E85 in a 5.3HE?
 

G'Day Friends
Soon'ish I will be doing some serious works on a motor that I am going to transplant into my 83. Probably Rings and bearings, new seals some minor head work, and possibly extractors if I get my head around the design of them. Also the biggest add-on will be the 5 speed box, I'll set all this up out of the car and than just do a total swap.
Ok back to the question, I have been researching into E85, I realise that there are some pitfalls with this fuel, but believe it may just be a good thing in the the older higher compression V12's. With them lacking a lot of the modern day engine management system's, it just maybe possible to have them tuned to work extremely well.
I have a local supplier close by where its off the pump one bonus, also the cars only a Sunday cruiser if that, so not used as a DD. Has anyone experimented with the E85 in the v12?
If so what was your findings? What needs to be done to make this work correctly?
Look forward to your feedback.

Standard pump gas/petrol has more than enough octane to keep your V12 happy. Can't imagine any need or advantage in converting to E85.

E85 is 85% Ethanol/15% gasoline.
There are some articles on corrosion of fuel system components.
I don't know if these cars are flexFuel friendly or not.

The problem I see is if you decide to go away in her, E85 is not available everywhere, and your timing would be set for this fuel.

98 is available almost everywhere except across the Nullabor.

If you are building an engine you might consider changing the ECU to a VY Commodore. Swap the dissy for a Marelli and run dual coil and ignition modules, the Commy ECU ($45AU on eBay) will run ignition and fuel for the V12 in this configuration with a 36-1 wheel on the crank. This way you can tune and get much better ignition control than running E85 on vacuum advance.

Thanks Gentlemen all good points and dually noted!

Personally as much as the old Lucas dizzy is outdated, I prefer to stay with it over the Mareli system. The other thing is I have aready accumulted all these new parts to rebuild the ignition system, I would to have to try and flog them off at more than likely a fraction of what I paid.
I will probably stay with just 98 fossil fuel, with the amount the car gets used it will more than likely be better for it in the long run.
Thanks Again

Keep in mind with built/ high HP motors:
E85 requires 15-20% more volume and at some point the fuel pump & lines are undersized.

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