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bracketchev1221
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 Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 11:45 am |
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| Dragway Regular |
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:38 pm
Posts: 1097
Location: Mountville Pa
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Right now, I have a 3200 lbs bracket Chevelle with a 540. The car goes 9.20's with a best of 9.08, 147. I am thinking about converting to alcohol for the benefits of cooler engine, cheaper fuel, more power, but what are the drawbacks other than warm up time. The car has a Magnafuel 500 pump and 8 gallon cell in the rear with a Magnafuel big port regulator up front. Can these work or do they need conversion? I have a CFM 1150 carb on it that would need to be converted to alcohol. Is a vacuum pump mandatory, I don't have one. Is there any issues with oil changes, ring and bearing life? This engine does not get freshened every year. I was thinking about changing the pistons to get closer to 15:1 from the 13:1 I am at now, but I would also have them gas ported. I have read about leanout valves and stuff like that, but I am nervous because I really know little about it. Thanks for your help. Ray.
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racecar77
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:59 pm |
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| Pro Stocker |
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Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 10:32 pm
Posts: 2452
Location: Crete,IL
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Your pump is more than sufficient. If your plumbing is large enough you're good to go with just converting the carburetor. Nothing else is required. Leave the timing the same, leave the fuel pressure the same, maybe one step hotter spark plug, and install a leanout valve. Then go and enjoy all of the benefits of "The Nectar of God". I check my oil for dilution all the time and have had it diluted only once and that was because of a piece of debris in the needle and seat caused a flooding condition. Hope this helps, Lee
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bracketchev1221
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:24 am |
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| Dragway Regular |
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:38 pm
Posts: 1097
Location: Mountville Pa
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I was told that I might need a mechanical belt pump and forward cell. If thats the case I don't want to do it.
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racecar77
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 9:00 am |
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| Pro Stocker |
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Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 10:32 pm
Posts: 2452
Location: Crete,IL
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Some guys like the belt drive pump, but it's not necessary. Volume is the key, you have to have enough volume.
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bracketchev1221
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 9:50 am |
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| Dragway Regular |
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:38 pm
Posts: 1097
Location: Mountville Pa
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Well, I am trying to get a definitive answer. I tried calling Rupert, and Ken Jones but so far no answer. I don't know if a 400 gph pump is enough.
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cherp22
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 10:02 am |
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| Top Fueler |
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Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:57 pm
Posts: 2778
Location: Roxana, IL
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That 500 pump is more than enough to keep up. Change the carb and roll with it!
_________________ 83 Monte Carlo SS, bbc, PTC converter, 10" tires 1.41 9.47 145.6 shakin it down 82 Cutlass 10.17/133 blow thru http://www.ultimatespeedandmachine.com/
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racecar77
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:15 pm |
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| Pro Stocker |
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Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 10:32 pm
Posts: 2452
Location: Crete,IL
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I run a Pro Star 500 and it's good to about 2000 HP. Way more than enough.
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bracketchev1221
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:31 pm |
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| Dragway Regular |
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:38 pm
Posts: 1097
Location: Mountville Pa
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Ok, here is what I was told by CFM technologies.
#1. A belt drive pump is mandatory. My pump is not large enough based on the required extra volume.
#2. An alcohol carb does not work on linear fuel pressure. It needs about 3 lbs at idle and 10 psi wide open and the only way to do this is engine driven pump.
#3. If the car 60's near 1.20 you need a forward cell.
They told me that my stuff would work on like a 6-700 hp application. but near 900, would need a mech pump. He suggested that I run Q16 and just go with that for now.
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racecar77
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:56 pm |
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| Pro Stocker |
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Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 10:32 pm
Posts: 2452
Location: Crete,IL
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I don't know what to tell you then. Mine is just under 700 HP, about 670-680. My fuel pressure is set at 6 1/2 to 7 lbs. Rear mounted cell, -8 fuel line. I have no issues with it. My car 60 foots about 1.38 but has been 1.30. If you are a member of yellowbullet.com you can send a PM to a guy there with the username of Uncle Paul. He is an expert on alcohol systems and has helped me in the past. Good luck, Lee
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Doug Keen
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 8:47 pm |
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| Pro Stocker |
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Joined: Thu May 22, 2003 7:23 pm
Posts: 2258
Location: Central, Illinois
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Lee, you know that alky will never work....  To the original poster, the alky switch debate is amongst the top of the dead horses that have been beaten. So carb guys go straight to the belt drive deal, because there is always some hilljack that has a Holley blue pump telling them that its a good electric pump. My advice is if you are going to run the carb from CFM and their advice is to go belt drive, you may want to go belt drive otherwise if it doesn't work out they will hang that over your head. I know (I have personally witnessed Mr Lee "racecar77") that with a Quick Fuel Alky carb, -8 line and just a simple dead head regulator it works flawlessly.
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84 Buick Regal
BBC/Glide/9"
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racecar77
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 8:57 pm |
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| Pro Stocker |
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Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 10:32 pm
Posts: 2452
Location: Crete,IL
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True story Doug. It's just that the driver is not always flawless. _________________
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bracketchev1221
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 6:27 am |
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| Dragway Regular |
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:38 pm
Posts: 1097
Location: Mountville Pa
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Well, thanks for the help. I really don't know what to do. Like was said, if the carb builder says belt pump, that will always be an issue. And of course, he told me that Lee's combo WOULD work as is, but mine is just too close to RELIABLY run with what I have. I still have a call in Ken Jones, and trying to contact George Rupert to see what they say about it. I thought this would be much easier.
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racecar77
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:11 am |
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| Pro Stocker |
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Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 10:32 pm
Posts: 2452
Location: Crete,IL
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I would never override the advice of the experts, I just know what works for me.
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bracketchev1221
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:01 am |
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| Dragway Regular |
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:38 pm
Posts: 1097
Location: Mountville Pa
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And like he said, your combo is perfect for it. Your 100% right in your info. Mine is turning into an expensive ordeal. Though he did say that once his customers got it sorted out, almost none went back to gasoline. I don't go that much, maybe 5-6 times a year. So maybe q16 at a few dollars more a gallon might be the trick compared to several thousand to convert. I'm kinda bummed that it is so much. If I was building a car from scratch, it would be worth it.
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80superbu
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:09 am |
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| Pro Stocker |
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Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:24 pm
Posts: 2253
Location: Colorado springs, CO
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I think you need to look elsewhere for a carb guy. Switching to alky will cost a few hundred, not thousand. It's a carb swap. If they are telling you otherwise then they are just trying to line their pockets
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Bryan
USAF Retired/Now a Gov contractor
1980 Malibu-BBC..almost fast
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