e85 engine

I'm kicking around the idea of building a new engine I'm thinking about a 331 or 347 with about 14.5 to 1 compression ratio. but i want to know the good and the bad about using e85 and high compression ratios. I have look on the web but found little. this engine will be e85 0nly.

 

you get lower milage out of e85. you have to have a more expensive fuel system for it also. around here (san diego, ca.) e85 is extreemly hard to find and when you do its more expensive than regular gas. if these factors dont bother you then do it. it burns cleaner, the higher compression should make you more power than a standard pump gas motor could make you.

 

I iwll be running my 4.6l DOHC Carbed motor with e85. High compression here I come!!!!!

 

You have to flow more fuel, thus Bryant's mention of a special fuel system. And you want to run E85 in a car that you drive regularly, it doesn't stay stable very long and can eat rubber fuel system parts.

 

Great idea! 14:1 should be close to maximum running E85 though. If you plan on running carburetion you will need to locate an aftermarket maker that has the Ethanol conversion carbs - Holley has nothing to convert their carbs to ethanol. Holley does sell METHANOL carbs but not ethanol and they do have different metering needs.
My advice would be to adapt the fuel injection from a "flex fuel" car or go aftermarket for one.

 

This topic came up a little while ago and this is a good article to read on it

http://www.mustangandfords.com/techarticles/mufp_0708_car_gasoline_ethanol/carburetor.html

edelbrock does make a E85 carb from the factory the others are holley knock-offs

here is another arcticle on it

http://www.mustangmonthly.com/techarticles/mump_0905_ethanol_and_vintage_mustangs/index.html

 

So.... when are we going to see E85 stations in Washington?

 

The reason I am using E85 is I plan on running as much compression as I can get. It also runs cooler. When I am on that Vipers ass in a lil ole mav they can say that Bullmust of been corn fed

 

We have one or two here in utah, and one or two biofuel stations too. At this point in time for me atleast it is more expensive to go 40 miles out of my way just to get some, also for us there is minimal price differentiation for the most part between E85 and E10 (regular gasoline) in part due to transportattion to get it here if it was more abundant I would definitely switch over.

 

Yep, I saw one in Olympia when I drove by the other day but that is close to 60 miles away. When we have them closer and in more places I plan on changing all three Mavericks over to it and boosting the compression in the process. By using the optimum compression you can get better mileage (almost the same as gas) and at higher power levels. You have to use more fuel per pound of air but under proper conditions that fuel expands a lot more than the air it replaces. There are some problems that have not been discussed - like cold start preheating but I have solutions for that. I will be able to run it on a cold engine even on the coldest of days.

 

I run e85 in my 347. I like it so far. No issues other than just a little tuning. So far so good. Heres a good place for info and parts if you need them. http://www.raceone85.com/

 

Havent really ever given much thought to E85 because I never see it around Memphis, but it sounds like a pretty cool idea, the higher compression and all. But went to the site http://www.e85refueling.com from the article and looks like the closest station with E85 is 50 miles away. Maybe someone will open up local here in the next year and make me seriously consider going that route when I rebuild.