E85 Limited Late Switch

[Higgy9991]

Running a steel block 358 limited late motor. Motor dyno'd best on Alcohol (about 48 hp better ) , but due to not wanting to purchase a new fuel cell we have always run it on 110-115 octane. Cell manufacture says it is safe to run e85 out of the cell. So my question is, IS there anymore power to be had by switching to a e85 carb setup or any other advantageous reasoning?

[fastford]

run a bit cooler and cost of e85 compared to racing gas is my main reason , also some power gain ...

[LRtireCHANGER]

All alcoohol fuels cause maintenance headaches. e85 or straight methaol should not be left in the carb bowls for more than a few hours, because alcohols release free oxygen molecules, and the oxygen molecules combine with the zinc in the carb bowls to form...........zinc oxide. Alcohols hardens fuel line, it also will eat some fuel cell foams. It does make more power, it really boil down to a decisions of do you want to make more power and replace fuel system component more often, or do you want to spend more on race fuel while also having significantly less maintenance issues. Oh, alcohols will also draw moisture out of the surrounding air, so the longer this fuel sits, the more likely you are to develop water contamination issues.

[fastford]

never had any of those problems with E85 , maybe I was just lucky , and there is a huge difference between methanol and E85 , especially in consumption .....

[Lizardracing]

Agreed, there a whole bunch of BS floating around the internet on E85. I suspect it begun with Cronies at VP.
I treat E85 like pump gas, except the lines and fittings are specd for M1 for a large safety margin so basically AN -10 and -8 is plenty.
Find a good builder of E85, and follow them. The only two that I trust are Mark Sullens and HP Innovations. Im sure there are others. Listen to Mark, and not the BS, you'll be making power on the cheap.

[sirleafalot]

agree with the Lizard been running e85 for years no issues, get the cheap fuel tester so you can test the content from the pump, but rarely have I seen it off the mark typically right. I get fuel from a Meier station and no issues. Mark Sullens is smart dude. I have also have a carb from ATM Innovations, flawless right out of box. get good carb and roll. I drain the bowls if it will more than two weeks. otherwise no concerns, its plug and play.

[Jking24]

Those of you guys running e85 on steel blocks with dry-sump are you guys running oil coolers? With methanol we never have. I switched to e85 last year only ran around 4-5 nights. Unfortunately I had two engine failures unrelated to the fuel. First one I can only presume was built on a Friday because it trashed two rod bearings in less than 24 laps with 65+psi of oil pressure. All other bearings looked new. And the plugs and pistons looked perfect. Second one witch was a designated spare was just (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) luck broke a rod on the second lap of a feature.

[Lizardracing]

A lot of things engine internal, effect oil temps. I DO NOT run a cooler on a wet sump, although that wasn't the question...Just thought I'd try to help anyway.
Imma say that E isn't going to lower the oil temps enough by itself so if you needed a cooler on gas before, your very likely to need a cooler on E.
You still will want oil temps in the 210-220ish range and water in the 200ish range. E works way better with at least a 170 water temp.

Something to think about, on E, a rich carb and a cold plug can beat up the bearings.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

We run everything on e85 now. I'd never go back.

[Higgy9991]

How much Compression are yall getting away with on E85, series allows Dome pistons now and we are due foe a rebuild about half way through this year.

[Lizardracing]

I know guys in the 16:1 static range.
I also know guys in the 12:1 and 30psi of boost range.
It's mostly a non issue.

[Higgy9991]

last question for me, Who or where would you guys recommend for a new e85 carb or to convert one of my billet gas carbs? Little background on my self, aside from a guided jet change or adjusting idle/ floats; i am no carb guy.

[Jking24]

last question for me, Who or where would you guys recommend for a new e85 carb or to convert one of my billet gas carbs? Little background on my self, aside from a guided jet change or adjusting idle/ floats; i am no carb guy.

I bought a new one from pro systems really good pricing and super good customer service

[Lizardracing]

Only two people I trust are Mark http://www.marksullense85carburetors.com

Erik at Horsepower Innovations https://www.horsepowerinnovations.com/

Both don't do anything BUT E85.....E85 isn't gas, shouldn't be tuned like like gas.
Those who sell the blocks for you to do yourself are missing some things that can really help get the most out of E85. They work okay, it'll start and run and make power and all that but there lots of power left on the table then when you go the WHOLE way. Pick one, listen to them and them only. They both have their own ways and both work extremely well but mixing and matching might give you unexpected results. That and when you call for advice, they know what you have by their notes instead of taking guesses on the what the "other guy did".

[Jking24]

Almost bought a carb from sullen then I stumbled across a internet rant of his in which he was blasting a guy for checking his float levels and questioning why the sight hole screws were in backwards. You say he has "his own way of doing things" I say he's self taught and doesn't actually understand what's going on inside their completely aswell as very arrogant. Checking float levels is a part of basic maintenence. If your carburetor needs to run some top secret float level that's different from the dozens of reputable builders out their Something is wrong. And blasting a customer because they touched their carburetor is just poor business practice. His stuff may run good but it's not for me