<VV> Re: (VV) Ethanol?

[CorvairEd at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/16/05 10:10:01 PM Pacific Daylight Time, ronh at owt.com 
writes:
Also, alcohol has less energy per gallon so you will have slightly less 
power.
RonH

Actually Ron, alcohol can generate more power than gasoline if you increase 
the compression ratio to at least 14 to 1 and put much bigger jets in the 
carbs.  And you are correct that alcohol has less energy per gallon so to get the 
HP you want you must burn more of it.  The octane rating of alcohol is so high 
you can easily run 18 to 1 compression with a lot of advance and really put 
out the power but your mileage will be low.  Indy race cars use only alcohol and 
you notice how much power they can generate!

Ed Corson (CORSA member)
Inland Empire Corvair Club