takes higher compression ratio to make the power. It runs cooler than straight gasoline. It get less mpg than gasoline. You couldn't switch back and forth between reg gas and E85 easily. E85 isn't readily available everywhere. In other words you really have to be committed to run E85 fuel. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

11-30-2013, 10:06 AM	#3
eldogg Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mooresville NC/Gainesville GA Posts: 499	Re: SBC E85 Coversion I did a bunch of E85 R&D work for Barry Grant a few years ago. The stuff loves compression & boost. If you have a pump gas motor you prob wont find much power. Quickfuel offers metering blocks and you will need nitrophyl floats and viton needle and seats (at least .110) The metering blocks will get you close but its gonna take some fine tuning. E85 is cheap race gas. __________________ Eric Evans Queen City Shop Truck http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post6139834 66 GMC http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=543110

11-30-2013, 10:21 AM	#4
DreamRyder1963 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 499	Re: SBC E85 Coversion E85 is even almost a dollar cheaper then 87 pump gas here. Which is what brought up the discussion. I used to work with a guy who ran his turbo supra on e85 and he loved it. __________________ 1971 Chevy C10 Cheyenne (sold for Mazda) 1963 Chevy Corvair Pro-Touring Project 2012 Mazda 3 i Sport sedan http://www.dracoautodesigns.com/

11-30-2013, 11:03 AM	#5
marvgarr68 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: kingman az Posts: 573	Re: SBC E85 Coversion I ran it it in my old 71 with a built 350 did nothing to change it over. I did get worse mpg but ran no different this was with 10-1 comp. I also ran it for years in my generators they ran all day never had a problem. Ethy is in reg gas as it is just about 15% though. __________________ 1976 k20, 350 built, 44/14 axles 1968 c10 6.5 turbo diesel,t5 trans 1977 gmc c3500 dually, crew, 4-53t, 5&3 trans http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=591188

11-30-2013, 11:05 AM	#6
engineer_gregh Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Smyrna TN Posts: 1,153	Re: SBC E85 Coversion I ran it once in my 2011 Denali. It ran like a raped ape but got about 3-4 miles per gallon less that the typical 93 octane I normally run in it. The Denali is an E85 vehicle.

11-30-2013, 11:18 AM	#7
brad_man_72 the boat guy Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: springfield mo Posts: 2,339	Re: SBC E85 Coversion It takes about 2x the ammount of alcohol than gas to get the right fuel mixture. You can definetly make more power on E85 with its higher octaine but not because of that alone, you need more compression and or timing. __________________ 67, swb, fleet, tach, throttle, 5.3, 4l60e, 3.73's, fuel cell, 5 lug, p.d.b., 4-6 drop. great little truck 66, stevens drag/ski 18' silouette, 350, 2.02 doublehump heads. comp extreme marine 278 cam, vette 7 fin valve covers, old polished edelbrock intake, velvetdrive, casale v-drive, adj cavitation plate. 28, model a rpu project,



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