Using E85 for the hotrod? 1

[SteveHuck]

I am considering converting 2 of my "toy" cars to E85 use. I cant find any information as far as requirements for materials used. The first car has a stock 350 SB chevy engine. I hear Edelbrock now makes an E85 ready carb, so no problem there. What about fuel lines, pump, tank? Plan also includes a compression increase. What would be a good compression ratio for a street driven car for E85 use.

The goal here is to clean up emissions and not a power issue.

Anybody out there have any experiance with this kind of thing or know of a place to get information. I would like to find out if what i am thinking is going to work. I have heard some conversions can make emissions worse.

 

[reidh]

If your car was not meant to run ethanol, there is a good chance that it could eat just about every rubber part on your fuel system. This has been discussed before on this board.

Reidh

 

[SteveHuck]

I did a search and found no thread related to ethanol or E85.

I understand that ethanol and rubber are incompatible. The question was, what do i have to use to make my engine parts compatible, fuel lines, pump, tank, valve stem seals? Edelbrock makes a carb so that part is done. I could install stainless fuel lines and a plastic fuel tank with aluminum or stainless fittings.

There are 100's of websites that say dont use it if your motor isnt flex fuel ready. I want to built a strictly e85 motor. I can't find specific information on what i need to do other than higher compression.

 

[patprimmer]

Use the google site search feature. Use ethanol and or e85 in text. You will get a result.

Use 12:1 compression.

Be careful with a plastic fuel cell. Make sure it is an alcohol compatible plastic. Cells designed for methanol will be more than good enough.

Same for fuel pump. It will need to be alcohol compatible.

You will probably get away with steel fuel lines if you have a good filter between the steel lines and the carby to catch any rust that forms.

The following link might be useful

http://blizzard.rwic.und.edu/~nordlie/cars/gasoline.html

Replace any rubber lines and connectors with alcohol compatible lines.

The cylinder heads must be suitable for unleadede fuel. There are no other restrictions.

Valve stem seals generally do not get enough exposure to be an issue. If they fail replace them with Teflon seals. Teflon will resist all fuels you can buy for a street used car.

Stainless steel is better for any fuel contact areas, but is very expensive. Aluminium will corode worse than steel.

Regards

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[SteveHuck]

Now were talking!! Thanks for the info.