Converting to methanol

[marT350T]

I am looking into running methanol insted of prtrol next year in my 69 camaro and I wondered if anyone else had done it and could give me any advice.

I know that you need to use about 30% more than petrol so I have to make sure that the fuel pump can handle it. I have been told that I will also have to re jet my carb (1050 dominator) How easy is this ?

[T.S.R.]

you need to talk to jeff bull he can tell you all you will need to no

[ribaric]

These are fundamental questions and there's a lot more to think about. It is unlikely that rejetting your carb will work. It isn't just a case of putting in double sized main jets but you'll need to worry about the metering and the pump shots will need to be about double that of gasoline.

The fuel pump, it's output volume and pressure is critical to tuning an Alky setup, if you get it wrong you'll either lean out the motor and break it or you'll run too rich and go slowly. Methanol is a deadly poison which can be absorbed through your skin and, if you leave it to evaporate, it will form crystals which will make a nice mess of your fuel system.

Petrol is about 70% more potent than methanol but you can burn about twice as much methanol than you can petrol - that's where the power comes from. However, you have to get it right.

[marT350T]

Have you got a phone number or website / email address for Jeff ?

[Jon C]

marT350T said:

Have you got a phone number or website / email address for Jeff ?

There is a link off Eurodragster. Follow that and Togster gets referral points :-)

[marT350T]

I have been doing a bit more research and am thinking that converting to E85 will be a lot easier.

They seem to be making work really well in the states and it is a lot cheaper than buying race fuel !

Is there and guys in the UK running E85 ?

[thunderbelmont]

You'll have read by now that you need to get rid of all of the rubber in the fuel system, as the ethanol eats it for breakfast.

Running dirt race car engines on Methanol is pretty simple - you can get a carb ready jetted for alcohol off the shelf. Change the lines for stainless.

If you don't change your carb for an alcohol ready one - make sure your floats are alcohol safe.

I would assume that E85 is pretty much the same - just that it starts easier having a snifter of guzzoline in it - so you don't need the can of easystart handy quite as much.

[marT350T]

The info I have found on the net says that E85 is much less corrosive than methanol and my braided hose are ok to use.

[redvictor]

you'll be ok then,because everyone knows the "net" has the answer for everything...

[marT350T]

Is that not the case then?

If E85 can put bought at a petrol station I cant see it being that corrosive to fuel lines etc.

[Bigmouse]

redvictor said:

you'll be ok then,because everyone knows the "net" has the answer for everything...

But it does have the answer to everything....................

....just not always the right one

Edited by Bigmouse on Thursday 29th October 09:33

[MotorPsycho]

all the blown alky cars run braided rubber lines, just means you need to remember to flush the lines out with petrol at the end of the meeting

[ribaric]

Those braided lines use Buna-M or a similar synthetic material, some are available which are resistant (but not "proof") against solvent attack. However, you still need to wash all the hoses to prevent crystalline deposits collecting from the evorated methyl achohol.