if i mix the two would it be easier on my truck and car. maybe safe enough not to modify anything?

 

Nope, anything more than 10% alcohol causes problems. Even 10% can cause problems in an older truck.

Why would you want to spend more money on fuel to use E85? The small price difference is not enuf to make up for your mileage loss, not to mention the possible damage to the vehicle.

 

4x4, mix, away ! But do you really want to start with a 50/50 blend ? If it were my truck, I would start with something like 8 gallons of gasoline and 2 of E85 and see how your engine likes it. Then, 7 and 3 mixture. keep an eye on your spark plugs and see how rich or lean things are. I'm betting you'll have to jet richer as you get much past a 6/4 blend, but alot depends upon how rich or lean your settings were to start with. How much compression does this 460 have ? More is better when using ethanol. Now E-torque, really, you've got to get over this ethanol phobia you have. Ethanol is just plain not resonsible for all of the problems you fear. DF, @ his Dad's house

 

I agree with Dino, alchohol gets a bad rapp. I used to be the same nay sayer and wanted nothing to do with it. I still do not think it is the holy grail but I like the benefits it brings. 1. burns clean with no stink, 2. burns cooler (most people will argue that) 3. makes as much or more power despite being lower in BTU. 4. Henry Ford designed the Model T to run on it.

If it were not for the discovery of cheap oil we would still be burning whiskey today and the air would be cleaner too.
Dan

 

Guys, just read the research... The design of the model T does not have anything to do with modern vehicles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85
http://www.answers.com/topic/e85

 

i hate this there is never a straight answer. but i guess thats part of it. i am converting my truck to run on water soon anyway. ever hear of it. i am serious.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=492840
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=502780

 

Well, someone not long ago posted his mpg with a flex fuel Explorer -- 18 - 20 with gasoline, 11 - 12 with E85 if I remember right. I assume said Explorer was made for 87 octane, so people with higher compression engine (for 92 octane) would get better results. How well a '73 bigblock run on an ethanol rich mix, I do not know, but my gut feeling is that the cheaper price will not make up for the mpg loss.

In any case, "conversion" with a carbed car should be a lot easier than with a computer controlled EFI system, so just follow Dino's advice, and try it. And don't forget to post your results here.

 

Ive run 50/50 E85/regular in my 98 Stratus, 99 F-150 and 79 F-150. No problems other than maybe 10% drop in MPG. And I bet my injectors and carb are nice and clean.