Flex Fuel Conversion

[shippman]

Has anyone completed an LS conversion in an older truck (80s) and went all the way with the Flex Fuel requirements? Besides the engine, what on the truck/gas tanks has to be changed to run E85? If so, did you do a build thread or have the parts list required?

 

[tanz45]

Are you tuning to just run E85 or actually trying to use the sensor?

A fuel pump that worked for gas will more than likely not work for E85. People that are tuning for E85 are always going to a larger pump....possibly injectors too.

Remember it takes more E85 to go the same distance as less gas. Main reason for people switching to E85 in the LS world is for a cheap "race gas" since E85 has a 100+ octane rating with FI.

 

[shippman]

Are you tuning to just run E85 or actually trying to use the sensor?

A fuel pump that worked for gas will more than likely not work for E85. People that are tuning for E85 are always going to a larger pump....possibly injectors too.

Remember it takes more E85 to go the same distance as less gas. Main reason for people switching to E85 in the LS world is for a cheap "race gas" since E85 has a 100+ octane rating.

My thoughts are if the truck was totally compatible I can try running E85 and then make up my own mind about E85. If it is no good then I can always go back to regular gas. Then I would tune the motor strictly for regular gas.

 

[shippman]

Maybe I should mention that I have just started a major build on my 82 C20 which includes the installation of a 5.3L LC9 which is totally E85 compatible. I hope to start a build thread on this real soon.

 

[MrMarty51]

Maybe I should mention that I have just started a major build on my 82 C20 which includes the installation of a 5.3L LC9 which is totally E85 compatible. I hope to start a build thread on this real soon.

 

[89Suburban]

 

[tanz45]

Maybe I should mention that I have just started a major build on my 82 C20 which includes the installation of a 5.3L LC9 which is totally E85 compatible. I hope to start a build thread on this real soon.

So you have a Flex Fuel 5.3, ECM, and all wiring?

So you would have the bigger injectors already. Would need the GM sensor then only correct? Well, and matching fuel pump.

Sensor: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AIRTEX-5S62...el:Silverado+1500&hash=item2ec2da06fd&vxp=mtr

 

[Driver4r]

Alchohol is basically gonna cut your fuel milage in half. And running alchohol its better to have a higher compression around 12-14. And will need to mess with the timing to get it to run right. Again this is 100% of the time running the stuff. There is a horsepower gain to running it tho, you just suffer on milage.

 

[shippman]

So you have a Flex Fuel 5.3, ECM, and all wiring?

So you would have the bigger injectors already. Would need the GM sensor then only correct? Well, and matching fuel pump.

Sensor: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AIRTEX-5S62...el:Silverado+1500&hash=item2ec2da06fd&vxp=mtr

OK, I'm backing away slowly now. This could get very expensive! I just looked at that sensor... WOW! I thought I could "play" with E85 every once in a while, but if it takes real money to convert the truck... more research is definitely needed.

So, do you guys think my question should be: "How do I make my E85 engine run better and get better gas mileage?"?

 

[tanz45]

Lol. Get a tune. Nelson performance is great. Ls1truck.com is his forum. Better info on LSx. You could do without sensor if u changed tune back and forth. Nelson may be able to do a switch for you to alternate. But it would be based on pure gas or e85.

 

[philjafo]

Maybe I'm missing something but if your using the engine and pcm and fuel system from a late model truck that's already e85 compatible, it should stay e85 compatible. Right?

 

[shippman]

I agree if you have the capability of running E85. However, if the truck's fuel system is not compatible to E85 (which the 82 is not) I would only be turning the 82 into a molitoff cocktail because the alcohol will dissolve all of the seals in the selector valve/ sending units etc.

So I am looking into what truck parts will need replacing and/or adding to make the engine run E85.

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

Seems to me like you answered your own question. If your engine and computer are already set for flex fuel, you only need to address your fuel system. Get a list of all GM's flex fuel vehicles and reference the fuel pumps used and see if any are a direct swap into your tank. Then research what materials are compatible with E85 and make your fuel lines out of that. Replace any other seals with E85 compatible ones if needed and you should be good to go. Seems like a relatively easy process to me. I would be referencing parts that where used on whatever vehicle your set-up came out of. You shouldn't need any kind of special tune if you already have the factory computer. Just run the factory settings.

 

[Driver4r]

It might RUN on e85, but its not setup for it. So it wont perform its best.
Flex fuel setups are POS in my opinion, Yea you might be able to make it run, But to make it run its best on a certain fuel requries internal changes.

 

[tanz45]

It might RUN on e85, but its not setup for it. So it wont perform its best.
Flex fuel setups are POS in my opinion, Yea you might be able to make it run, But to make it run its best on a certain fuel requries internal changes.

Member this is a 5.3 LSx series engine. Capable of running on E85. The ECU does all the work.