E85 set-up questions

[jeffmotorman]

So, for those that have converted to E85 that are running injection, What kind of jet/ tune-up changes did you make? Does anyone know were to go to get info on this?

I have a 96 Ed Quay Dragster (1830 lbs.) that currently runs 7.90s @ 170. mph in the quarter (about 700 horsepower est.) on Methonal.

My car runs a a Rons Flying Toilet Injection system. This is a constant flow mechanical injection system w/ a Waterman .500 pump that turns 4.85 gal per min. On Methonal I'm running .31 nozzle jets and a .70 main jet with a 6 lbs. relief spring.

I am very interested in converting to E85.

Is anyone one here currently running a similar set-up?
Can anyone give me an idea of were to start ?
Can anyone put me in contact with someone that can help me with set-up?
What kinds of temps should I expect on an EGT system if I'm running 32 deg. timing?
Should I change the timing in my car on E85?
What type of water temp. gains should I expect to see during a pass on E85?
What type of Air/ Fuel Ratio numbers should I see on my O2 gauge?
Is there anything else I should know about E85 before running it?

Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Raymond Keown
Precision Performance Racing
A2Z Racing
NRG Swimming
Levittown, Pa. 19056
rkeown66@yahoo.com
215-715-4290

[adamsvega]

you know most of the carbs are 15% leaner than meth in n/a form .they also run about 100 deg .hotter from your ideal .your burn is quicker but total output will be less if you tuned it for max . with 31 nozzles,1/2 pump and 70 pill you were really high on psi did you have a high speed on it? .if so enlarging your h/s to reduce your psi to tune the top end for e85 would be a good start . i know that alot of turbo/blown efi cars are now e-85 i need to find out how much they ramped up the fuel curve from ideal gas to get the lambda right ... I too want both cars to be e-85 i'm building a identical 2nd holley for the pontiac to go back to back testing .once done i will work on the toilet conversion . did you e-mail james monroe yet . if you had the psi through the traps and your orfice sizes i can back the h/p number and give ya a starting point but ineed info -adam ps thanks for the open diff!!!

[et134R]

To start, yes I have a high speed lean out on the car, but have not been using it. Crawford had my injection set up to run a high psi because I have a pump that can handle the pressure.

I haven't given James Monroe a call or e-mail just yet, but plan on doing so.

Currently I don't have a high Pressure guage for my fuel injection, so i don't know the psi through the traps. I will get that info. as soon as possible, but have to wait for my lifters to come back from isky. I've been working with Ron I. with his bushed roller lifters and he is curently making updates to them.

Which orfice size do you need? I also have a wide selection of nozzles and jets to run the injection any way I would like, this is just my current combo.

Thanks for your help, and keep me informed on how your carb. conversion goes.

Raymond Keown
Precision Performance Racing
A2Z Racing
NRG Swimming
Levittown Pa. 19056
rkeown66@yahoo.com

[et134R]

I just pulled this of of class racer forum. What do you think.

I am by no way an expert on E85, I know alot of guys are going to it but I thought I would post a bit about what was said about it at the World drag expo this year. VP racing fuels had a guy there giving a seminar about race fuels. somebody asked about E85 the speaker from VP spoke about it for several minutes including why they are not currently getting into the market for racing pourposes. The thing I remember most about what he had to say was how E85 is not consistant from batch to batch. he said that E85 has to be at least 85% ethanol but can be higher meaning that one day when you buy it you may get 85% ethanol but the next it may be 88% or more which could really screw up consistancy in a race car. He went on to say that if they were to start mixing it to exact specs like they do race gas the cost benifits would go away compared to methanol. I really wish I could remember his name he was a great speaker and really informative I can tell you that this seminar was packed. you might want to call VP midwest and see if they can put you in touch with him as there were several other reasons that he also stated. I know they are a Racing Fuel company so they are biased towards using their products but what he had to say did make sense to me. Hope this helps even though its not exactly what you were looking for.
Rob Petrie

This is not going to phase me. I'm still going to run E85 and see for myself. Alittle inconsistancy from drum to drum dooesn't bother me. As long as the car is close and runs that way round to round, I don't care if it goes a 7.92 to 7.97 one day and with a different drum gos 7.88 to 7.92.

But,
Is there much of a difference in tune-up to run straight ethonal?
Does anyone have any data on consistancy?
I may want to try it latter on for comparison.

Again, thanks everyone for your help, and as I go through all this i will keep you informed on anything I find out.

Raymond Keown

[et134R]

Thanks for all your responses. I'm still working on finding a good safe starting point, but I'm getting closer. I've gotten some great advice so far, and found a team thats been running E85/ E98 for over five years in Super gas on Injection. I will be talking more with him tonight. He's already suggested that I start with a .026 nozzle jet and .098 Main jet (pill).

Please feel free to continue to comment for those that have any knowledge on the subject.

Thanks again.

Raymond Keown
Precision Performance Racing
A2Z Racing
NRG Swimming
Levittown Pa., 19056
rkeown66@yahoo.com