I am considering making two changes over the winter.

#1

I am seriously considering converting from race gas ( VP-C15) to methanol not just because of the ridiculous increase in cost but primarily to improve the consistency.

I am interested in hearing from guys who made the change, what are the advantages and disadvantages.

#2

The second change I'm interested in researching is converting from a conventional Biondo CO2 throttle stop to a under carb electric stop, like a #1 Stop.

Bob

https://dragcoverage.com/?p=3747

If you are going to run methanol I would run this methanol ^

quote:

Originally posted by RPROGAS:
I am considering making two changes over the winter.

#1

I am seriously considering converting from race gas ( VP-C15) to methanol not just because of the ridiculous increase in cost but primarily to improve the consistency.

I am interested in hearing from guys who made the change, what are the advantages and disadvantages.

#2

The second change I'm interested in researching is converting from a conventional Biondo CO2 throttle stop to a under carb electric stop, like a #1 Stop.

Bob

Bob,

If you haven't done it already, study & ask questions of consistent winning racers in your class or classes you run. Then figure out the most used throttle stop/fuel being used to win.

I'm a huge studier of racers I consider the best in my class/classes I race. I also like to try & race the best; IMO that's the best way to learn. That's I why I like the Spring Fling Million races. Overall running the Spring Fling races has upped my racing skills immensely!

2BKING

I went to alcohol in 1998 and thought I would never go back to gas. I was forced to on my last motor simply because it ran better on gas. So I sold that motor and going to a blower motor on alcohol.

I believe alcohol has been one of best things I have done in racing, it runs cooler, consistent and cheaper.

I have tried several different big name carbs and right now I think the best out there is the Get'M twin blade but if you are going to use a restrictor plate or throttle stop do not think they work well with the twin blade deal. They do have standard 4 barrel carbs and they may work good, just do not know. Injection works well with alcohol.

I will not comment on throttle stop as I do not use them.

Answer to question #2

After a little research I came to the conclusion that the #1 stop was not going to work on my car, it adds 2.75 inches of height, won't clear the hood scoop. Not changing the scoop and lowering the engine adds more challenges and expenses than I can count.

Question #1

Not wild about the additional maintenance required with alky, nor the corrosion it creates in the fuel system. If there is a simple, relatively quick method of stopping this (tank, fuel lines, regulator and through the carburetor) I'd like to hear how that's done effectively.

Note: I live and race in avery arrid (low humidity) but high heat part of the Country so I'm aware that running alcohol/methanol has advantages. Reconstituted alky is the challenge here, it's not always pure (or lower than .01% water content).

Thanks for the suggestions Bryan.

Bob

Bob, my experience with alcohol is that the problems are over blown on the net. That said, there is always the possibility of problems with it. I don't do anything special other than running Klotz top lube. I race, fog my engine with Foggit, and put the car away. I may go 2-3 weeks between racing and the car sitting in the trailer and no problem. Been doing it for years. One thing you are going to notice is the extra torque so stop settings will change.

Now on throttle stopping a methanol engine I have zero experience. I wonder about the amount of fuel used causing puddling on the stop though. Pauley on here is making this change right now. Might be some valuable info in the thread for you.

https://drr.infopop.cc/eve/for...0760912/m/8057066207

.

Gday Curtis,
If you dont mind me asking what ratio of klotz are you using to a 44 gallon drum, full bottle or half?
Cheers
Paul

quote:

Originally posted by RPROGAS:

Question #1

Not wild about the additional maintenance required with alky, nor the corrosion it creates in the fuel system. If there is a simple, relatively quick method of stopping this (tank, fuel lines, regulator and through the carburetor) I'd like to hear how that's done effectively.

Bob

I have been running alcohol for 25 years and I am still waiting to see the "additional maintenance" that's required. I run a Ron's Terminator, Moroso vacuum pump and buy alcohol with lube. I change oil every 60 runs or so. My car has the aluminum tank that RaceTech built it with. I don't drain anything all season despite sometimes going a month between races. At the end of the year I drain the system and spray WD40 in the pump and into the intake while cranking. Alcohol is hard on rubber so once a year I have to change the o-rings on the barrel valve because it drips and every few years I have to have the pump rebuilt. In the spring I clean the fuel filter, fill the cell and fire the car up. My car is a 2003 and most of the fittings are the ones it was originally built with.

Switched years ago and there is not any more maintenance. I run my cars all season and maybe for giggles take the carb apart once a season - just to make sure.

Other than that pull a bolt off bowl and drain it if its going to sit a long while. If that is too much maintenance - take up golf but you will have to probably wipe your clubs so maybe just stay on the couch.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Dilley:
Gday Curtis,
If you dont mind me asking what ratio of klotz are you using to a 44 gallon drum, full bottle or half?
Cheers
Paul

Directions on the bottle say 1 qt to a drum but I have always mixed 1/2 qt Klotz to 1 drum of methanol and it has worked great for me.

I have one car on gas and one on alcohol. I to agree i see no more maintenance one to the other although i do think alcohol is a little harder on cylinder walls. i have said in the past and i do stand by this. not so efficient engines love alcohol and there is a substantial et pick up to be gained. the more efficient your engine is the less gain i have noticed from gas to alcohol. on alcohol at the end of the day i will warm mine up to 180 and run the carb out of fuel. i do run top lube but at the beginning of the year i want to try the ChemSource alcohol.

as far as throttle stopping i have a thread asking some questions that you may have. i know people who throttle stop alcohol with great success and i am seeing promising results myself. if you plan to throttle stop alcohol i would speak with several carb builders and get their thoughts as well as your stop manufacturer. it may save you some time that i am spending on figuring things out. i personally had a BoLaws carb and a #1 stop so that is what i went with. but if you are purchasing new some calls maybe worthwhile.

ep

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Dilley:
Gday Curtis,
If you dont mind me asking what ratio of klotz are you using to a 44 gallon drum, full bottle or half?
Cheers
Paul

1 quart in a drum as directed by the people who make it. I don't see why I would not do as they suggest like Steve posted.

I run clear alcohol with no lube. Never had an issue with it. Been running my small blocks like this since the 90's when I switched from gas.

I don't fog my engines or any of the other stuff people do. I keep my fuel cell topped off and make sure I get the engine up over 200 degrees before a time run and when it is put away for the day. Oil is always clean and I check the dipstick before each raceday to make sure there is no alcohol in the oil.

Thanks Big Steve and Curtis!
Have also used half a bottle to a drum,
Reckon I’ll go to the directions on the bottle after this freshen,
Cheers

I have a friend who claims that he could not afford to race, if he had to run gasoline, yet wasted at least three fire extinguishers in one season, trying to cold start his heap.

I don't like what it does to cylinders / rings.
I don't like the wear and tear of trying to get / keep heat in the engine.
I hate the noxious exhaust fumes.
I don't like the invisible flames of an alky fire.
I've watched the fuel system failures / problems that people claim aren't an issue for 20+ years, it's just not for me.

I run 110 gas. It's still only $8 per gallon, and I've never used more than 10 gallons through a weekend.
My car is as consistent as any other car on any given day, although it does have an about .2 ET swing from the best atmosphere of the season to the worst.

If I had a low compression engine that I wanted to bracket race, I'd probably run alky or E-85 for the liquid compression boost.

Just an old man with crazy ideas.

quote:

Originally posted by Goob:
I have a friend who claims that he could not afford to race, if he had to run gasoline, yet wasted at least three fire extinguishers in one season, trying to cold start his heap. I use carb cleaner if it's too cold and have zero issues like people starting with gas dumped down the carb

I don't like what it does to cylinders / rings. can't argue this
I don't like the wear and tear of trying to get / keep heat in the engine. I run oil and water heaters and a thermostat. I would run the oil heater with either fuel.
I hate the noxious exhaust fumes. Legit but I try not to breath fumes from gas also.
I don't like the invisible flames of an alky fire. Visible flames hurt too
I've watched the fuel system failures / problems that people claim aren't an issue for 20+ years, it's just not for me. Every person who I have met that doesn't want to run it claims this

I run 110 gas. It's still only $8 per gallon, and I've never used more than 10 gallons through a weekend. Go more round. LOL Just kidding you on this one
My car is as consistent as any other car on any given day, although it does have an about .2 ET swing from the best atmosphere of the season to the worst.

If I had a low compression engine that I wanted to bracket race, I'd probably run alky or E-85 for the liquid compression boost.

Just an old man with crazy ideas.

Just playing devil's advocate I guess. LOL With all that typed I do have a Twin Blade gas carb to run when it's really cold just to make things easier like you stated. Still haven't run it yet though.