Converting to E85?

[bullitt]

I have a friend who awhile back built up an old 400m for his 85' f250. And while he was building he had mentioned making it run on E85, i don't remember what he had told me all went into it, but i understand, or would assume you need special injectors and stuff. Do any of you know any more specifics about what goes into making a 302 or 351 run on E85...or even a RBV v6 ( i know it's v8 forum) but just lookin to see if you guys know anything, or if any of you have even experminted or know some stuff first hand.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

your best bet for a v-6 would be to locate a FFV 3.0 ranger.

for a v-8, youd need fuel lines that can handle ethanol, and higher flow injectors (might be able to get away with a adjustable pressure fuel regulator). the computer mapping is the tough pit, and im not sure how you'd adapt a non-ffv computer to work. ffv computers have an additional sensor input that tells the computer to adjust the timing curve, injector pulse, and more based on the fuels ethanol content.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You would need to move alot more fuel thru a carberator if you go that route, which is about the only route to go on a 400, a carbed 302/351 would be the same deal. Increased compression would help too.

 

[bullitt]

Well i think if i did it with a v8, i'd probably go the carbed route. So your saying it can be done, but you have to up the anti on the fuel and the compression huh? Yeah Wicked, i knew that if i stayed with a v6, a 3.0, i could search for a wrecked up ranger that has the e85 version motor in it.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the problem with a carb is that running e85 requires more fuel and more timing then running pure gasoline. so if you tune your carb and set your timing on gas, you will run lean and retarded (read: gutless) on e85.

you could maybe get around the timing issue with an msd ignition with remote, but im not sure how youd actively control the mixture short of running it choked.

 

[NcRanger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-klh1nNV80
e85 1100 hp viper...pump gas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5izhXjXGqw
712 whp hp Evo on e85

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Once you go to E85 on a carb you will be pretty much stuck with it. But if you have it locally available it wouldn't be too bad for a dd. Certain parts of the country don't have it available so for a long distance hauler you may not want to do it.

 

[bullitt]

We'll see thats the thing, our gas station right here in our small of town of 2000 people, just got new pumps with E85. And after i get my BII completed and going, i plan on taking my ranger off the road this winter to work on it...theres nothing wrong with the motor (plenty wrong in the body, along the lines of rust) But since we have it at our pumps now, and it's like 2.20 right now, not sure haven't looked in a few days, but it got me thinking you know.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

there are several reasons why this idea will never pay for itself:

e85 contains less potential energy then regular gasoline. so you need more fuel to do the same amount of work (read: lower mileage). the difference on a modern, efficient, fuel injected engine is big enough...on an older carbed engine, the difference would be huge.

the cost of setting a non e85 fuel injected motor up for e85 would offset many many miles of e85 use.

if your goal is economy here, then a ffv 3.0 would be the ONLY way to possibly save money in the long run. it will still get decent mileage, and wont cost extra to "convert" it to run on e85. plus its a true ffv engine, which means if you want to take a road trip in it, you can.

 

[bullitt]

Which is probably, if i decide to, what i will wind of doing. Cruising the junk yards lookin for a wrecked ranger with ffv 3.0.