[farna]

I think johnsongrass is talking about TOTAL timing (initial plus advance), not just initial.

Thanks Paulo -- a word from the experienced always helps a lot! We have some "dual fuel" cars over here that burn gasoline or E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline). That runs better in cooler climates, but is still a problem in winters with freezing and lower temperatures. Dual fuel cars have fuel injection -- the electronics sense the fuel and adjust accordingly. You can mix more gasoline in if you like. right now E-85 costs about the same as regular gasoline, and you have to burn more of it to go the same distance. there is no cost advantage, but that will change. I know that in Brazil the government made a large investment in ethanol as a fuel -- tax incentives and such for producers and sugar cane growers. It's easier to produce ethanol from suga cane (or beets) than from corn -- costs less. Our government is just now making incentives for auto makers and fuel producers. It will take us at least 10 years to catch up to Brazil -- 20 or more unless a real big effort is made (20 is more likely from what I've seen). Our goevernment and auto industry is more willing to bet on hydrogen power, which is still 10-20 years from practical production and use, maybe more. Until gasoline prices get up to $5 or so a gallon, alternate fuels don't make much economic sense because they cost more per mile (like E-85 now). That time is coming soon!

[killerformula]

1000 dollars for a carb upgrade? Yikes! Sounds like a nice excuse to put a fuel injection system on your car. Isn't this a possibility?

K

[johnsongrass1]

It is a lot for a street car but not for a circle track car where throttle response and drivability are paramount to whether you win or lose. Winning means you get to eat something besides Ramon Noodles tomorrow.

It's entirely possible to see a 40hp gain on a honest 600hp with better mileage and response with a custom carb built specific to your needs.

My carb builder is always within one jet size of dyno perfect after we play "twenty questions". It's hard to do that on a engine you've never even seen.

[paulo 1]

Guys,is it not one of the best in the business called Braswell or something?

Also,has anyone tried the new CarterAVS/Edelbrock E85 carb? How much?

[Yachtsman]

I've read I should drill out my jets 40% but I'll try 35% first.

[va4cqd]

this thread died 5 years ago

[67-4-fun]

..............

[t-bird60]

I have never seen so much stupidity as I see on the internet!! what a waste of time ...

[grandpa01]

Why not revive this thread, I think it makes more sense now than ever. Has anyone on here built a e85 carb?

[Yachtsman]

Is it stupid to want 10hp per whole digit increase in compression? You can easily get that with E85. Pump fuel too, no putting in octane enhancer. Forget the green credentials of the fuel IT'S POWERFUL!!! I'm currently rebuilding a British Ford Essex engine putting Mustang 200 cid pistons on V8 Mustang Con-rods. The Essex block is heavily built it was designed to be diesel and petrol just by building it with different pistons manifolds and fuel system. Good idea but for petrol the engine is heavy 50lbs too heavy. The body is a Glass-Fibre Reliant Scimitar GTE weighs like 2500lbs.

[Plaintoast]

Originally Posted by grandpa01

Why not revive this thread, I think it makes more sense now than ever. Has anyone on here built a e85 carb?

I have.
I currently have a 13:1 street car that runs E85 on a carb that I built, 750 holley DP. It took some time tuning it, had an annoying lean hesitation off idle but I finally cured that when my shop slowed up a bit and I could finally put a little effort into working on it.
I have no choke on mine, it could certainly use it on the cooler mornings though.
Right now I'm driving it nearly every day. Not sure what the mileage is, that's simply not a concern when running a motor like I am in this car. I assume it's crappy though, and would be about as crappy as gas. The nice thing is the price. An iron head SBC with 13:1 is going to need either race gas or some sort of alcohol. I last paid $3.35/gallon for E85 from a local gas station, compared to the $7.50 from a local gas station selling turbo blue.

If anyone needs help, I'd be happy to try to point you in the right direction.
Mine is a converted gas carb, no fancy billet metering blocks for mine. More an exercise in learning the carbs, the billet stuff is nice.

Regarding some of the older posts about timing......
I have extensive dyno time with alcohol (methanol and E85) vs. gas, and particularly on the lower compression stuff, you need more timing. The slow burn rates necessitate a longer lead to fully burn the fuel, simple chemistry and math there.

[Yachtsman]

Sounds like you had accelerator pump issues! 13 to 1 compression on on your current machine. What kind of mileage do you get? Would it be worth you making a still and making your own? Pure ethanol and a little bio-diesel will boost the energy density of the blend and the lubricity. You can get most of the makings from any Supermarket they might even give it to you.

[Plaintoast]

not so much accel pump as the booster size and pump cam.
i have no idea what the mileage is, no speedo in the car, i just use the gps on my phone and compare it to the tach to know my speed.
i really don't drive it enough (summer in Minnesota is pretty short and i have other cars/ interest during this short summer) so brewing my own is not worth it for me.
as for the lubricity, alky certainly is drier, but if you account for that in the engine machining/ building process it's not an issue.

[Yachtsman]

Minnesota you probably have Bio-diesel/diesel blender pumps and E85 pumps in every forecourt.

[Plaintoast]

i don't know what a forecourt is, so maybe!