e85/flex fuel conversion

what all is required as far as hardware/labor/etc to convert a modern (in this case, 1997) engine to be flex fuel where it will run on e85 or gasoline?? what are the performance and fuel milage effects, does anyone know?

You'll need a higher flow fuel pump and higher flow injectors to complete the conversion. Thats it pretty much. This link will help you out a lot. http://e85vehicles.com/converting-e85.htm

Ethanol is less efficient than gasoline just by nature, so the MPG will be lower.

The only quarrel that I have with the link above is the use of the Bosch Platinum +4 spark plugs. As mentioned in this forum before, 4 electrode plugs don't work as well as regular plugs. In this case, I'd go with a 'hotter' single electrode plug.

there is roughly 30%, give or take, more fuel consumption with E85, which requires 30% more fuel delivery. Most stock vehicles would at the very least throw a code because that is outside the OBD2 allowable trim range. Most flex fuel cars come with larger injectors to help deal with the fuel demands.

In theory, most stock cars could handle 30% flow rate increase with all stock gear. But you'd be on the cusp, and like I said, thats not considering what the computer would think about the situation.

IMO, the problem with bosch plat +4 isn't because it has too many ground arms. The problem they have is they are a crap plug that has a habit of dropping or losing their electrode. At that point, the number of ground arms doesn't matter much

Hot Rod or Car Craft is starting to do some tests on ethanol engines. You might find some interesting tech at their websites, www.carcraft.com (http://www.carcraft.com) and www.hotrod.com (http://www.hotrod.com) . They built an engine and tested it on gasoline, then bumped compression to 12:1, retuned the carb and ran it on ethanol. The power and torque numbers were very similar, but fuel delivery on the ethanol engine was way up.

So, designing an engine to run on both means you'll probably have to design things for the most restrictive quality. compression will have to be compatible with pump gasoline, as will the lower end of the fuel delivery capabilities. Fuel lines will have to be compatible with the alcohol and gasoline.

Basically, a stock computer can adjust within a narrow range of variables; temperature, fuel quality, etc. What you need to do is widen the computer's range of acceptable values, and make sure the hardware (like injectors, fuel pump, O2 sensors, etc) are up to the task of responding to the computer's commands.

It is actually VERY easy to make a vehicle run on E85. There are converters available from E85andyou.com. They work with your vehicles computer to make the needed adjustments for ethanol. These kits allow the use of gas, E85 or any blend of the two. I have one on my 96 4.6l Cougar and love it. Sure the mileage suffers a little (about 10% on mine) but I pay about 20% less for fuel.