Flex Fuel Cruiser

[calphi27]

So in my quest for a new engine in my 62, I am at the diesel vs. gasser crossroads. I have done a quick search but have found nothing about what I am about to ask.

Anyways, is it possible to put a new FlexFuel motor by GM into a cruiser? I am sure it is, but I was wondering about the computer aspect of the newer motor.

Has anyone else thought of this or have heard about someone doing this?

My goal would be to run the e85 stuff or biodiesel depending on what motor I choose.

 

[JBBenson]

Please update on your progress. I also have a 62 which will need a new engine in maybe three years.

I want to convert to a diesel and run bio-diesel eventually. I would be interested in seeing how much it would cost, and what kind of PIA it would be to do so.

Are you thinking of keeping the 62 transmission?

 

[agent orange]

The only downside of a flex fuel motor is that it has to have low compression to run on gasoline, so when you toss ethanol in it you arent taking advantage of the significantly higher octane rating. Ethanol has a lower stoichiometric ratio than gasoline, meaning you need more fuel to produce the same amount of power. On an dedicated ethanol motor, you could run say 12 to 1 compression and recoup that extra fuel used through increased effieciency, and probably gain some power on the top end, but with a flex fuel motor you dont really gain anything. If you feel like you could always find ethanol, just build a sick high compression SBC, inject it and enjoy the power. Otherwise, just get a diesel. Also, have you considered propane? Widely available and has a octane rating of like 110 or something like that. Plus, you can run the bitch upside down in space. BTW, what size motor is the GM flex fuel motor you speak of? SBC based?

 

[calphi27]

I have not even thought about propane. With gas prices rising and all, I was really thinking long term on what I wanted for my cruiser.

I want to either do the diesel conversion with an older engine and make biodiesel to run out of it, or put in a new FlexFuel Vortec V8 from GM.

I was not sure if a 2007 engine would work in a 62. (Once again the computer aspect of it)

As far as transmission goes, either a 4l60e or a NV4500 is what I had in mind.

Agent Orange- I am fairly new to the whole engine thing, but I am trying to learn, what do you mean by SBC?

Thanks for your input.

 

[90FJ62]

Agent Orange- I am fairly new to the whole engine thing, but I am trying to learn, what do you mean by SBC?


small block chevy ie 350 v8

dave

 

[Spook50]

The only downside of a flex fuel motor is that it has to have low compression to run on gasoline, so when you toss ethanol in it you arent taking advantage of the significantly higher octane rating. Ethanol has a lower stoichiometric ratio than gasoline, meaning you need more fuel to produce the same amount of power. On an dedicated ethanol motor, you could run say 12 to 1 compression and recoup that extra fuel used through increased effieciency, and probably gain some power on the top end, but with a flex fuel motor you dont really gain anything. If you feel like you could always find ethanol, just build a sick high compression SBC, inject it and enjoy the power. Otherwise, just get a diesel. Also, have you considered propane? Widely available and has a octane rating of like 110 or something like that. Plus, you can run the bitch upside down in space. BTW, what size motor is the GM flex fuel motor you speak of? SBC based?

I've toyed with the idea of converting my 3FE to propane, but I don't see a whole lot of benefit other than the fact that it's almost perfectly clean burning. Seems that the range is only slightly higher than gasoline, and the power you get out of propane is about the same as gas. There's a propane conversion shop here that I'll check out just for s***s and giggles, but I have a feeling I'll be going the diesel route when my 3FE reaches the end of its life.

 

[Tinker]

Historically propane produced less power than gasoline (dual-fuel conversions have been around for 30+ years - way before widespread fuel injection) & now fuel prices afford few bargains. Some clever folks tapped fuel for their vehicles from home heating tanks to avoid the fuel tax (called it a "wet leg").

Compressed Natural Gas has an octane rating around 120, but it's now expensive.

BioDiesel is the only "cheap" alternative - if you don't count the value of your time.

 

[Herbert]

go with a diesel

My advise is go with the simplest diesel engine you can find. Put a 2H or 3B Diesel engine in your truck. A diesel engine can be run on biodiesel or - in an emergency - on pure vegetable oil. Diesel will be around for a very long time and the prices will not go up to astronomical levels. Why? Because all big trucks, ships and railroads run on diesel. World economy can't afford really expensive diesel.
Ethanol is basically a good idea, but imagine everybody would switch to it. Prices would go up just as they do with gas and all farming would be used to supply fuel. We need the fields of the world to produce food, not cheap fuel.
Also simple diesel engines run without any computer control and give you better mileage then flex motors.
I'm about to convert my FJ62 to a 3B engine. I don't care if it is slow. Better slow then not driving at all.

 

[agent orange]

To me if youre going to try and run an alternative fuel you should rebuild the motor to take advantage of the properties of said fuel. Propane has an octane rating of 104, and ethanol is around there too. That means propane would easily support 12-1 or 13-1 compression, which puts you into the serious power ranges with a good set of heads. Plus, like spook said, its really clean burning. I have been lusting after a huge propane burning big block chevy for a loooong time.

 

[Exiled]

I came to this road six months ago and spent a LOT of time thinking about it. Considered propane, but didn't want to lose cargo area with a big propane tank, plus I was worried about the practicality of re-charging the tank on a daily driver.

Didn't consider flex fuel.

Decided on diesel. Spent some time mulling about Toyota vs. domestic but at the end, I just couldn't afford the price of a Toyota diesel, and I didn't want to spend time tracking parts. Ended up with a Cummins 4BT. A little on the "industrial" side, but so far, I love it. Getting a solid 25-26 MPG so far. Slow until you get to 4th gear, but it's got plenty of juice on the highway. No long term data yet, but so far, I'm pleased with the results of my decision.

Won't run biodiesel until that stuff's available at the pump, I got too much stuff going on in my life to be planning like that, or worse, make my own. Too much of a hassle for me. If it becomes readily available, I'll happily run it.

 

[calphi27]

I came to this road six months ago and spent a LOT of time thinking about it. Considered propane, but didn't want to lose cargo area with a big propane tank, plus I was worried about the practicality of re-charging the tank on a daily driver.

Didn't consider flex fuel.

Decided on diesel. Spent some time mulling about Toyota vs. domestic but at the end, I just couldn't afford the price of a Toyota diesel, and I didn't want to spend time tracking parts. Ended up with a Cummins 4BT. A little on the "industrial" side, but so far, I love it. Getting a solid 25-26 MPG so far. Slow until you get to 4th gear, but it's got plenty of juice on the highway. No long term data yet, but so far, I'm pleased with the results of my decision.

Won't run biodiesel until that stuff's available at the pump, I got too much stuff going on in my life to be planning like that, or worse, make my own. Too much of a hassle for me. If it becomes readily available, I'll happily run it.

I was jealous before but now it is even worse knowing that you have that 4bt in your cruiser. What tranny are you running with it? I have really researched the 4bt, but I was worried about the space. I have OME medium suspension with a SR, but I was not sure if it would handle the height of the 4bt. I may just have to do a 6.2l.

decisions, decisions.

Thanks for the input all.

 

[cruiser_guy]

I'll second the diesel alternative. To me, propane is too dangerous! One rear-ender can ruin your whole day. My BJ60 gets 25mpg easily and is not too bad with the turbo on it.

The FJ45LV is also getting a 3B diesel as well, hopefully with a turbo too.

The Chevy 6.2 is not exactly a desired engine. I'd go with a Cummins if the Toyota diesels are not economically feasable. I'd lift the truck, even do a body lift if needed to use a Cummins before the Chevy.