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Post by txetracer on Feb 5, 2009 1:29:05 GMT -5
I am converting to e85 for the '09 bracket racing season. I am looking for a WOT air/fuel ratio target that produces the best consistency for bracket racing. That ratio has been determined in the race gas realm. Has there been enough experience with e85 for the a/f ratio range for consistency to be known? My combination is as follows:
360 SBC w/12.5:1 c/r
Dart Iron Eagle 215
.645/.630" lift roller cam 264/276 dur @ .050
5900 stall shifting at 7100 in a 225" dragster
QFT Black pump feeding Proform 750 w/QFT blocks+
GREAT SITE ! ! !
Thanks in advance for your input...
Jeff
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Post by Heath Daniel on Feb 5, 2009 11:28:46 GMT -5
Welcome to the board Jeff  . Glad to hear that you are converting to E85. Your combination sounds like one that is really going to like it. I'm interested to know how you will be going about your conversion. Looks like you can use a lot of the parts you already have. You asked what A/F ratio you should shot for to produce the best consistency? We tune with lambda because let's face it, mixes of E85 vary and I suck at math so an air / fuel ratio of such and such to one is nearly impossible to pin point. With that said I also need to throw out that every combination is different and is going to like something a little different for optimum performance but we have found that for the most part a lambda of around .8 works well. Was that vague enough for ya Jeff ;D. But seriously E85 will make you more consistent so you will be doing yourself a favor by converting. Thanks for writing in and keep us posted. |
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Post by txetracer on Feb 5, 2009 18:57:26 GMT -5
Heath, I have gathered the following parts for the conversion: QFT 34-106 metering block e85 kit, .150 BG stainless needle/seats, full assortment of jets to 100, full assortment of idle & high speed air bleeds. Initial set up will be jetted 12 over gasoline set up, both p.v.'s plugged, 70 idle air bleeds-prim & sec, 33 high speed air bleeds-prim & sec, .047 squirter's-prim & sec, QFT Black pump & QFT regulator. If my research is correct, that should be close and tunable from there.... |
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Post by Heath Daniel on Feb 5, 2009 21:04:07 GMT -5
Sounds like you have really done your home work Jeff. Good job. I'll give you a B+. Hows that? Personally if I were you I would go smaller on both bleeds like 65 IAB and defiantly smaller on the hi-speed like 25s. You have to trick the relatively small .160 boosters into flowing a richer mixture. Then you will only need no more than 10 jet sizes over gas. Oh yea, .130 stainless steel needle and seats are all you need for E85. The .150 will work but we have had trouble getting them to seat. Other than that it sounds like a plan. Keep us posted on how it works for you.
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Post by txetracer on Mar 1, 2009 22:52:15 GMT -5
Heath,
The .150 n/s's having trouble seating....? Do you mean they will very slowly leak and raise the level too high? I just put everything together (have been waiting on headers) and if I leave it pumping for a minute or longer (@ 6 pounds), the level will begin to creep up. Is that what you mean? If so, I'll get a pair of .130's tomorrow.
I first suspected the freshly flushed system may be working out the air but then I thought of what you told me AND here I am...
Thanks,
Jeff
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Post by Heath Daniel on Mar 2, 2009 0:34:42 GMT -5
What I meant by "have had trouble seating them" is that the 150s are so rounded and just simply take more float pressure to seat. Usually on methanol you would have float bowl extensions and could put in a long levered float to apply more pressure to the bigger needle and seats and this isn't an issue but with E85 the extension aren't necessary therefore a standard length float lever arm is used that doesn't have as much seating pressure force. When they don't seat for use fuel usually dribbles out of the boosters or flows out of the vent tubes. If your float level is dropping and no fuel is dribbling out of the boosters or vent tubes I would certainly take a good look at everything. My guess on this one would be a severely leaking power valve plug gasket.
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Post by adamsvega on Mar 2, 2009 18:10:31 GMT -5
the more surface area on the needle and seat the more float you need to hold back the fuel . that is why most std. alky carbs run a mech. pump when the need the bigger N/S .they set the idle psi at 2/5-4psi and top end psi above 8 to keep the small bowls filled and not creep the bowls full at idle . the biggest single carbs have big double floats and 4 needles/seat
.hope it helps .... i solder the air bleed and gasket the regulator top and add a vacuum port to let a std holley regulator work like a big $$$ and pull psi down at idle (cheapest way )
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Post by bigblue466 on Mar 6, 2009 19:38:41 GMT -5
I had problems with 150's, went to 130's problem solved. I have found to run it a little rich for consistency.
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Post by txetracer on Mar 9, 2009 14:02:40 GMT -5
Thanks Heath & Everyone for the input ! ! !
I have it tuned and track ready. It sounds GREAT, idles even better than gasoline & on the 2-step, I wonder who's engine that is behind me....? ? ? ;D
WOW what a difference in sound and crispness.
Stalled against the trans-brake/converter with the 2-step unplugged on gas produced 5500 rpm's. e85 is just over 6100 rpm's. We'll see what that equates to on the track very soon.
Thanks Again Everyone ! ! !
Jeff
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Post by Heath Daniel on Mar 9, 2009 15:14:01 GMT -5
That's what I'm talking about Jeff. Make sure you post the results from the track and don't be bashfully about letting people know what you are running on.  Someone told me that 110 race gas was $8 a gallon now. That BLOWS!!! I had to ask cause I haven't bought any in over four years.  |
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Post by hobbesnmina2001 on Mar 10, 2009 0:13:09 GMT -5
600 rpm increase over 5500 rpm stall is roughly 11% torque increase!! Nice 600/5500= .109 x100= 10.9% |
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Post by hobbesnmina2001 on Mar 11, 2009 22:39:40 GMT -5
Jeff,
about what where the temps when you got the stall readings? 5500 in the summer? vs E85 at 45-50 F?
Reason I ask is because stall is variable due to different factors, in this case the main one would be atmosphere conditions and fuel. Any other changes since the 5500 stall in equipment, etc?
Carlos
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Post by txetracer on Mar 12, 2009 7:35:43 GMT -5
The temp was just over 80 degrees for a sweet tease of Spring . No other changes to the engine except re-calibrating the carb for e85. I made 6 hard pulls against the converter while making some jet changes over a period of an hour or so. The engine temp was at 150 each time. The torque converter was plenty warm from the dead stalls. The previous fuel was Chevron-Phillips Track-Tek 111.
The last "Garage T-up" as I log them in my laptop was last July and May before that. The May temps would have been about the same but July should have been slightly higher. Both topped out at 5500.
The weather is looking good for a test session at the track this Sunday. I'll report the e.t./mph difference afterward.
Thanks Again Everyone,
Jeff
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Post by txetracer on Apr 2, 2009 12:09:28 GMT -5
Okay guys....
After leaning the jets out some, the car picked up 2 tenths and 2 mph.
THANKS HEATH & Everyone ! ! !
See ya at the races,
Jeff Harris
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Post by Heath Daniel on Apr 2, 2009 13:17:07 GMT -5
Way to go Jeff! Keep us posted on how your season goes.
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. Glad to hear that you are converting to E85. Your combination sounds like one that is really going to like it. I'm interested to know how you will be going about your conversion. Looks like you can use a lot of the parts you already have. You asked what A/F ratio you should shot for to produce the best consistency? We tune with lambda because let's face it, mixes of E85 vary and I suck at math so an air / fuel ratio of such and such to one is nearly impossible to pin point. With that said I also need to throw out that every combination is different and is going to like something a little different for optimum performance but we have found that for the most part a lambda of around .8 works well. Was that vague enough for ya Jeff ;D. But seriously E85 will make you more consistent so you will be doing yourself a favor by converting. Thanks for writing in and keep us posted. 
Someone told me that 110 race gas was $8 a gallon now. That BLOWS!!! I had to ask cause I haven't bought any in over four years. 