2.3L ('83-'97) Raising compression to 13:1 for experimental use of E100 fuel

[corerftech]

That should raise an eyebrow.
Soon my son will Grad MCL from U of M and I will be free to relocate to farmland away from Memphis.
His education is keeping me bound tightly to Memphis.... and May is not too far off.
And I am a bit nuts on experimental crap, like seriously whack.

I have Frankentruck, my 1990 twin plug grocery getter available thereafter for some experimental work.

In lieu of Methanol and all of its greatness and suckiness.... Ethanol is a viable HP fuel and has far less SUCKINESS than Methanol (cheaper too). Its also possible to produce this at home, legally, and in mass quantities.

I will move to a 15 acre residence with fields avail for crops. This has been the plan since I moved here from So Cal 5 years ago.
I intend to obtain a Federal Alcohol Fuel Plant permit allowing me to distill an unlimited amount of E100 (E96 really)
TN allows for a $0.00, 10k gallon AFP as well. The GOVT and STATE are HAPPY to embrace another tree hugger envirospaz wanting to run from fossil fuels and if I sell the ethanol, as of 2021 IRS filing date, receive a $1.01 tax break per gallon of fuel between 150 and 190 proof after denaturing. Yes, the govt will help me save money making RACE CAR booze!! It used to be $0.51/gallon period, if only consumed by yourself but in 2005 they ended that and now you have to sell it to enjoy the ax break, or use it for your business.

Yes a UTOPIAN thought and I am far from an environmentalist. Moreso I am a cheapskate that likes his cake and to eat it too and I think out of the box, and often way out....... maybe too far.

Where I am moving to (and live now), Sorghum grows well and Sweet Sroghum is 78% liquid with 20% raw sugar avail for conversion with 15% more in starch. Thats 50lbs of convertible fuel liquid for every 100lbs of Sorghum stalk. I am in the AG biz as a profession and so I have ALL the connections from SEED to SILLAGE sale to make this happen and be cost effective. Sorghum is the HIGHEST yield, lowest energy cost, simplist biosource to produce alcohol from on earth. 3% higher yield from corn and 600 gallons more per acre!! That should cause a pause to think....

Tainted booze is on the horizon for fuel. Sorghum is equivalent to sugar cane in process and alcohol conversion.
I did well in chemistry a long time ago...

CORN is OUT! Good ol' MILO is in. Good for livestock, the ground/soil, no Nitrogen adds (Read: Russian Fertilizer) needed and recovery with a wheat cycle in winter. (Nitrogen recovery)
Like GOD INTENDED fuel to be made!!
I DIGRESS.......
So fast forward to my intentions.

Raise static compression (if possible) to 12-13:1. Yes theoretically I can go 15:1 or more but its excessive and not needed. Its problematic above 13, 12/13 is easy on engine with good output improvement and as I have read, easier starting and peak efficiency.
Replace fuel system with stainless and seals with viton, harden the system for 95/5 (Alcohol/water)
Install my extra Microsquirt on the shelf and make a run of pure Ethanol.
Its not to get more HP, its to get the conversion complete, reliable at typical operating temperatures and learn to tune Ethanol. Its testing cold start conditions, can the engine be started NEAT at 30 degrees F or lower, oil change/dilution testing, etc, fuel system EVAP changes to keep water ingress at bay (but AZEOTROPE Alcohol/H2O is 95/5% so at "column still" concentrations as dropped, the alcohol as I understand is pretty much infused with as much water as it can absorb. So corrosiveness is what it is regardless. But nonetheless, the Frankentruck is the ideal candidate for the experiment. Water is NOT a concern, it makes the Ethanol Octane equivalence about 120 points.

As well, the production of 800 gallon/acre of Ethanol for a pittance is quite a thought.
2 acres devoted handles the entire years consumption by one or two vehicles.
It also allows me to in future, convert the E85 V8 swapped ranger to E100 (in the works) and have actual High Performance fuel avail in my barn...... and the ability to tune it.

Keeps my FARM property tax break alive too.
I help the environment and would be on leading edge of Sorghum Ethanol producers in MidSouth, helping farmers get OFF the CORN agenda and onto FOOD products they should be growing (or Sorghum.... LOL)
90% of the cropland I service already is dedicated to alcohol or fuel production. Arkansas is RICE for BEER (Busch agricultural in Jonesboro), CORN for Ethanol or SOY for Plastic and Diesel. Hell I service 3 Biodiesel plants directly!!
Id like someone to grow some good tomatoes or some Okra.... not yellow SOY for a barrel of BD.

It starts with the contemplation of raising the CR of the 2.3L to 12/13:1 to ensure better starts and not wasting anti-knock/115 Octane equivalence.

Compression
SEALS/Alcohol hardening
Timing
Fuel Flow (pump/injector size, fuel lines/filter, etc)

14lb stock injectors are good for 200HP at 85% DC. Thats easily the extra 35% flow I need for fuel.
I believe the stock system would support the fuel needs of an otherwise stock 2.3L, no special cam, etc.

Not knowing ANYTHING about the valve clearance and combustion chamber design of the 2.3L, 1990 twin plug head, how tight is the valve clearance? Could .040 or more be milled from head to make a simple increase (even if only progressively along the way)?? Can I get to 11:1, 12:1, 13:1 and still not kiss a valve?? Or will I need to go to a different piston to make things work?? My limits are that I DO NOT want to spend MONEY on new parts, but to let a mill give me what might be available naturally. Optimization is FAR from the desire, make it work and reliable is the objective.

Its for discussion and thought, not application at this point. I have fuel cost at less than $2/gal from SEED to STORAGE so its a viable self-reliance experiment as well. Methanol is $5.50 a gallon and is the closest analog to E100. Therefore I will NOT be attempting this until (M100 is too darned expensive even for short tests) I have a small permitted still and am able to make 10 gallons of experimental fuel from whatever grain I get from my clients and industry. Thats the cool part. I only need to have the permits and a small still to get the vehicle tests underway, not the whole tamale and full investment of Sorghum plant.
A truck full of corn/wheat/rice (all the grains I handle), some Alpha Amylase and Glucoamylase, some yeast and I can have 10-20 gallons for testing in a week!

Thanks for the input and hope its an entertaining read.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Subscribed.

 

[bobbywalter]

Call esslinger.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

^^^ My first reaction was to point out that he didnt want to spend money, but then I thought maybe Esslinger might give advice....which is a good source if given.

 

[corerftech]

I have been friends with Dan and Kim Esslinger for over 22 years and I have spent literally thousands of hours working with them on things more important than racing engines (peoples lives). I have texted Dan but since he is no longer Esslinger Engineering and I respect his moving on to ministry and new business…. I know it will be a while before I get a reply.

Always floored is correct on the money factor:
(My business opinion that has served me well and allowed me to have debt free businesses)

You don’t do R&D on high dollar when risk is high, you use crap that is avail and stay cheap. When merit is found for a given initiative, then cash comes in. Else it’s all BS and grandiose thinking. I am a California small businessmen who has been very successful. Pouring cash into the Aussies pockets won’t help me with raising CR above 9:1 on my Frankentruck candidate. Bobbywalter has a good directive but I am a nuisance to a business by milking them for data and not using their services. The question is one of low technical merit.

Bible says: old men have dreams, young men have visions.
I am old, grumpy and usually find the means to accomplish that which I set forth to do—- cheaply!

My dream is this (and not my first dream as an old man to have come to fruition and be profitable):

I live near MIR. Folks use VP and their litany of fuels including M1.
M1 not so nice, imported generally, makes great power. Corn sucks. Imported anything sucks!!! Politics suck, especially now. It is a great time for an alternative racing fuel source to be brought forth (Indy has used it for many many years) for drag racers and it’s merits are multifaceted: geopolitical, financial, performance, longevity, safety, renewable and plant based. Nothing else that cars go fast on is as clean and plentiful, nor solely produced from plant matter (it’s all Fossil Fuel base and using environmental devastating co-products for manufacture, especially Nitromethane!)

Fossil fuel based racing fuel is exponentially expensive and according to the sage wise elites, on the way out. Methanol comes from COAL. Right- my point exactly.

Green Initiatives suck for all but the elites lining pockets (IMHO). Me no like elites. Me like $$ and enjoying as a spectator, racing with loud internal combustion engines, fire, flames, burning eyes, did I
Mention loud???
Electric cars suck.

I also live in farm land and work in the AG biz for the last 5 years.

I may not be the best mechanic but I am a sharp tack in electronics, mechanical process, PLC operation and process catalyst.

I would like to be on the leading edge of E96 and E98/DNG use for strictly racing fuel. This is a completely scalable business with low cap cost and modest risk.

Remember nitroglycerin was a farm/home based business back when it started. Yep, grandma was nitrating gyclerin back in days of old and either getting paid for it or blowing up, sometimes both.

Corporations don’t start things, individuals do. I know an awful lot of farmers:: they are my customers- they’d like to not grow corn.

I can’t find a negative. Azeotropic Ethyl Alcohol is a fine USA produced, farmland supporting, government endorsed, auto racing supporting internal combustion engine fuel that has the potency to outperform Methanol and gas, period. And the water component is GOOD not bad, for combustion! So anhydrous alcohol is NOT NEEDED.

Like Nitro, and in the words of Dan Esslinger “ just add more, it will be fine”. Ethanol is approx 35 percent lower in energy than gas so just add more. Not more VP M1, Ghummer brand (as in Sor”Ghum”) E96 is bad ass.

Formic acid and aldehydes are reduced in exhaust E100 or it’s counterparts, when compared to M100.
I make the government happy, the Sierra club happy, Save more whales, feel good personally, and….. if I can scale a production to at least fill the needs of the Memphis area Methanol and E85 consumers with a product that wins—— well I might just have a new business in this case. One that can be boutique and small farm based. What better agenda than breaking the ultra farm model and get back to supporting small farms???

So—- dreams start with a bucket of junk ( Just like the two partners, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packers started in a garage with crap, as did our friends who founded Apple!) and some sourcepool of data and a vision for product and performance.

Frankentruck is the bucket of junk.

If I can’t make enough to keep Frankentruck alive and Frankentruck doesn’t perform on it, well then my dream was more wet than dry and probably generated by pizza or Indian food (specif. I do believe this is doable, certainly scalable and timely.

To stay on topic and to mitigate any interesting commentary:

my question was and is still:

Is the geometry of the 2.3L Lima valve train such that a CR of 11:1 or better can be had with having BB&T racing in Mississippi mill my head x.xxx inches while employing the stock valve train as Ford built it at the factory????
Notwithstanding any other fueling, ignition, financial or performance consideration—— none of that matters if the head will kiss valves post machining——


that is the question and it is quite specific.

There are crazy folks all over the place , call me one if you like. My wife and sons both at U of M tend to think otherwise but crazy people need answers too.
Thank you in advance for the consideration of the primary question. I am not an engine builder but I know there are some that haunt this forum and likely have a patent answer. I have the greatest of respect for those Ranger owners on Thai forum who have come before me and it is in due respect I ask my compression ratio question.

once again, another good read for the toilet, maybe you get a chuckle, it is intended—— but I’m dead serious about the endeavor and really need an answer in the next month or so about the compression ratio.
Best-

 

[RonD]

No, I don't think the 2.3l Lima could remain a non-interference engine even at 11:1 CR
Which makes the timing belt a more critical part

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Perhaps pop the head off and use modeling clay.... See for yourself where you're at.

Also there is a UK based you tuber with a lot of vids on 2.3L. I havent had time to watch all his vids, but maybe he might have suggestions. Doesnt hurt to ask...

https://youtube.com/c/PenguinMotors

 

[Fast Eddie]

^^^^ What he said. Have done that for years. Just make sure to use a head gasket and proper torque or you could get a misread. Throw a timing belt and you'll knock th hell out of the valve train and pistons - essentially grenading the motor.

 

[corerftech]

Thank you folks for the specific replies. That was my concern and you all have reinforced it.

Stock compression will likely suffice for early testing if and when all the balance happens.
Is there an appropriate location for off crap like this here on TRS? My basic question was answered and I don’t intend to belabor this thread further. But there will be a follow through.

Again thanks very much for the specific replies.
Mike

 

[bobbywalter]

Dude. Call esslinger. It's the fawking shortcut to the parts list and fly cuts necessary

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Alternative fuels;

Alternative Fuels / Electric Vehicles

For discussing topics such as ethanol, hydrogen, biodiesel, propane, natural gas, solar, electric, etc.

www.therangerstation.com

 

[bobbywalter]

Fly cutting pistons by hand was a necessary evil in the quest for power before aluminum heads took off.


Which requires clay ...a degree wheel,...adjustable pushrods, sharpies and alot of patience

 

[don4331]

Once upon a time (like all good stories start) Speed-Pro made 11:1 pistons for the Lima 2.3 (10cc dome). (Pre-turbocharged Lima days; think Bobcat wagon, building I-4 being 1/2 cost of V-8).

While I don't know the exact shape of the Lime combustion chamber, a .040 head gasket would only be 7cc. So, you would need to mill at least double that off to get the equivalent to the domed piston. And lowering the head .080" changes the timing, so you now need an adjustable cam pulley, and belt is 0.160" too long - which may be too long for the stock tensioner.

By the time you have paid for the machine shop work, the adjustable pulley and perhaps custom tensioner pulley, you could get a set of such pistons. Esslinger still gets custom piston made, they know the combustion chamber shape; it seems penny foolish not to start there.

With the high compression pistons, you just need to advance the timing a few degrees, and add more fuel; with a carb, one just needed to enlarge carb jets (change pills in the Holley/port (a little drill work).

By my calculations, 14 lb/hr injectors * 4 * .5 hp/hr = 96 hp on gasoline, which would be very close to power of your 2.3 - i.e. Ford engineers sized the injector pretty good. Given stoichiometric ration for octane is 15.1:1 (best power is 12.5:1), while for ethanol, it is 9:1 (best power, under 8:1), you need at least 19lb/hr injectors. You would probably start there, given you shouldn't try for ultimate power out of gate.​

@corerftech, as you probably know - to get 10 gallons of azeotrope alcohol, you are going to need 95 gallons of mash (over about 10% alcohol, the yeast doesn't perform efficiently) in at least a 200 gallon tank.

And your distillation setup needs a very controlled heat source: Burning a wood fire is fine for producing hooch, where having an end product of 40% alcohol is sufficient, but alcohol for fuel demands much tighter controls. Burning natural gas would seem to defeat your purpose. Note: the mash can be fed to livestock after distillation.

The good olde days of distilling on mom's kitchen stove using her pressure cooker and candy thermometer of one's mis-spent youth. Being 40 years later, I'm probably free from prosecution. But if you have questions, fell free to contact me.

 

[bobbywalter]

He established in my eyes, only idiots waste corn on fuel.....it is evil what has been done in the regard in this country.....

He uses smarter feed stock ... Maybe I misunderstood.

 

[RonD]

Anything grown that can be made in to alcohol should be made in to alcohol
The drinking kind