LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

E85 Tuning Tips

Old Aug 17, 2010 | 11:27 AM
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Default E85 Tuning Tips

First, I've tuned for E85 before, but was over 2 years ago and for my bolt-on LT1. Now that I'm heads/cam/higher compression, I want to get the tune better dialed in. It has a mail-order tune from MadZ28.com on it now.

I already have tweaked the injector constant to 38# for the 60# injectors to get the LT BLM's close to 128. Installing the LM1 today to fine tune the WOT tables. I've already tweaked them initially to shoot for 12.0 A/F (using gas display = .81 lambda).

What about timing tables? Where to add/leave as-is/subtract? Want people with experience with E85 to help with this if possible.

My compression is 11.7/9.3 , cam is 226/226 .582/.582 110 LSA, EB Porting heads.
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Old Aug 17, 2010 | 08:15 PM
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I'm running 2 degrees less timing than what I was running on vp c12 at wot.
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Old Aug 17, 2010 | 09:16 PM
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Originally Posted by kgkern01
I already have tweaked the injector constant to 38# for the 60# injectors to get the LT BLM's close to 128. Installing the LM1 today to fine tune the WOT tables. I've already tweaked them initially to shoot for 12.0 A/F (using gas display = .81 lambda).
I had mine around 46# with 60s from a good running pump gas tune... you're running almost 20% more fuel! I don't look at BLMs anymore, just the wideband since I run in open loop. I don't really know how a narrow-band sensor will react to E85?
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Old Aug 18, 2010 | 12:10 PM
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I just got my wideband bung installed in the y-pipe today. I may try running open loop to tweak the tune now starting with the wideband in one bank at a time, then going to the y.

A narrow band O2 just reads stoich, which is ~9.8 for E85, so when running the O2's in closed loop, the computer adjusts the fuel to keep the BLM's at 128, which is stoich. SO if tuning for BLM's, you adjust either the injector constant to get close to 126-132 Long term BLM's or adjust the MAF Calibration. Either will get it close. I prefer to tweak the injector until close, then fine tune with the MAF Calibration.

What about timing?
I have read for E85 to run anywhere from more to less to the same timing as gas. Has anyone dynoed E85 to test for best results with timing?
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Old Aug 18, 2010 | 03:39 PM
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i ended up with 2 degrees more timing over sunoco 100 unleaded pretty much everywhere i think, it ended up around 35 degrees total, which was about 32 in tunercat. it didnt gain much, like 7 hp over the 33 (30) degree timing.
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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 12:13 PM
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Turns out I had an injector harness come loose, so yeah, 38# was way too rich, at 44.2# right now and the BLM's are getting close to 128 now, just a little more tweaking and then I can fine tune the WOT A/F.

What A/F (or lambda) are you running at WOT?
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Old Aug 19, 2010 | 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by kgkern01
Turns out I had an injector harness come loose, so yeah, 38# was way too rich, at 44.2# right now and the BLM's are getting close to 128 now, just a little more tweaking and then I can fine tune the WOT A/F.

What A/F (or lambda) are you running at WOT?
The old motor made more average power around .79-.80. Running it down to .76 didn't hurt power more than a few ft lbs here and there and would probably make it more consistant in changing weather conditions if it was a bracket/index application. Yea 44 sounds more like it. You're running a lot of injector on that setup... I'm gonna run a dry shot with my 60s I haven't dyno'd the new motor yet, waiting for powermaster to fix/return my starter i'll get some logs and stuff up eventually but it's gonna all be calmap files for DFI.
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Old Aug 26, 2010 | 11:34 AM
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Finally got It dialed in at 44.3# injector constant.

What plugs are you using? I have Autolite 104's now, and am at 11.7/9.3 compression
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Old Aug 26, 2010 | 09:33 PM
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r5671a-8, they're a gasket plug, non extended tip. they start and idle great when cold. I'll probably run a 100 hit on these plugs.
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Old Aug 26, 2010 | 10:29 PM
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Getting ready to switch. You guys think 42lbs will be enough for ~475 RWHP.

A friend of mine at colorado performance unlimited is putting me together an awesome kit with an aeromotive filter with removable / cleanable metal screen element ,-8an braided SS feed line, and all the fittings to run 2 pumps for less than 250. I'm going to try and get him to put together a kit.
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Old Aug 26, 2010 | 10:55 PM
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sounds like a good plan! the 42s on e85 are like a 32# on gas at stock fuel pressure. run em at 60psi or so and you'll be at ~38# on gas which would be perfect. thats what i'm going to do with my 60s when i start maxing em out on nitrous, 60psi on those will be like 54s which are theoretically good for ~800hp.
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Old Aug 26, 2010 | 11:25 PM
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Cool. So I need some "green tops" or Lucas 42's.
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Old Aug 27, 2010 | 09:04 AM
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I would err on the side of larger injectors, as you want to keep the duty cycle below about 80% for best performance. On my setup my 60# are acting as 44.3# to keep stoich, and I should be about 475 or so flywheel (~400 rwhp) myself. It would suck to buy injectors just to find out they are going over 80% DC at WOT. Trust me, I did that when I converted to E85 as a bolt-on car and was hitting 100% with 30# SVO's about 5200 RPM.

Wicked94Z, what heat range plug would you recommend? I have Autolite 104, which is recommended for gasoline LE2 setup and my 11.7-8 CR, and is one step cooler than stock, extended tip. However, I am now getting a high RPM miss, but of course no knock retard, and upon pulling the plugs, they look clean, but have a few specs on the porcelain, suggesting some possible pre-ignition.
So do you feel as though a 7 heat range, non-extended plug should be used?
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Old Aug 27, 2010 | 08:05 PM
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Extended tip will help your idle quality, especially when cold. Take a picture of a plug if you can, could be just carbon getting cleaned by the e85? Nevermind, read your first post about running E85 before. I'd run a 104 with your setup, post a screen shot of your timing tables if you can.
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Old Aug 27, 2010 | 09:30 PM
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Originally Posted by kgkern01
I would err on the side of larger injectors, as you want to keep the duty cycle below about 80% for best performance. On my setup my 60# are acting as 44.3# to keep stoich, and I should be about 475 or so flywheel (~400 rwhp) myself. It would suck to buy injectors just to find out they are going over 80% DC at WOT. Trust me, I did that when I converted to E85 as a bolt-on car and was hitting 100% with 30# SVO's about 5200 RPM.
There's a big jump between 42s and 60s. He's right in the middle so that's why I recommended the jump in fuel pressure. A smaller injector/higher PSI is better vs bigger injector/lowerpsi to acheive the same DC. Really in a street driven or drag race motor there's no problem with 90+ DC and maybe 100+ calculated DC if the a/f is spot on. If you were road racing yea the injectors would overheat over time.
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Old Aug 27, 2010 | 09:49 PM
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what the hell is E85 ?
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Old Aug 27, 2010 | 10:03 PM
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85% ethanol (corn alcohol)

15% 87 octane gas (for better cold starting)

roughly 9.7-9.8 :1 stoichiometric a/f ratio

roughly 7.8:1 max power a/f ratio
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Old Aug 27, 2010 | 10:37 PM
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That's what I'm thinking wicked. Getting ready to order some that are 42lbs at 3 bar and 51ish at 4 bar
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Old Aug 28, 2010 | 07:40 AM
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42# at 3bar is 48.5# at 4bar.

sqrt(newpsi/oldpsi) x old injector rating

i dunno maybe that formula is wrong lol i obviously didnt come up with it myself, accel did.
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Old Aug 28, 2010 | 06:20 PM
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I used the calculator on their site. They should be big enough either way lol
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