I've been toying with an idea - I hope I don't sound like too much of a tree-hugger because I'm not. So you have a 60s musclecar - stock. Say in my case, a 68 Hurst/Olds. If you want the car to run REAL good one can buy 110 Leaded for at least $6/gal. You could juggle 93 octane and set timing, mix 93 with other stuff, etc. Or, you could run E85, which is around 105 octane. E85 is somewhere around $2.50/gal. Based on my research, one would have to change or verify compatibilty of: 1) Fuel Tank. Mine is very clean, so I think a stock tank or a reproduction would work. 2) Fuel sender - this I am uncertain. I don't know how the ethanol might react with the float and the sock type filter. 3) Stainless steel lines and compatible rubber lines. No problems there. Most of the rubber fuel line sold today is compatible with E85. 4) Add a compatible fuel filter BEFORE and after the fuel pump. 5) Mechanical fuel pump - I think these are available. 6) Carburetor. There are Holly carbs available - but can a Q-Jet be configured so that it can run off of E85? That's the biggest question I have. 7) Since there is no lead in E85, one might have to rework the heads with stainless steel valves and hardened valve seats. However, E85 burns cooler. There are various tuning and timing issues to deal with, and the car would get worse milage. Who cares about milage on a musclecar? It would be great to have that power, the 105 octane, the maximum performance capability the car has - but spend $2.50/gal on fuel! Thoughts and opinions?
I believe HPP had an article by Cliff Ruggles on converting a q-jet to work with E-85. was it a year ago, can't recall the timeframe offhand
The first thing I'd be looking for is a brass float. Not too hard to find since several manufacturers give you a choice of plastic (foam) or brass now.
I just Googled "E85 Quadrajet", and one of the first links to come up was for a 1986 Camaro being set up to run E85 with a Quadrajet. Looks like the article (or last post) was on 4 Aug 2010, so that should get you pointed in the right direction. Plenty of links to choose from, too. Dan
Be sure to upgrade carb compoments with Alcohol resistant parts. Pay close attention to fuel delivery volume (fuel pressure, needle & seat size, float setting) as E85 requires more volume of fuel than gasoline.
Joe Z-- If e-85 is $2+ per gallon, I would say that your state goverment is not helping out with the taxes/ incentives. Here in Kansas and Missouri, e-85 is running at about $1.65 or so per gallon. Poppaluv-- 105 octane, yes. The problem is that you must use like 10 to 12% more fuel to get the same amount of energy. That and ethanol cannot be run in a pipeline (higher cost to get it to the stations unless there is a ethanol plant near by), attracts a great deal of water, and and because of the attraction to water, it can be very hard on metals that come in contact with it. I would also be careful with the mixes with that material. Definate differences in specific gravity of the materials. I would say, if you are going to run it, run it 100%.:sleep:
