How about it, anyone have extensive knowledge on this? I'm thinking of running it in my dragster.
I want all the pros and cons you can come up with.


Jerry

 

Jerry,
would that be runnin in the motor or runnin as in moonshine?? No need to run moonshine anymore, you can buy better stuff....my .02.......or something...........JR

 

Jerry, I assume you have been into drag racing for awhile if you
are running a dragster, so you have been around and seen what
it takes to run Methanol.
Gas motors differ in many ways from alcohol motors.
Compression ratio is usually high, maybe 13-1 or so, then you
have the fuel delivery system which is quite complicated compared
to a gasoline motor. I.E. fuel rails, injectors, regulator, pill box,
etc. and etc..
What motor are you running ? What class do you run, or plan on
running? What liscense do you have, or plan on obtaining?
And probably most importand, how deep are your pockets???
Been there, done that several years ago...

Marc

 

No Mark, I have never been involved in Drag racing except for my L a few times. I was planning to run a big rat motor and was thinking of running alcohol through a big alcohol carb. This motor will be very mild, around 450 hp. I want something to run in the low 9's that won't cost an arm and a leg. I was told that times are less affected by weather changes when you run alcohol...also runs cooler. I'm open to any ideas from someone with alcohol experence. Maybe it's not the way to go. That is why I ask this question on this board. The amount of (no bull*****) knowlede here is incredible!

Mark, if you have time to talk about this, send your phone number to JJordan@Picofab.com with a time to call as I would like to hear what you have to say on this.

Jerry

 

Jerry you have mail.
Marc

 

I know people who run Alcohol in Circle Track cars, and they tell me that it takes almost double the amount of fuel to run, BUT, you get roughly a 100 hp increase with no other changes to the engine's hard parts. You have to have a fuel pump, lines, and carb calibration that is alcohol specific. I believe that you can run more timing and compression with alcohol, because it runs cooler than gas. I don't know about it's usage with nitrous or blowers.

I understand that Alcohol dries out o-rings and seals as well, but it does give quite a boost.

Just about any high performance engine builder/tuner can probably shed some light on this for you. I'm also certain that I've seen several books at my local speed shop about Alcohol conversions/usage.


Good luck!

 

Jerry, I would recommend that you build the largest big block that you can afford. 540-572 cu. in. is pretty common. This has two advantages.

The first is a big motor will make more power, and not be as highly stressed (RPM), while doing so. In the long run, maintenance and repair costs will be lower.

The second is that a larger motor will build higher compression, naturally, due to it's size. Like Mark Carpenter said, you will need at least 13-1 to use alcohol efficiently.

You will need a LARGE, specially prepped carb to run alcohol. Alcohol motors will burn twice the volume of fuel that a gas motor will. Alcohol is pretty corrosive, so you must use top quality parts in the fuel system.

 

Thanks for all your help guy's. Jay, we are wanting to do exactly what you are talking about...make hp with lots of cubic inches and not work the motor very hard at all. The only thing wrong with all this is I'm losing interest in making my L any faster. In fact I'm considering going back to a two #pulley and just use the L to tow the dragster.

Jerry

 

Jerry, the first time you take a ride in the dragster, you'll do one of two things.

Forget all about the Lightning, and never want to get out of the dragster. OR never want to get back into the dragster. If you think the "L" accelerates hard, the dragster will flatten your eyeballs. It'll take some getting used to.

I know you'll have a ball.

 

Jay, I already know I will love the dragster. I went to Roy Hill's Driving school and drove his dragsters. He took me in a two seat car through the whole 1/4 and I almost wet my pants (8.? @160 mph). It was like going down the biggest hill on a really bada$$ rollercoaster, cost; $99.00! I was hooked right then. Then I drove the single seat car through one burn-out, one run to 1/16th mile, and then two runs to the 1/8th (5.? @125 mph) cost; $450.00. THATS WHY I NOW OWN A DRAGSTER! See what that school really cost me.

I would really rather do road racing on some level but we don't have any tracks that are less than 180 miles from here. And I don't really like autoX (to tight).

Jerry

 

Pros:1 Runs cooler
2 Makes more power
3 Cheaper than race fuel
4 effected much less by weather conditions than fuel
5 Alcohol carb costs more

Cons:1 Runs cooler (takes forever to warm up enough to make a pass)
2 Oil change intervals(every time you go to the track)
3 Use twice as much alcohol as race gas
4 The smell(who can deny that Cam2 smells AWESOME?!)
5 burns your eyes and throat in closed spaces.



The statement that you need a LARGE carb is false.The cfm of thecarb should still be matched to the requirements of the motor.The fuel passages in the carb are enlarged ,not the air flow .I ran alcohol on my Mustang for two years and I never regretted switching back to gas but,my car wasn't used for bracket racing.If you plan to bracket race It may be something you want to seriously consider.
Hope this helps.

 

 

Thanks Pantera. I think this is the way I will go. I even talked to another guy that runs alcohol that does not use a radiatior. He just has a remote water tank and turns on an electric water pump for three to five seconds on the return to the pits.

Ever even thought about buying a motor off Ebay? I've never bought anything off there. The Cresco Motorsports motors look like a good value...if they are not a scam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jerry

 

Good luck