Old May 4, 2022 | 07:38 AM
  #6 (permalink)  
nemiro's Avatar
nemiro
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 983
Likes: 616
From: NW FL
Default Re: does anyone have exposure to VRP e85 conversion kits

If you are going to have someone tune the car, have them tune it for the fuel you are running. I have been calibrating engine control systems for almost 30 years. Without an ECU that accepts inputs directly from an ethanol sensor (or by other means, a la Chrysler sensorless FFV), then all you are doing is maintaining lambda for variances in the fuel quality. Without those methods, and the ME2.8/ME2.8.1 doesn't have either, you are stuck at a compromise. You can either tune for straight gasoline (smart), or you can tune to take advantage of E85 and tune for it. The problem is that if you switch fuels, you are not tuned for it. I have tuned a lot of cars for E85, and invariably the owner is contacting me for a new pump gas tune, because finding E85 gets difficult once you are 100% committed to needing it. E85 popularity is also declining, and it is slowly disappearing from gas stations.

As the owner of a M113K swapped car, I can tell you that there are major differences internally between the NA and forced induction versions of both the M113 and the M112. You are going to want to look into those differences, and what life expectancy associated with forced induction on the NA engine. Not trying to rain on your parade, but this is definitely a pay me now or pay me later situation. On the bright side, M113K engines that are missing the supercharger assembly are available often, and they seem to go for very reasonable numbers. If turbocharging is your game, then grabbing a M113K long block, and topping it with an intake manifold from a NA M113 should work out.

Bottom line will be this: talk to Rudy, or whoever you are going have do your tuning, before you buy a bunch of stuff. They will likely tell you that they will tune for your E85, and that you can save your $700, and not bother with this add on.

 
Reply