Thread: E85 Again

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I asked about this before but now the local rob shop (gas station) has e85 and someone on here before said that they just put it in and went, no hose replacement or anything. so a question that i havent asked yet since this is a diff. blend of fuel and will prolly burn differently will the spark plugs still read the same as if u were running gasoline i.e black = rich, white = lean. and is the fuel pressure still run at or near 6 to 7 psi?

A non EFI car will probably have a problem with e-85. Aside from the effects of compatibility with rubber and metal parts. E-85 is mostly an alcohol so it really requires higher compression to run well. 12:1 is not uncommon. It also requires a richer jetting. Air bleeds and power valve. It doesn't start as well as gass when cold like below 30 deg F. You won't get as good MPG as you need more fuel for correct air/ fuel mixture.

An EFI can compensate for some of of the settings but is still compression limited. My plan would be to run an EFI with high compression and not too wild of cam. I just saw a 427 SBC with a 6-71 blower and 12.5 compression and MSD ign. It made well over 500 hp and 600 ft lbs and could be called a daily driver if you can live with the blower noise and the fact that it is a mild mannered race car. He uses it for his shop demo and cruise car. Another car was unblown 383 SBC 13.5 comp and MSD. Another cruiser. These cars start and run almost as easy as any other streetrod. MPG within reason too. At $2.40 per gallon for 100-105 Oct. rated gas they are cheap to run compared to having to run $7/gal racing gas. Pluss it is available everywhere here in Minn.

Fuel pressure is about the same, 1/2" lines, plugs read a little differently (go by heat in the threads). E-85 burns clean. You may have to change oil a little more often if you don't get the mix just right. Otherwise it's great and starting to catch on here.

Originally Posted by 383 chev

I asked about this before but now the local rob shop (gas station) has e85 and someone on here before said that they just put it in and went, no hose replacement or anything. so a question that i havent asked yet since this is a diff. blend of fuel and will prolly burn differently will the spark plugs still read the same as if u were running gasoline i.e black = rich, white = lean. and is the fuel pressure still run at or near 6 to 7 psi?

Plugs on Alcohol engines are a bit harder to read for some reson. They seem to take longer to get a good color on them. I have an old Champion lighted plug viewer, sure helps the plug checking.

A couple sizes fatter on the jets, then some tweaking with the power valve size will be in order... Because of the higher octane you can get away with more compression and a bit more timing, but also you're going to give up a couple mpg....

I use an exhaust gas analyzer to evaluate jetting with E-85, mainly becuause it takes longer to get a color reading on the plugs.

my 429 runs on e85 normally asperated, it does not idol very good on the fuel, if i cant figure it out i will probably switch back to pump gas. my dad just switched to e85 on his modified and could not get a decent idol, he threw an old preditor carb on and it works perfect.

Have you tried the old air bleed hole in the butterfly trick on it yet Mooneye??? Had a drag car I worked on awhile back on methanol, needed bleed holes....

i have not tried that yet, but will highly consider it next weekend when it runs again., went to run the valves and had a cracked guide plate on #4 intake. got the replacement set yesterday.