Fuel Question.

[Yellow Truck]

Where I live (Calgary Alberta) I have specific fuel options available for pump gas. It comes down to one regional chain (Husky/Mohawk) offers 94 octane with 10% ethanol, vs Shell offering their 91 octane with no ethanol.

I just got my engine in the truck last night and am hooking it up today, hope to start it this week so need to decide what to put in it. It is a 445 running about 10.5 to 1, BBM aluminum heads and a Prison Break stroker kit, with a Street Dominator intake and QFT SS 830.

I trust the experience on this forum, so the question is - lower octane/no ethanol vs higher octane/10% ethanol? I used to avoid Husky/Mohawk because with my old 410 the way the fuel was run the heat soak tended to cause vapour lock on Husky/Mohawk fuel but I've changed the routing and added a phenolic spacer (used an aluminum one previously that really passed the heat up to the carb).

[Lenz]

I've been running the 91 octane Shell for the past month, no issues (Northwest PA).  I'm close to your setup with a 445 stroker Survival kit at 10.5:1, mine's topped with Ed heads, Performer RPM and a 750 vac sec Holley.  In my opinion the lower octane without Ethanol would likely serve you well, and for my part I just don't like running the ethanol blended stuff anyway, 'specially with my older Holley.

[Yellow Truck]

Thanks. I'll go pick some up to start it.

[fryedaddy]

i would go with the shell.every time i use gas with ethanol i vapor lock with my 433 fe

[ScotiaFE]

X2 I would just use the real gasoline.
You may even experience a net loss if you use the blend.
In cost and maybe performance. You will definitely find out if something
in your fuel system does not like the alky.
You would have to do some testing to verify.

I use the Shell 91 here on the east coast and have great success with it.

[Ford428CJ]

Here I really have no choice... In Oregon its 91 clear (much more expensive) and 91 with 10%. I always use good name brand gas. If you use the fuel and dont let it sit for a long time... Never had a problem in using the 10% stuff. I add some Klotz additive with it. It works very well....

But for most people... They probably would be better off to use the clear.

[Drew Pojedinec]

I'm in agreement with Wes.
I have one station locally that sells 100% gasoline.

Problem is, if I am driving and find myself elsewhere I need to buy whatever junk is available, so better to set up the engine for it.

Only issue I've had was heat soak issues.  Carb spacers, electric fuel pumps, blocking heat cross overs, etc etc took care of these issues.
Engines run fine (run more than one car).
I have not had any problem leaving the vehicle for over a month in an airport parking lot.  Takes a little while to get started, but once running no issues whatsoever.

[Yellow Truck]

I'm only worried about the 445 with the carb. My other vehicles (5.3 in a 99 Suburban, 3.5 Ecoboost in a Flex, and a 2.5 turbo in my wife's Volvo) all have ECUs to manage knock and none of them sit for very long. Mostly, only the old truck had issues with vapour lock.

[Ford428CJ]

Not a problem if you know how to read plugs and what you're doing. I'll have to show you a picture one of my plugs. long as you're timing is set up properly. Air fuel ratio is correct. It's really a nonissue. Like I said just don't let it sit for months on end. It's really not a big deal

[Autoholic]

I'd go with gasoline to setup the tune. It's probably your pleasure vehicle anyways, so you can decide to run pure gas and stick to it. You also won't have to worry about the ethanol eating anything. As for vapor lock, it really won't make that much of a difference between gasoline and E10. I'd run a regulator and then route the fuel line in front of the radiator (either at the bottom or the top). This way, you get cold air hitting the fuel line after the regulator. The amount of fuel that would be in the fuel line after the regulator should also be enough that it could run for a split moment in time without getting enough fuel from the pump (if using a mechanical pump).

[Yellow Truck]

I did pick up about 5 gallons of Shell 91 octane. I have attached a picture of my fuel line routing - being a pickup the tank is behind the seat. I ran a new line by dropping a larger tube down beside the original one, and ran the line over the top of the tank and down to the floor on the far side, down through the floor, back under the truck (it came through outside the frame rail), and then ran it along the frame rail to a new fuel pump, and down the boxed section of the frame rail before brining it up just inside the firewall.

It is away from the exhaust, the rad, and the block. I don't like the pressure regulator hanging on the end of the fuel inlet so I'll make a bracket for it later. Now focussed on getting it started!

[GJCAT427]

My 56 F100 with the 427 tolerated the 93 but was a bitch to start hot. Truck never felt overly powerful. Last yr I put 91 in it and went cruzing, I hammered it a few times and it seems to have more power than before. Also starts much easier. My 63 427 Galaxie had 93 in it with the stablizers and this spring at Beaver Springs I lost the fuel pump during T&T. Guess what  Alky got the rubber inards. Like Lenz said our 91 is great and made locally. My next step is a blend of Avgas and 91 to see if it runs better.