E85Forum.com

Miles Caughey · Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 1

I am presently in Iraq and plan to build a small block Chevy on my return. It will run only on E-85, acheiving good performance with the best gas mileage posssible. My wish is not to just save money on fuel, but to protest America's dependence on foreign oil from extremely unstable areas of the world. Since E-85 from Hopkinsville, Ky is supposed to be 107 octance, I figure I can run 10 or 11 to one pistons. Thereby, capitalizing on the higher octane that FFV engines don't allow. I would be suprised if I couldn't get better gas mileage out of an engine built for only E-85 than one for gasoline.
I have a couple of 283s, 327s, 350s and a 400 sitting in the barn along with a pair of camel hump heads and a couple of dozen other heads and Quadrajets and Hollies strewn about. I am debating placing it in a 57 Bel Aire, 64 Impala, or a 84 TA. Idealy I'd love to throw it in a Vega/Monza for the max gas mileage, but am shocked to find out how much they are bringing now! Being mentally lazy, I'd love to suck any info from someone who has already sucessfully rebuilt a small block chevy to run on just E-85. I'm not a speed demon so I'd love to build it on a practical budget and use it as an in your face prop against the major international energy companies. Any sugestions of the mix between the block, pistons, cam, heads, carb, fuel pump would be extremely appreciated. American Energy Independence NOW! Thanks, Miles Caughey
milescaughey@hotmail.com

hotrod · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 872 Location: Colorado

I think the idea has a lot of merit, and around mid 10's to 11:1 compression ratios should be a very good place to start with a dedicated E85 motor.

I'm sure it will work out quite well --- but not being a hard core Chevy guy I'll leave the parts recommendations to others. I know of a couple of folks that did exactly what you have discribed on late 1960s gasoline motors had stupid preformance levels with very well mannered street performance and gas milage if you kept out of the throttle.

A friend of mine built and blew up nearly every Chevy motor of that period and finally ended up with a high performance 350 build that was the right combination. The cam he used was, if I recall correctly one of the factory high performance cams for the Corvette --- good power without being lumpy and ill mannered at idle and on cold startup. The engine was big enough to give good performance but small enough he could still get descent gas milage with a fairly tall rear end. I think he ended up running a diff. gear in the low to mid 3.00's (3.23 or 3.54) and a 4 speed.

Larry

quickd100 · Joined: 01 Oct 2005 Posts: 14

I screwed together a 11.2-1 440 Dodge dedicated to E-85. I wish I'd have gone to 12-1 but piston to valve clearance became an issue. If you're going to run a carb with this motor buy yourself a LM-1 Meter and save yourself a lot of work and headaches. I bought one and had the carb all sorted out in one weekend. You'll be needing to change the jetting of course and all the air bleeds, enlarge the squirters. Mine runs like a million bucks after all the tuning, Good luck with yours. Dave
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1.595-60ft., 7.621-1/8, 12.19@105.88-1/4

abqautotech · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 11 Location: 1942 Broadway ne

I would suggest going with a fuel injected motor. If you want to use the motors in the barn edelbrock makes a system that will bolt up to the older chevy heads the run about $1900. A more economical solution is find a 94 or newer Caprice/Camaro/Firebird with a Lt1 or Ls1 motor. I have been running E-85 in my Caprice for almost a year now without a problem. These motors make great power even in their factory form. Plus there is alot of PC tuning software which allows you to adjust for the E-85. Keep an eye out for our website. albuquerqueautotech.com
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Albuquerque Auto Tech
1942 Broadway ne
ABQ NM 87102
505-247-0980

rebelman · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 31 Location: North Carolina

I used to do some racing with Chevrolet engines. I would suggest at least a 12:1 ratio to get the most out of the higher octane. You should also run an electric fuel pump, preferably in the fuel tank, running a carb or fuel injection. also check jegs or summit for some of the small block parts and maybe you will find a good set of heads, exhaust, and cam combination that will get you the best performance.

Ls2camaro · Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:04 am Post subject:

Thanks this forum.

I am new to this forum. I have 1991 Camaro TBI 305 motor.
Anyone here has 1991 Chevy Camaro TBI 305 motor runs with E85?
I think about to use Camaro 305 original engine or swap to 5.3L motor,come out from 2005 Chevy Silverado, on my 1991 Camaro so I can use E85.

I found out, there recommend to have high compression ratio. Please give me some advice.
Please tell me before I make decision to do something with 305 TBI motor or swap 5.3L Vortec.
Confused

Alcohol · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 634 Location: Central Wisconsin

Ls2camaro-
Running higher compression is desirable for better efficiency (only because higher compression is inherently more efficient- automakers just could not do so with 87 octane). Higher compression will also help a bit in warming the charge for combustion. You do not however NEED to raise compression or add a blower- it is just real nice.

Will you be able to get approx 30% larger injectors for your TBI?

If you are thinking of pulling the TBI and putting on a carb then you have one other issue to think about- even in your area there should be a change from summer E85 (85% denatured ethanol) to E75-78 or even E70 in colder weather. A FI system will deal with this especially well in closed loop but a carb will go rich in the colder months if you do not adjust jet sizes.

The 5.3 L FFV engine and ECU should work fine provided you can fit it in, & keep the engine's ECU and trans happy. Just keep in mind that this engine- like all FFV's- was optimized for gas and used lower compression vs starting with an optimized alcohol engine. The plus would be that you could still run gas w/o hassles.

What are your goals for this conversion?
*High performance?
*Fuel economy?
*Dedicated to E85 or dual fuel?
*Daily driver or street / strip?

murphinator · Joined: 08 Jan 2010 Posts: 93

watching & learning for the most part but a tbi from a late 80's early 90's 454 may be just the ticket for you or use of its injectors

is there ant type of tuning software availalbe for those cars ?
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PB's 1/4 mi 12.209, 117.75 trap ,1/8 mi 7.76 ,93.99 trap , 1.949 short time 4.53 0-60

I tune with HP Tuners software

Ls2camaro · Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 2:29 am Post subject:

Ls2camaro · Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:05 am Post subject:

What is recommend the compression ratio for 350 Chevy run on full E85?
I saw other posts here. Those guys run higher comp. and performance engine on e85..Likely 12.1 and 11.1. Make me wonder....

Alcohol · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 634 Location: Central Wisconsin

Depending on heads, cams, and other factors most find 12:1 static compression is easily acceptable for a DEDICATED (no extra gas allowed here) E85 engine that is naturally aspirated. Some have gone extreme- I have seen where guys have gone up to or greater than 15:1. Over 12.5:1 static you should carefully consider heads, chamber design, cam, etc--and I would think drivability would suffer a bit. That is as far as I will go on this area and let others far more qualified on this site add comments.

FFV-- means it is a Flex Fuel Vehicle. Many of the GM 5.3 L engines are FFV's with the appropriate fuel equip mods and most importantly - the ECU computer has additional programming to detect ethanol %'s and adjust fuel maps for cold start and open loop. IF YOUR 2005 SILVERADO 5.3 L has a Z in the 8th character of the VIN # --it is an FFV; look it up here; http://www.e85fuel.com/information/ffvs/gm_ffvs_1.13.09.pdf
Careful- fewer Silverado's were FFV than what was found in the Yukon and Tahoe models. The Z code for that year denotes fuel type/engine code.
An FFV does not care what mix of ethanol % is in the tank from 0-85%- it will adjust automatically. If it is not an FFV model then it will lack the open loop mapping to enrich your cold start and WOT making starting in cold weather difficult and leaving you lean at WOT.

I have both a 1996 5.7L (350) and 2000 5.3L engine that are not FFV and chose not to modify them with larger injectors, a piggyback kit, or ECU reprogramming. Thus for safety and drivability I keep both at E20 (20% alcohol) though I have had both up to 60% for brief periods with no problems and no CEL. I even towed a very heavy trailer through a full tank of E60 and no problems BUT I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS- it is an old girl with 230,000 miles and it was my decision to experiment Laughing

Ls2camaro · Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:54 pm Post subject:

OUCh

5.3L 8th of VIN# is "T". Let me search more..

Eric68 · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 331

Miles,

I built a dedicated E85 small block for racing and it is 13:1 compression and makes roughly 680 HP. I run a 260* @ .050 cam and have no issues whatsoever with pump E85 at that compression, even when adding another 180 HP of nitrous oxide. picture here: www.horsepowerinnovations.com

I would suggest that you build your 283 (smaller V8 will get better mileage) and use a set of late model 58cc 305 heads. There are still some dome pistons floating around out there if you Google you can find them. I'd shoot for right about 12:1 compression -- you have to be careful that the dome will clear the chambers though.

For a cam, a hydraulic roller would be great -- something with stock 305 or 350 specs. A hair bigger than stock would be OK too, I seem to remember seeing some "mileage" grinds out there.

If you can do fuel injection that would be ideal, but you need someone good that can tune it for you. If you need a carburetor I would be willing to help (as in build a good E85 carburetor for dirt cheap). You could do real well with a Holley 600 cfm vacuum secondary 4 barrel with the right tuneup.

Stay safe in Iraq -- I served on submarines during the first go-round over there. Thanks for your service.
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E85 racer and E85 carb builder
www.horsepowerinnovations.com

E85 powered 68 Camaro street car
Best ET on motor 9.96 @ 133 MPH, 5.92 on N2O in the 1/8th

Thumpin455 · Joined: 04 Oct 2008 Posts: 227

LS2camaro I have a 92 S10 Blazer with the TBI 4.3 in it, we have done some splash testing with it and we got it up to straight E85 without changing anything. Of course we arent asking it to go WOT or pull heavy loads, but it runs quite well on E85 and any mix lower than that. The problem we run into with the GM vehicles is duty cycle when you ask it to make more power, the simple solution is larger injectors. You can get injectors from the 350 or 454 and they should provide enough headroom.

Ive been thinking about using a 454 TBI setup on one of my 455 Pontiacs if I can find a donor cheap enough.

It seems like the cars built before OBDII have a greater tolerance for ethanol and they will adjust the tune without throwing a lean code. The LS1 in my 98 Formula gets a lean code and starts over fueling around E60, but it runs much better on ethanol, more power, better drivability, and it loses all the vibrations it has on gas. Larger injectors and some time with a tuning program and the problem will go away.
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1970 Pontiac GeTOh 455 with a Qjet.
1998 Pontiac Formula LS1 on yeast pee.