Running Alcohol in a fl350

[Stumped]

Okay hears the deal I am sorry for not properly introducing myself. I usually don’t post that much because I am a “SLOW” typist and tend to read others post. I am a back yard hacker in south central Pennsylvania and like to ride my 350 around my yard and farms in the area. I do like to take it to the local drag strip to race when my father takes his 69 camaro. My 350 has a DG pipe, K&N air filter,duel intake tubes, 81.5mm weisco piston, boysen reeds, rear works shocks, ported cylinder intake, boost, transfers, and exhaust ports.(that my dad did) The clutch is a Polaris p-95 (very similar to a comet 102c) with a stall speed of 4100 rpm. My static compression is 150 psi. I would like to go all the way to 165 or 170 since I am already running 93-octane pump gas. But the problem is that this is still air-cooled and cant justify spending the money to put a water cooled head on. I have a digatron so I can see my cylinder head temps. I have the stock 32 mm oval slide carb on it now that needs replaced by a bigger one. I am considering running alcohol because I can run as much compression as I want without detonation. I also know with previous experience with alcohol that it run much cooler thus eliminating the need for a water-cooled setup. I will need to make an aluminum gas tank because the alcohol will corrode the steel one. I will need special alcohol carbs because it requires about twice as much fuel as gas. The normal power increase is about 10-15%. A much better alternative to race gas. I know there are some other guys doing it in 2 strokes but wanted to hear from you guys because I thought that it might eat away at the rubber seals in the bottom end.

Thanks in advance Cooper

[Gene]

Welcome to MBN!

Someone who knows about Ody/Pilots will chime in soon.

[bdkw1]

Lectron used to make some really good alky carbs.

You can run a regular oval slide with a Dail-a-jet kit and some really big jets if needed. I used to run My KX500 on alky with a stock carb and really big jets. ALso needed a larger needle and seat.

[bdkw1]

Also, getting a good oil that will work with alcohol could be difficult. I think bean oil will work, I used to use Bel-ray GK1? It was made for it, but I don't think they make it anymore.

[Bugpac]

Dont you need a plastic tank for alchol, as it will corrode aluminum as well, then you have to purge the system with gas after you run it...

[Stumped]

no alcohol will not corode aluminum never had before anyways.
I did find one good oil that will mix with alcohol it was a redline oil.
Red Line Two-Stroke Racing Oil - Sport Compact Warehouse - Import Performance Specialist

Cooper

[Bugpac]

You might wanna read this then, anyone i know purges the fuel system with gasoline....

Alcohol Race Engines - Fuel System Maintenance - Circle Track Magazine

[Bugpac]

One other bad point of alcohol, is it burns almost unnoticeable to the eye.. very hard to see the flames...I imagine mixed with 2 smoke oil it would give a bit of smoke off as well tho...

[Bullnerd]

I helped a buddy with a micro 600 for years that ran on alcohol ,we always flushed the carbs with gas after every running.

[nutz4sand]

We used to know some friends who ran alcohol drag racing at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes. (In banshees and CR500 powered three wheelers) At the end of the day they had a little fitting in the fuel line that they would shut of the alcohol and then they run the motor and when the alcohol was nearly gone or gone from the carb they had a tiny hand held tank that plugged into the fitting and they would run the motor on the gasoline/oil mix for a couple minutes. They told me that if they did not do this the steel of the cylinder and the crankshaft pin bearings would get surface rust overnight and cause obvious problems. They were more worried about the steel machined surfaces of the alcohol motors while sitting than anything. The next moring to fire them up they would finish the gas/oil mix then switch the fitting back to the tank containing there alcohol/oil mixture there. (plastic tanks of course)

I am a lil surprised that no one has mentioned getting a bigger motor for your machine yet. It sounds like its built pretty good now and can go farther but then it will need lots of regular maint. But that may not be to your liking to do such a swap. But a bigger sled motor would move it faster with less maint work once the swap was done.

Also to consider if you build the motor and go with alcohol it may do better at the dragstrip BUT if you try going trail riding you will have NO range due to poor fuel economy. Have to stay close to the fuel drum! Bill