I'm planning on changing out this engine anyway so I was wondering what modifications would have to be made to run ethanol in it? Thanks, Matt.

Much higher compression and, realistically speaking, a fuel injection set up built and calibrated for ethanol rather than gasoline. There are streetably-small alcohol carburetors available (mostly in Brazil), but they are hard to come by.

Why do you want to do this...?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Just mulling it over... no particular reason but if gas keeps going like it is E-85 seems to be the best alternative to straight gasoline. Honestly how much battery weight do you think a 66 valiant trunk will hold?
Some of those Predator carbs made a few years back were alcohol weren't they?

Oh btw I'm not new just haven't been on in so long the smell came back!

I think if you do the math, you'll find there's no savings at all, given the much lower energy density of alcohol. For a given efficiency of conversion of the fuel's chemical energy into kinetic energy by the engine, to do the same amount of work, you must burn a little over 30% more E85 than straight gasoline.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

If you can run E85 all the time, you can set the engine up to treally make good use of it. Raising compression upto 11.5 to 1, or even 12 to 1 will run on E85 daily. This will make great power and would be worth the effort just for that alone. There are ver many of the performance carb compainies that sale E85 ready 4 barrels carbs in all sizes. Or you could mod the carb you have already to run with it. A striaght alcy carb is not exactly what is needed, although it would be closer than a gas carb.


For instance Quickfuel carbs offers a E85 ready carb.
http://www.quickfueltechnology.com/home_2.htm

Many others do also.


If you raise the comression & run the timing to take advantage of the E85 it can get good fuel milage to make up for the need of extra fuel that E85 needs to keep the A/F right. And ofcourse the power is great when this is done. I know many guys that is running it on turbo engines and making over a 1000hp with daily driven street cars that would normally need race fuel.

If you run E85 on a engine that is not built to take advantage of its good side, you will spend as much as if you was using gas, plus you will not make any extra power. But when you build for it, its a hole differnet story.


Jess

So no valve modification is needed? The cost of gasoline wasn't what I was referring to, you can make the ethanol part yourself.

Matt, I posted a question similar to yours a few months back. I got the same response too.

I was thinking of trying to distill the alc myslef as well. Around here we have tons of orchards and a couple of vinyards too. All the rotten fruit and leftovers from grape pressings can be used to make the alc.

I haven't checked it out in my area, but I have read about buying left over low grade molasses too.

If you decide to do a build, I'd love to follow it!

Cheers,

Chris E.

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-76 Cordoba, 360 4bbl
-68 Valiant, 273 2bbl
-67 Dart /6 4bbl, Leaning Tower of Power!!!

So far, no one has brought up the tendancy E-85 has in coroding componates on the fuel system. Alot of the fuel system would have to changed out to avoid this

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My Car Domain

Watch out for the Revenuers!

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

Dan's first post and Lucky's post will get you started. This has come up quite offen on most auto message boards (mostly hate posts but if you sift through the $hit, you can see the light ).

SlantValiant's link is getting more common so keep your mouth shut if you do this. A local paper did an article on a guy using fast food oil to make bio-fuel. Good article, too bad the government read it too . Rumor has it they are back-taxing him based on his previous average mileage! May just be rumors, but it's only a matter of time...

A good site for info is www.e85forum.com

I wish I was farther along in my EFI/Turbo/E85 Dart so I could offer some real-world advice. Right now I am basing my desision to do the conversion because I would really like to prove the haters wrong . If you look at it as cheap race gas and not a way to lessen our dependency on forgein oil E85 makes sence. You just need to build your engine to optimise the use of ethol. I am using a turbo to achieve the high compression, this way I can always go back to petrol if I have to.

Do a search on this site, most of your questions have probably already been asked by me!

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Chris'
Autobody
Restoration
Service

You think back taxings new. I'm sure all you countery folk that have Red Die Diesel (Off-Road Diesel) know that it his cheeper because it has no road tax on it. Its normal diesel, just with a red die to show its ment for off-road perposes only (Trains, Boats, Farm Equipment, ect)
Caught using this on road, and your back taxed to make up for lost ravinue. The ATF will be the least of your concern when the IRS steps in

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My Car Domain

I don't know if edelbrock are selling these yet...

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http://www.cardomain.com/id/lncognito

I'd planned on re-plumbing the fuel system with neoprene or even copper. Milling the head and block deck may increase the compression enough but if it doesn't maybe switching to dome pistons. Here in Michigan you can aquire a permit to produce your own ethanol for your own use but I'm not sure as to how they would tax you on it. Hell I think there's even a tax credit for "alternative" fuel vehicles.

Don't plumb your fuel system with copper. Copper work hardens and cracks under vibration. Linline Tube http://www.inlinetube.com/ will be happy to sell you stainless fuel lines, but you'd better get them in 3/8". With a 225 you can get all the compression you need with flat top pistons.

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Joshua