Quote Originally Posted by OrangeL67 View Post
Here are my plans for the build I'm gonna be working on.

I plan to keep my vs cam or maybe go XP if I can find a good used one and sell my VS. sure, whatever you want.

I want to get a good reconditioning and port job on my old stock heads if they aren't damaged. ported heads on a cam meant for stock heads? why?

I found an AMAZING deal on an L26 long block with no intake, throttle body, fuel rails and coils. (that I don't need anyways) And the engine only has 2600 miles. just be aware that it's easier to kill a high compression block...

High compression will be my main focus now that I am on e85. I want .52 MLS gaskets, and head studs, + heads milled down .020 for an overall compression ratio of about 9.75:1 you dont want MLS gaskets unless you want to disassemble them and put them back together to get them not to leak. stick with felpro or stock head gaskets, seriously. the higher compression thing, whatever...i dont see a need for it..

My intercooler pump will be replaced and I plan to continue running the I/C with e85. hopefully you buy a nicer pump.

Not sure what pulley is going to entertain this build as only tuning will tell. statement of win

This will no longer be a daily driver, more of a track/show car (If I ever get the body back up to show quality) I plan to make it as fast as it will go on an M90 blower. Don't plan on going turbo because I just don't have the money for it. you'd have money for a turbo setup if you stopped breaking your m90 setup.

I keep hearing crap about the l26 engine not being able to handle boost? Whats up wit that? Any L26 or L36 guys here been top swapped for some time with no issues? All input is appreciated. What can I expect out of a higher compression e85 build. the reason we say this is because of a few things:

a) the rods are smaller, they are easier to break. still hard, but easier
b) the high compression does not like lots of boost, which is what you've been doing on your build. i've watched you say you ran a 2.6 pulley which is way out of line with any build. the smallest pulley anyone should ever need is a 2.8. run less boost and run more timing.
see above.

honestly, the reason you don't see lots of guys running an e85 m90 setup to this extreme is because it's pointless. you grow past the point where the m90 becomes effective and you literally can't make more power. in your case i would stick with a lower compression bottom end and get a bigger cam with done up heads. then make use of the m90 and run less boost with more timing as said above. i realize you're running e85 so you can probably throw a balls ton of timing at it and the car won't even care, but it's really the best way to go about it. get it dialed in with 25* of timing or so and then switch pulleys all day until you figure out which runs the best, and it won't be a 2.6 i promise you that.

and the guy that said build it for meth? really? please explain why methanol would be a better alternative to e85 with some sort of conviction and maybe ill buy it. however, per this application e85 is a much, much better choice.