Running Methanol

June 24, 2018, 04:26 PM

Robbie Welch

Running Methanol

I'm interested in switching over to methanol. I have a BG 400 pump. I'm trying to find info on fuel filter, regulator, and fuel pressure at carb, fuel cell foam Y/N. The set up will be for a rear mounted cell. The pump has a return ,so is a dead head regulator ok? I'm new to this so any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Robbie

June 24, 2018, 04:40 PM

Curly1

Do not run any foam in the cell and I highly recommend a return style regulator. Even though your pump may have a return it is best to run a return style regulator to keep fuel flowing and your pump does not have to work hard keeping it cooler and with lower amp draw. It is best to mount your fuel pump as low and as far back as possible so it is never starved for fuel. Most all fuel pumps lose efficiency if they have any restriction on inlet side.
Fuel filter go to Smileys racing and get their large stainless filter it is around $50 and works great. I have been running them for years and have not found any as large or as good. This is for same reason you want to mount pump as far back and as low as possible so it does not have much restriction on inlet side.
Even if you are running gas a well designed fuel system is critical but more so with alcohol as it uses so much volume of fuel.
With your carb you want to make a lean out hose assembly to warm it up. Also always get it good and hot at end of the day to evaporate the moisture out of the oil.

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June 24, 2018, 07:10 PM

rusty

take the time to build a front tank and belt pump,the.pump you have is not enough and there is too much to overcome with the rear tank.i have been down that road

June 24, 2018, 07:48 PM

wideopen231

I agree with Rusty on front tank with belt drive pump.

June 24, 2018, 08:13 PM

Robbie Welch

Thanks for the responses. I don't think a front mount cell is doable. The car is a stock front end 1966 Fairlane with limited space left over but I'm sure that would be a better set up. What kind of fuel pressure should I run? The normal 6 1/2 to 7 1/2. I know the methanol is a big volume fuel. Who's regulator? Thanks again

June 24, 2018, 08:36 PM

banjo

How fast are you?

June 24, 2018, 08:36 PM

B.C.Malibu

What et & mph do you run presently?

June 24, 2018, 09:10 PM

novaX522

I’m in the same boat as you. I don’t have room up front for pump and cell. Pump is in the trunk. I run a Magnafuel 500 pump and their big regulator. Regulator is dead headed as pump has a return. -12 to pump, -10 to regulator and -8 to bowls. APD 1050 carb. I run 9 psi pressure. I’ve been 8.90s at 3250 lbs. with this setup. I would bet you can get an alcohol setup that works for you.

June 25, 2018, 02:06 AM

RT82Camaro

A rear fuel cell is workable with methanol. Before switching to injection my 82 camaro had a Prostar 500 pump feeding a 1250 dominator on a 1000 hp 565. Ran 5.20s at 8000 ft density altitude.

June 25, 2018, 05:00 AM

Robbie Welch

This is a new combo its 427W Ford and has been 9.75 134mph/6.08 110mph. Running a C-4 right now but I'm having a powerglide built. I hope to pick up 2/10s and want to try the methanol while I have the C-4 in the car. Is a couple tenths improvement a realistic number?

June 25, 2018, 06:10 AM

Curly1

Front cell or rear will both work the thing is to try to get your pump down low and behind cell if possible so it does not have much restriction on inlet side.
Use the biggest least restrictive fuel filter you can.
Yes, the methanol should be good for easy 3 tenths and will make your car run cooler. It should make it more consistent.

June 25, 2018, 06:41 AM

CURTIS REED

I'm at 5.60s with a rear cell 1.22 - 1.25 60' depending on the track. Dead headed large 12-704 Holley regulator and Aerospace 400 pump. -12 from cell to pump, -10 out of pump to front where I have a 10" 60 micron ss filter. Out of the filter with -8 to the regulator then split to -8 going to both bowls. I run the BLP .160" titanium needle and seat. I have o2 so I know I'm not even stressing my set up at 6 1/2 - 7.0 lbs pressure.

Just my experience. Is a front mount cell and or a belt drive pump the best? Yes it is but there are many ways to skin a cat.

How much you pick up will depend on how good your gas set up was. I think the torque you will pick up will help with the Powerglide.

Curtis

June 25, 2018, 07:03 AM

67SS

Get you an alky carb, 12-704 holley reg, pull the foam out of the cell, put alky in it and go race. Your setup will be fine. Set pressure at 6.5-7.

June 25, 2018, 07:30 AM

mavman

Been down this road. '85 Mustang coupe, cell in rear. 306" SBF 7.00 on gas. Went to a methanol carb, no other changes. The pump was a big BG pump as the car was purchased set up for a big nitrous shot. Ran fine. 6.80 on methanol. Destroyed the engine and stuck my backup 408 in it. Too lean. Would barely run the full 1/8 mile without falling on it's face. Tried an even bigger Magnafuel pump, 1/2" lines, 704 holley regulator. Wasn't any better. One of the locals said to try a cell in the front and I did--using the same old BG pump, and the car picked up 5 tenths and 11 mph in the 1/8. From 6.80/99 the week before to 6.28/110. Later on we put a used toilet system on it and picked it up another tenth and a mph or so. From that point on, I've decided to ditch the rear cell. Well actually I haven't. On my main race car, I left the rear cell and put a 3 gal cell in the front. I use the rear one for primer plus system/idle on gas.

Try the carb/reg/rear cell and see if it works for you. If it doesn't, you'll probably want to invest in a front mounted cell.

June 25, 2018, 08:08 AM

LAKEFECT

quote:
Originally posted by 67SS:
Get you an alky carb, 12-704 holley reg, pull the foam out of the cell, put alky in it and go race. Your setup will be fine. Set pressure at 6.5-7.

that what i did pulled the foam, change fuel filter and went racing running 5.4 in the 1/8
with a megafuel 300 pump and a rupert carb

June 25, 2018, 10:20 AM

banjo

I have been runnning a fuel cell in the back, with a Blp belt driven pump up front for several years. Once I figure out to remove the foam in the fuel cell, have it had any issues since. My car has been high 1.2s in the sixty foot with the front end 3 feet in the air and never had an issue. Many said it wouldn't work. If my memory serves me correctly, blp told me that unless the car is going 1.1s sixty foot, a cell in the rear is fine, just make sure you use the proper sizing and a quality line

June 25, 2018, 10:56 AM

Luvtruck

quote:
Originally posted by mavman:
Been down this road. '85 Mustang coupe, cell in rear. 306" SBF 7.00 on gas. Went to a methanol carb, no other changes. The pump was a big BG pump as the car was purchased set up for a big nitrous shot. Ran fine. 6.80 on methanol. Destroyed the engine and stuck my backup 408 in it. Too lean. Would barely run the full 1/8 mile without falling on it's face. Tried an even bigger Magnafuel pump, 1/2" lines, 704 holley regulator. Wasn't any better. One of the locals said to try a cell in the front and I did--using the same old BG pump, and the car picked up 5 tenths and 11 mph in the 1/8. From 6.80/99 the week before to 6.28/110. Later on we put a used toilet system on it and picked it up another tenth and a mph or so. From that point on, I've decided to ditch the rear cell. Well actually I haven't. On my main race car, I left the rear cell and put a 3 gal cell in the front. I use the rear one for primer plus system/idle on gas.

Try the carb/reg/rear cell and see if it works for you. If it doesn't, you'll probably want to invest in a front mounted cell.

Then you didn't have the pump pressure adjusted high enough because I have the Mallory 250 on my truck with the cell in the back and 60' 1.19 and 5.60's with a 436sbc with no issues.

June 25, 2018, 02:49 PM

Robbie Welch

Thanks for all the response's. One more question. Should I use top lube? Any particular brand? How much and how oven? I guess that's 3 questions but thanks again. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out.

June 25, 2018, 03:02 PM

Lenny5160

quote:
Originally posted by Robbie Welch:
Thanks for all the response's. One more question. Should I use top lube? Any particular brand? How much and how oven? I guess that's 3 questions but thanks again. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out.

I use Klotz Uplon, 1 quart per drum.

Also, I use a rear cell with belt pump and know several using electric pumps with deadhead regulators.