RE: [ihc] Running ethanol

["Isaac Hastings" <isaac.hastings@xxxxxxx>]

Here's a nice article by Mother Earth News about converting your engine
to run on alcohol.
http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethanol_motherearth/me2.html

It was written in 1980, but that is good in a way because they talk
about all the mods you have to make to your carburetor. Holley sells all
the stuff you need to convert your carb to alcohol because of all the
racers that use them. A search for "alcohol carburetor" on any search
engine will yield a lot of additional info. As a side note, I used to
work in a machine shop that built 700hp 400ci small block Chevy engines
for sprint cars. That was something to hear when they were being dynoed.
The un-burnt alcohol in the air would make your eyes water.

I don't see how you could easily switch between alcohol and gas unless
you carried a spare carb to swap in when you switched fuels. Running
fuel injection might be a better option because you could change your
base map when you switched fuels. You couldn't take full advantage of
the power available from the alcohol however because you would have to
keep your compression low enough to run on pump gas.

Isaac Hastings
1965 IH 3/4 Ton 4x4 Travelall
http://isaac.healdsburg.net/travelall

-----Original Message-----
From: Allan Ericson [mailto:lowvolt@domain.elided]
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2003 6:55 AM
To: Rocky Lear; ihc-digest@domain.elided
Subject: Re: [ihc] Running ethanol

Ethanol burns more slowly than regular gas. You need to boost the
compression quite a bit and advance the timing to make it run right.
I've
heard that Brazil runs on alcohol powered vehicles, but I can't recall
where
I heard that now, as it's been a while since I thought about it.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rocky Lear" <rockylear@domain.elided>
To: <ihc-digest@domain.elided>
Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2003 10:05 PM
Subject: [ihc] Running ethanol


> Does anyone know if it is a good idea to run grain alcohol in an IH? I
have a relative who is setting up the facilities to make ethanol on his
farm. Would it be practical and can a vehicle be set up to run both
gasoline
and grain alcohol without switching a lot of stuff back and forth? He
says
he is going to sell it for 50 cents a gallon so it sounds enticing.
>
> Rocky