Alcohol Fuel Powers this Experimental Truck
(Page 4 of 8)
September/October 1979
The Mother Earth News editors
FINE TUNING TIPS
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Remember that every engine is different . . . and, as such, each will require a bit of "fiddling" before it will operate normally. If your alcohol-powered convert doesn't perform to your satisfaction, there are several remedies you can try.
First, advance the timing several degrees by turning the distributor housing opposite to the direction in which the rotor spins. (Don't overdo it, or the engine will "ping" with pre-ignition.) You can also disconnect the vacuum advance line to the distributor and plug it with a screw or ball bearing . . . this will prevent a too rapid spark advance. You might try closing the gap in the spark plugs by .004" to .006", too. If you care to get more involved, raising the compression ratio—either by simply "milling" the head or by installing high-compression pistons—will improve both engine performance and fuel economy.
It may, of course, prove impractical—because of the unit's particular design features—to alter your car's original carburetor. The best solution in such a case would be to buy a rebuilt carburetor of an older vintage. The bolt patterns on most manifolds haven't changed for a decade or more, and nearly all carburetors made in the 1980's can be converted without trouble.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Mother's pickup is still going strong after over 5,000 miles. It starts easily in the morning and runs well when it reaches operating temperature (we've found that a manual choke aids in the "warming up" process). Fuel economy isn't quite as good in the alcohol mode, but it's close to normal... and power and acceleration are unaffected.
Again it's important to remember that MOM's truck is experimental, not perfect... so keep an eye on your converted engine and be ready to spot a problem before it gets serious. We have big plans for the future, though, and—as each new issue appears—we hope to have a few more improvements for you...beginning with a wintertime starting system scheduled for MOTHER NO. 60.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Though the federal government—as well as many states—has acted to eliminate road use taxes on renewable fuels, it may be illegal to operate your alcohol-powered vehicle on highways in certain states. Check with your state authorities before you venture out on public roads.
And, if you'd like to be able to distill your own ethanol fuel, MOTHER's Alcohol Fuel Kit—with still plans, mash recipes, and details on applying for a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms permit—is just what you need. Information on how to order the complete package is on page 145 of this magazine.
THE ZEITHAMER FAMILY: FARMER'S FUEL AT WORK!
It would be hard to imagine any group of people who are harder hit by fuel shortages than are this nation's farmers. And, of course, when our agriculturists—who supply so much of the world's "bread and butter"—suffer, millions of other folks share the effects ...in the form of highpriced (or even completely unavailable) food.
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