these last few days and nights i have been doing a lot of reading into E85 and have found a lot of very good info but there are still a few gray areas i was hoping to get cleared up, first off do you have to change anything in the fuel system or carb?? because i see some one saying you dont and then another that you do, i know you have to increase flow, but do you have to use bigger lines and a larger pump over gas?? i would really like to get into useing it, i picked up a sbc 400 off a pulling tractor for pretty cheap and i know it has high enough compression to burn E85 but i think i will have to cam it down to make it a little more street friendly, i dont plan on raceing it much id just like to have a affordable quick and fun to drive street car, so any help on anything to do with this fuel would be awesome thanks!!!

 

I ran the 396 in my '57 from '06-'10 on E85. It is mostly a strip car, but driven to the track.

What car do you plan on putting this into? What engine/induction did it come with? What's it got now?

My best advice is to just buy a carb set up for E85. Quick Fuel has a street 750 for a little over $600 that is calibrated for the fuel and has stainless components to help guard against corrosion from the moisture that ethanol absorbs. There are other choices out there as well.

You could convert a carb to E85, but by the time you get all the pieces that they offer in their carb, you'll spend more than $600, and you'll have to do all of the calibration yourself. In addition to jets, you need to recalibrate the power valve restrictor, idle and high speed air bleeds, emulsion restrictors, and idle restrictors, as well as using higher-flow float needle & seat.

I was supporting 500 HP with 3/8" fuel line and an Aeromotive electric fuel pump. As long as you have a good fuel pump, you shouldn't need to upgrade the fuel line, especially for a street car. Fuel system parts have been compatible with ethanol since before the 3rd gen years, so don't let anybody talk you into expensive upgrades (although it would be a good idea to freshen up the rubber pieces, which is always the case with 20+ year old cars).

Compression should be in the 11-12.5:1 range for best power and economy.

 

its a 89 camaro was tune port but converted it to carb. last year, and all the lines are new as of then too, is quick fuel the only company that makes carbs for E85? also the new motor should be around 14:1 compression ratio

 

Id be courious on your location, do you have good access to E85, how much of a price difference?

We had it here for like 6 months several years back and it wasn't that much cheaper, but guys were mixing it half n half with regular gas and getting away with it not changing anything.

Though I think it went away as to many filled up with it straight just seeing "cheap" gas n didn't get far.

 

im in southern Wisconsin and there are plenty of gas stations around me that carry it and it is considerably cheaper, enough that it would make the conversion well worth it

 

You should consider when you say "cheaper" that E85 has a significantly lower caloric content than gasoline. If memory serves correctly it's somewhere on the order of 40% less energy. Not trying to discourage you, because it's a great fuel, but there is that factor to consider.

 

over here its still under 2.89 a gallon, i have also thought about doing it. i have run a full tank of e30 and e50 without any problems but havnt yet tried a full tank of e85. I was going to build my firebird to run on it just for the low price of higher octane fuel.

 

No, as I said, "There are other choices out there as well." Google "e85 carb".

That's on the high side, so make sure everything is "correct". You'll have all sorts of problems if you run it lean.

 

http://members.tccoa.com/392bird/carbtech.htm
Check this link. Some good info just remember to take it with a grain of salt.
I know a Guy that runs in the 9's on e85 and has told me he has never had a problem with corrosion.